|
|
38 yrs on, two live Pak bombs found
BSF foiled 7 infiltration bids this year: IG
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book on Amarnath land row
Focus on advancing loans, Udhampur banks told
Pro-Soz faction
intensifies campaign against Tara Chand
Self-rule only realistic solution, says Mufti
Kitty Party: A satire on elite women
Study: ‘Jirgas’ dying a slow death
Police-public meet held
Hideout busted in Poonch
Pahari cultural and welfare forum constituted
Firing creates panic on border in Kathua
Parishad celebrates ‘Vijay Diwas’
Rs 25 lakh grant for Nowshehra MC
Sec 144 CrPc imposed in Jammu
Two bodies found
Reward for dance academy
Farmers’ training camp concludes
|
|
38 yrs on, two live Pak bombs found
Jammu, December 20 Army officials said the bombs were most likely dropped during the 1971 war, but did not explode. The discovery comes after the 38th anniversary of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. India celebrates December 16 as “Vijay Diwas” every year since then to mark its victory in the battle. It was quite surprising that the bombs were not found earlier. Army sources said Mohd Aslam claimed that he was ploughing his fields when he found the bombs. “Scared that it could be some ammunition dumped by militants, he ran to the nearest Army battalion to inform the authorities,” said sources. A team of the Indian Air Force has been called to inspect the bombs. The team is expected to reach tomorrow, Army sources said. “The bombs have been kept in a secure area,” they added. |
|
BSF foiled 7 infiltration bids this year: IG
Jammu, December 20 Three soldiers were injured when the Pakistani side opened intermittent fire on the Indian post yesterday, one of them critically; the three injured soldiers were rushed to the hospital where Mukesh Chand of the 47th Battalion succumbed to his injuries. Two other soldiers injured in the firing have been identified as Pawan Kumar and S Jogi. The IG BSF said due to the increased vigil of the security forces along the international border and the LoC, the Pakistani side was frustrated to push terrorists into this side, Surollia said. This year the BSF had foiled seven major infiltration attempts from across the border, he said. He said the BSF was taking the attempts of ceasefire violation seriously and investigations were on to find out whether the Pakistani security forces had played any role in the last night’s firing in which three BSF personnel were injured. “Every possible measure is being taken by the BSF to thwart the nefarious designs of the militants to infiltrate into our side,” Surollia said. He said such type of incidents aimed to facilitate infiltrators from across the border to enter into the Indian side. However, the morale of the soldiers was high and they were ready to defend the borders of the nation at any cost, he added. When asked whether there was increase in the deployment of the forces along the international border after the increase in the infiltration attempts from across the border, Surollia said, “These are operational matters and routine measures are taken and deployment and redeployment of forces takes place as per the demand of the situation.” There have been 27 incidents of such ceasefire violations till November 25 by the Pakistani side along the LoC. During the last four years there have been 128 incidents of ground ceasefire and 43 air space violations by Pakistan. Surollia said the situation on the IB and the line of control was well under control. |
|
Book on Amarnath land row
Jammu, December 20 In his book, Prof Hari Om, Professor, Maharaja Gulab Singh Chair, Department of History, JU, has tried to put forward the entire gamut of events that led to the agitation against land diversion on a temporary basis to the Shri Amaranth Shrine Board in Kashmir Valley, and also the protracted mass movement in the Jammu region for the restoration of the Baltal land to the Shrine Board. Prof Hari Om has described the agitation in Jammu as the “mother of all movements” and said even non-cooperation and the civil disobedience movements during the Indian Freedom Struggle could not be compared with the epoch-making developments in this strategic region of the country. He has debunked the attempts in Kashmir valley and New Delhi to rationalise and justify the agitation against the land diversion as well as brand the mass upsurge in Jammu as communal and divisive. He has also been unsparing about the failures of Sangharsh Samiti, which spearheaded the agitation in Jammu, especially its attempts to downgrade the level of dialogue with the government and secure a truce over the issue as early as possible in a bid to bail out the forces responsible for the agitation. Speaking on the occasion, Khajuria congratulated Prof Hari Om and said the people of Jammu demonstrated their commitment, national interest and more important their nationalistic character during Amarnath land row. The other main speakers included Prof M K Teng, former head of Political Science Department, Kashmir University, and Prof Dipankar Sengupta of the Department of Economics, JU. While Prof Poonam Chowdhary welcomed the distinguished guests and conducted the proceedings, Associate Professor of History Dr Sharda Dubey delivered the vote of thanks. |
