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Muharram Procession
Commission directs insurance Co to pay Rs 4.45 lakh
Working Group’s Report |
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Cong will facilitate dialogue: Soz
Aim to complete key projects
Lack of banking facilities hits cross-LoC trade
Militant supporter nabbed in Rajouri
One dead, 10 hurt in accidents
PDP protests price rise
Fake certificate racket busted
Nod to widening of roads in Gujjar Nagar
Power shutdown
Cold wave grips valley
Two die in mishaps
Pak national held near LoC
Ammunition seized
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Muharram Procession
Srinagar, December 26 The police tried to prevent them from proceeding ahead, leading to the clash between the two sides and resulting in the lobbing of teargas shells and cane charging. The shopkeepers downed their shutters as the clashes took place while the traffic was diverted from the Lal Chowk area, nerve centre of the city. Some of the devotees expressing concern over the continuous ban on taking out Muharram processions, who had assembled in the Pratap Park, were also prevented from taking out the procession towards the Lal Chowk. The repeated attempts of the devotees from different locations like Abi Guzar, Court Road and Jehangir Chowk led to the clashes between the devotees and the police personnel. The police had to use force to prevent the devotees and indulged in cane charging, and lobbing of teargas shells. When these measures failed to quell the angry protesters, the police fire din air to disperse the devotees. The clashes between continued till late this evening during which over 20 persons were injured. Several social and religious organisations have expressed concern over the use of force by the police in which several persons were injured. Separatist JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik has also condemned the police action, adding that despite of the government’s assurance that no restrictions would be imposed on the Muharram processions this year, several devotees had been injured in the police action. |
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Commission directs insurance Co to pay Rs 4.45 lakh
Jammu, December 26 The forum further asked the insurance company to give the compensation from the date of accident till the final payment was made along with Rs 5,000 as costs of litigation. The complainant, Kamal Gupta, got his Bajaj Temp Traveler insured with United India Insurance Co Ltd, for a cover risk of Rs 4,45,500 from June 22, 2002 to June 21, 2003. His driver Dilip Singh was driving the vehicle when it met with an accident on January 27, 2003. The repudiation of “Own Damage Claim” by the insurance company forced the complainant to lodge the consumer complaint, which was resisted on the sole ground that the driver did not possess a valid and effective driving licence on the date of the accident. The commission while allowing the complaint held that the driving licence issued on May 18, 1999, till May 15, 2004, was for driving a “Motor Vehicle” other than “Transport Vehicle”. The Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Rajouri, with endorsement dated November 30, 1999, authorised him to drive “Public Service Vehicle” up to November 29, 2002. The Bajaj Temp Traveler weighing 2,050 kg was undisputedly a “Light Motor Vehicle”. The only distinction between an effective licence granted for “Transport Vehicle” and “Passenger Service Vehicle” exists. Though the initial restriction imposed on licence of Dilip Singh had been lifted by making an endorsement to drive “Public Service Vehicle”, the expiry of date of endorsement on the driving licence to drive “Public Service Vehicle” makes no difference with regard to its effectiveness. |
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Working Group’s Report
Jammu, December 26 Urging upon Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for his personal intervention, Harsh Dev said the present report was highly parochial and controversial in nature and high level of manipulation that went into the manufacturing of this abstruse and mystical document. Addressing a press conference Harsh Dev, who is an MLA from Ramnagar, condemned the report for its content as well as manner and mode of its presentation. He said it had exploded the myth of government’s sincerity in addressing the present crisis in the right perspective and in ensuring a fair deal to various sections of society. He said the mysterious and cabalistic presentation of the said report by the secretary of the Working Group to the Chief Minister was highly mischievous and intriguing, besides being outrageous and contemptuous in so far as the high office of Prime Minister was concerned. He said earlier, all groups constituted by the Prime Minister had reported their recommendations directly to the Prime Minister, while it was highly inscrutable and inexplicable for the chairman of the current Working Group to depute his secretary and submit the report to the CM. He described the act as one of indignity and affront to the office of Prime Minister. Harsh Dev, who was one of the members of the Working Group, further maintained that the report was a fraud as far as its content and recommendations were concerned. He said the members of the group were never consulted for finalisation of the recommendations. |
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Cong will facilitate dialogue: Soz