|
Focus on advancing loans, Udhampur banks told
Udhampur, December 20 While reviewing the performance of all banks in the key areas of deposits and advances under the Annual Credit Plan (ACP), 2009-10 at the meeting of the district-level review committee and district consultative committee, Bhatti told the representatives of the banks that if slackness on this count came to his notice in future, the RBI would be recommended to take appropriate action against the erring banks. The district development officer, Udhampur, Ajay Khajuria directed the banks to sanction loan cases within a month after receipt of cases from sponsoring departments so that borrowers did not face difficulties in seeking loan assistance for setting up their units. He also stressed upon the district-level officers of agriculture and allied departments, including block development officers, to prepare a proper record of loan cases sponsored by them so that proper monitoring could be carried out. Lead District Manager, Udhampur, apprised the meeting that Rs 7590.79 lakhs had been advanced to 2407 beneficiaries in the district till the end of September, 2009 against the annual target. He added that banks had disbursed Rs.1244.41 lakh and Rs.179.72 lakh among new borrowers in industry and housing segments while loans worth Rs.567.72 lakh were advanced in 927 cases in the agriculture segment during this period. |
|
Pro-Soz faction
intensifies campaign against Tara Chand
Jammu, December 20 The pro-Soz faction has stepped up campaign against Tara Chand and lodged complaints against the Deputy Chief Minister before the party high command. Though detractors of Tara Chand have refused to divulge their strategy, insiders in the Congress disclosed that the pro-Soz faction has prepared a list of complaints against the Deputy Chief Minister in which allegations of encouraging factionalism in the party were labelled against him. A delegation of Congress leaders, who camped at Delhi for three days, met with senior party leaders and demanded action against the Deputy Chief Minister. Insiders further disclosed that after getting encouraging response from some of their mentors in Delhi, the pro-Soz faction has intensified campaign against Tara Chand. This faction has been exerting pressure on the party high command to appoint one of their men as Deputy Chief Minister. Anti-lobby of Tara Chand has been raking up the issue of the visit of Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju who had inaugurated a bridge in the constituency of the Deputy Chief Minister. During the inauguration function, the Deputy Chief Minister was not present. Even as Tara Chand had alleged that he was ignored by the pro-Soz lobby and lodged protest against it, the pro-Soz lobby has launched counterattack and shifted all blames on him. They alleged that instead of making visit of the Union Minister successful, the Deputy Chief Minister tried to sabotage the function. Soz had also stated on record that the Deputy Chief Minister was invited in the inauguration function. |
|
|
Self-rule only realistic solution, says Mufti
Jammu, December 20 “Civil society in Pakistan has given encouraging response to the dialogue and reconciliation process, and it is high time for the Centre to avail this opportunity and take some bold steps,” the Mufti said while addressing a seminar on self-rule at Rajouri town. “Atmosphere is conducive for initiating some concrete steps for the resolution of this problem”, he said. “Need of the hour is to take some fresh initiatives to solve the Kashmir problem instead of taking stated positions,” he urged both India and Pakistan. “We don’t want to impose our proposal on people. We want debate and discussion on this document so as to evolve consensus,” he said. He added that the PDP had been organising such seminars in different parts of the state and inviting cross sections of society in these seminars and workshops to seek their suggestions on this proposal. “We want to evolve consensus within the state on this issue,” he said. Reiterating his party’s resolve to remove regional disparities, the Mufti said the self-rule proposal of his party was a road map to make institutional arrangements for empowering region and sub-regions of the state. He said self-rule aimed at creating regional federalism to fulfil wishes and aspirations of all regions and sub-regions of the state. “This proposal aimed at empowering people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh without any discrimination,” he said and asserted that the PDP was committed to provide justice to all regions and sub-regions. “During our three-year tenure from 2002 to 2005, we have treated all regions equally and decentralised powers at grass-root level by politically and economically empowering all regions and sub-regions,” he reminded. |
|
|
Kitty Party: A satire on elite women
Jammu, December 20 The women who meet on their usual weekend kitty party, a culture that has faced flak from not only family but also from feminists, pose as great friends only to indulge in mudslinging and passing snide remarks against each other at the persons back. Balwant Thakur’s direction and concpetualisation makes a telling statement on women who live on their husband’s identity and carry on their affairs. This Hindi play featured six girls who expose their own fraternity through a dramatic sequence of events, all happening at the long kitty party table. None of the women was addressed by her first name. They were called Ms Oberoi, or Bhandarkar or Pillai, Ahluwalia and Scruwala. The play opens at a restaurant where a reserved table is shown waiting for their occupants. All are trying to arrive late just to gain importance. Two of them arrive about half-an-hour late but meet disappointment as no one was there to greet them. Here starts a series of back-biting and leg-pulling. To the outside world they are known as the most united group of influential ladies of the town, but the inside truth is contrary. The moment their infighting hots up, it seems as if whole country’s politics revolves around them. Be it regional, communal, class and the color divide, these ladies draw the whole map of the country on the canvass of their ‘Kitty Party’. In the process of pulling down each other, they also expose the personal affairs of each other and while doing so they do not realise that they are stripping themselves publically. Envy, jealousy and hatred reaches a climax where they literally start physically assaulting each other and the whole party turns into a battle ground. On one hand where the country is confronting global challenges like recession, global warming, epidemics, and terrorism, these ladies at the kitty party are fighting over lipsticks. The play is a dig on the people who have not been able to find a reason for their very existence on earth. They live and die without a purpose. The popular media has also contributed a lot in this direction by projecting such useless characters as role models of the society. Over exhibitionism and falsehood has deviated most of us from the real focus of life, thus putting us into a rat race that is leading the society towards thick darkness The ladies were played by Tajasvi Sharma, Sona Singh Mehar, Rajani Bhatti, Anita Dhar, Richa Sharma and Besnet Romilla. Rajani who played Ms Scruwala, a Punjabi woman high on ‘tandoori murga’, stood apart with her natural dialogue delivery. |
|
|
Study: ‘Jirgas’ dying a slow death
Jammu, December 20 A study conducted by the Tribal Research Foundation revealed that if the steps are not taken for its recognition and protection by making “Jirga-Tribal Courts” constitutionally valid through an enactment, the system would soon be history. Dr Javaid Rahi, secretary, Tribal Research Foundation, said during the study it was found that this old system of justice needs immediate legal recognition, otherwise it would become extinct in the next few decades. “Jirgas are still popular in the tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan and enjoy legal sanctity, but in J&K this system is surviving since centuries without constitutional safeguards,” said Dr Rahi. “We consider this traditional judicial system as a vibrant instrument of our cultural heritage and our organisation will fight for constitutional recognition of ‘Jirgas’ in J&K,” he added. As per the study, in Gujjars of J&K around 72 percent still believe and practice traditional ‘Jirga’ system, which is headed by “Muqadams” - elderly persons who take decisions on various issues by consensus. Some Gujjar women called “Mahries” also head the “Jirgas’ in some remote pockets of the state. The study found that the “Jirgas” are more effective in remote areas. The “Muqadams” or “Mahries” after listening to all parties pronounce a decision according to
the oral traditionals of the tribe. |
|
|
Police-public meet held
Jammu, December 20 Those who spoke on the occasion included Haji Ghulam Mohd Malik, Tariq Ibrahim Sohil, Mohd. Hanief Naik, Mohd Maqbool Naik and Mohd Yousaf Katoch. They highlighted various issues concerning common man vis-à-vis the police and the civil administration. As the area has remained highly infested with terrorism during 1990s and various youth joined militancy, people demanded that there was a need to provide employment to the youth of the area in the Police Department as constables and SPOs. They also demanded a special recruitment drive for the youth in this remote area. The speakers highlighted the scarcity of ration and demanded that same should be dumped in the area which remains cut off for vehicular movement after November due to heavy snowfall in the area. They also demanded to clear the snow on the Neel-Chambalwas Road. People also complained of shortage of kerosene oil and demanded electricity to all villages as presently only 70 houses have been provided with electricity. The speakers on the occasion also requested the police to provide some financial support to Higher Secondary School, Neel. The SP, Ramban, appealed to the public to help the police in bringing the misguided youth back to mainstream and assured that immediate action would be taken on the issues concerning the police. They were requested to give a feedback on the measures adopted by the police. Regarding the issues concerning the civil administration, they were assured that the matter would be taken up on priority with the authorities concerned to mitigate their sufferings. |
|
|
Hideout busted in Poonch
Jammu, December 20 Police sources said acting on a tip-off that the LeT supporter was hiding in a hotel room in Bhaderwah tehsil of Doda district, a team of security forces raided the hotel and arrested Nisar Ahmed. After his arrest, Ahmed was sent to the Joint Interrogation Centre for questioning. Sources said Nisar was working as a guide, messenger and courier for Abu Rallah and had been absconding as a case had been registered against him. Meanwhile, in another incident, the security forces recovered 1,500 rounds of AK-47 assault rifle, 400 rounds of PIKA gun and 17 detonators from near the LoC in Poonch district. Meanwhile, militants active in the upper reaches of Reasi district have been facing shortage of funds and have directed their sympathisers to arrange money for them. This was revealed by three Overground Workers (OGWs) who were nabbed by the Mahore police on Saturday. Sources in the police said all the three were acting on directions of militants when they were nabbed. They had already collected some amount from the locals. The Mahore police had apprehended three OGWs working for the terrorists of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit in the Shadol area. These include Ahmed Din, son of Abdul Aziz, Kamar Din, son of Abdul Gani, and Ghulam Hassan, son of Habib. Militants received a severe setback recently when the Ramban police busted a hawala racket. |
|
|
Mazdoor conference holds rally
Jammu, December 20 Addressing the gathering, leaders of the NMC demanded that the arrears on account of the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission’s report be released in two installments. They further urged the 13th Finance Commission Chairman, Dr V L Kelkar, to provide a special financial assistant package to Jammu and Kashmir for fully funding expenditures for the implementation of the pay commission’s recommendations. All senior leaders, including Rajan Babu Khajuria, Sunil Kochhar, Sham Lal Sharma, Bhupinder Singh and Mohan Lal Sharma were present. |
|
|
Pahari cultural and welfare forum constituted
Jammu, December 20 The forum also decided that Mirza Abdul Rashid, ex-MP, would be its chief organiser and Kuldeep Raj Gupta organiser. The chairman of the forum has been authorised to nominate two organisers and three vice-chairmen, two provincial bodies’ presidents each from Jammu and Kashmir province.The Pahari employees’ body and the youth body will be announced separately. Bukheri said four prime ministers while visiting Jammu and Kashmir had made public commitments for conferring the ST status on Paharis. Even the governors of the state had also recommended the case of Paharis and a unanimous resolution had already been passed by the state Assembly, but the matter was still pending for consideration with the Government of India. He further added that it had been recommended by the state government. |
|
|
Firing creates panic on border in Kathua
Jammu, December 20 Official sources said the gunshots were heard on the border, but the security forces said the shots were fired inside the Pakistani territory and were not aimed at the Indian side.” So, there was no need to return the fire”, they said. |
|
|
Parishad celebrates ‘Vijay Diwas’
Jammu, December 20 As many as 23 families of martyrs were also honoured on the occasion. The Parishad organised an impressive function in which they paid rich tributes to soldiers from the Army, paramilitary forces, police as well as civilians. The function was organised at Ved Mandir, Amphalla. Among the martyrs, six were from Army, four from CRPF, 11 from police, one each from BSF and Media and the brave Ruksana, who had recently given a tough fight to militants at Rajouri. Deepti Samyal (31), wife of Major Akash Singh who laid down while fighting militants, said such functions reflected the fact that the society recognises the sacrifices of soldiers. However, she demanded the state government should give her job in some government school. “If my son Tejasvi Singh and daughter Khushi Samyal, both minors, express their willingness to join the Army I will happily allow them,” she said. On the occasion, Major General (retd) SK Sharma, AVSM, honoured the family members of the matryrs.
|
|
|
Rs 25 lakh grant for Nowshehra MC
Jammu, December 20 Tara Chand, who visited Rajouri district recently, sought public cooperation in the implementation of various Central and state-sponsored developmental and welfare schemes. He asked the executing agencies to work with dedication and ensure the completion of various developmental projects within stipulated time. He announced Rs 25 lakh for the beautification and upgradation of lanes and drains of the Municipal Committee (MC), Nowshehra. The Deputy CM also distributed 44 cheques worth Rs 13.20 lakh among below poverty line people for the construction of dwelling units under the Integrated Housing Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) at Nowshehra. |
|
|
Sec 144 CrPc imposed in Jammu
Jammu, December 20 The Deputy Commissioner MK Dwivedi today ordered that no procession or rallies would be taken out by any individual or groups. He also ordered that no provocative slogans would be raised in the area of Bikram Chowk to Press Club and the nearby flyovers. The order shall remain valid for a period of two months or till cancelled officially. However, the order shall not be valid for marriages and funeral processions. Jammu has been converted into a city of protests with agitators frequently raising anti-government slogans and blocking traffic on the National Higway by jamming the Tawi Bridge. |
|
|
Two bodies found
Jammu December 20 The body of Fengi Ram, son of Baijnath, resident of Chanunta Morh, Ramnagar, was found lying near Chanunta Morh, falling under the jurisdiction of police station, Ramnagar. The body has been shifted to Ram Nagar Hospital for postmortem. The body of Vijay Singh alias Bittu, son of Sunetar Singh Thakur, resident of Channu, Udhampur, was found from near Kenth Gali, falling under the jurisdiction of police station, Pancheri. Four consume poison, 1 dies
Four persons consumed poison and one of them died at the hospital, here. Sudesh Kumari, wife of Subash Chander, resident of Kabir Nagar, Bari Brahmana, Ramesh Kumar, son of Kaku Ram, resident of Rothana Udhampur, and Ashok Kumar, son of Babu Ram, resident of Teli Basti, Bari Brahmana were admitted in GMC Jammu after they consumed poison. While Vishal Singh, son of Yog Raj, resident of Sainik Colony, who was admitted to the GMC after consuming some poisonous substance, died. Man held with poppy straw
Ghulam Ahmad Lone was arrested with 10 kg of poppy straw, here today. According to a police spokesman, Lone was arrested from Kud. A case has been registered. |
|
|
Reward for dance academy
Udhampur, December 20 Impressed by dance performances at the felicitation day function organised here last evening, the Minister appreciated the efforts of the academy in identifying budding dancers and providing platform to them to showcase their talent. He also announced full cooperation from the government to the academy.
— TNS |
|
|
Farmers’ training camp concludes
Udhampur, December 20 One hundred and twenty farmers attended it. MLA,Chenani, Krishan Chander Bhagat who presided over the concluding function called upon farmers to ensure the maximum participation in such camps and take upon themselves to create awareness among farmers in their neighbourhood after getting technical knowledge in the camps. The farmers were educated about the new trends in farming, use of hybrid seeds, soil moisture management and benefits of timely sowing of wheat. They were informed about importance of these measures during prolonged dry spells and erratic rainfall. |
|
|
JKNPP for reorganisation of state
Jammu, December 20 The JKNPP passed a resolution in this regard at a one-day state- level convention of the party which was held to discuss the current political scenario in the state. At the convention, deliberations with regard to various problems facing different sections of the society were held. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