Jammu, December 26 “I don’t think there is anything wrong in discussing autonomy,” Soz said, adding that “Justice Ahmed has given his suggestions and it is not mandatory to accept the whole report.” Soz, who arrived in the winter capital this afternoon, lambasted the then NDA regime led by the BJP for rejecting the autonomy report. “It was wrong on the part of the NDA to throw the autonomy report in the dustbin,” he observed and countered BJP leader Arun Jaitley’s argument that the report was submitted before convening the final meeting. “Being a member of the Working Group, I participated in all meetings and deliberations were completed so it was prerogative of Justice Sagir Ahmed whether he wants to convene another meeting or not,” he argued. He further rejected the charges of other members of the Working Group that the report was prepared and submitted before taking them into confidence. When asked why Justice Sagir has submitted the recommendations to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah instead of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the PCC chief said it was the decision of the chairman of the Working Group. “I don’t think the recommendations were submitted to the Chief Minister only to appease any political party,” he said and reiterated that report comprised only suggestions, and deliberations of all aspects would be held before giving or taking any decision. When his attention was drawn towards strong reactions from Jammu and Ladakh-based political parties over the recommendations of the Working Group, he assured that aspirations of all regions and sub-regions would be taken into consideration. Interestingly, the PCC chief was ready to discuss autonomy proposal of NC and self-rule document of the PDP but he did not disclose the viewpoint of the Congress party on Centre-state relations. “We want to play the role of a facilitator for involving various groups in the dialogue process to restore lasting peace in this region,” he said. |
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Hunting goes on unchecked
Manyari (Kathua), December 26 The expedition could have been a secret but the accidental killing of a member of the group, who fell to a bullet shot by one of the hunters in pursuit of a wild boar, brought the matter into the light. The body of Bodh Raj, an alleged guide of the hunters, of Manyari village was found lying near a ditch late last evening. Seven of the 16 alleged hunters have been arrested while hunt was on to nab the others. The police has booked the accused on charges of murder and violation of Wild Life Act and
Arms Act. Hunting is banned in the state and any such activity close to the border is a serious security lapse. The hunters allegedly included a serving bank manager and some ex-servicemen. The police said the details of the accused would be disclosed tomorrow. The hunters belonging to Samba and Kathua districts allegedly took the help of the deceased, Bodh Raj, to hunt a wild boar near the international border in the wildlife area of Kathua district last evening. When they were trying to hunt the wild boar, the first bullet hit the animal but it managed to run away. One of the hunters then shot the second bullet, which hit Bodh Raj, killing him on the spot. The incident has also raised fingers on the working of the state police, BSF and the Wildlife Department. The hunters after crossing the defence service road killed a wild bore and one of their associate, but none of the officials concerned were aware about this. The Tribune team visited the hunting place and found that a wild boar was lying dead near the fencing. Bodh Raj had a licensed weapon and was suspect in some incidents of hunting in the past, Vijay Verma, a sub-inspector of Hiranagar police station, said. It may be mentioned here that Bodh Raj had a house of only two rooms and a little source of income through the small chunk of land in his village. Still he had a licensed gun with him, which creates questions. After the incident, the police, wildlife officials and the BSF passed buck on each other. An official spokesperson of the BSF said, “We are not aware about the incident and no one has reported to us.” While the police said, “The BSF post is close to the spot. It is strange that they did not know about the hunting. We have registered a case under Section 302 of the RPC, under various sections of Wildlife Protection Act and Arms Act. We have also arrested seven out of 16 accused and are trying to catch others.” SHO, Rajbagh police station, said, “We have also recovered nine guns and 15-16 live cartridges from the accused.” However, after repeated attempts to contact regional wildlife warden
PK Singh was not available for his comments. Later in the evening, the accused - Sarsewak Singh, Vishwajit Singh, Rajinder Singh, Sunil Singh, Ravinder Singh, Shamsher Singh and Pritam Singh - were produced in a local court, which sentenced them to police remand till January
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Aim to complete key projects
After the first train in Kashmir was flagged off by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 11, 2008, between Anantnag in south Kashmir and Mazhom in central Kashmir (66 km), the extended stretch of 35 km between Mazhom in Budgam district and Baramulla in north Kashmir was thrown open by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on February 14 this year. The train service on last stretch of 19 km between Anantnag and Qazigund was flagged off by the Prime Minister on October 28 this year. The Prime Minister while inaugurating the rail link at Anantnag said: “The day is not far when trains will run from Jammu to Srinagar through the Banihal Pass.” He held that the link was a longstanding aspiration of people of Jammu and Kashmir and expressed his “confidence that it would open new horizons in the development of this beautiful state”. Sonia Gandhi during her visit had also inaugurated the new terminal building of the Srinagar Airport, where the first international flight from Dubai landed on February 14. With this the Srinagar airport was brought on the international network, opening a window to attract international tourists to the valley to boost tourism, mainstay of the valley’s economy. The UPA chairperson in her address at the Srinagar International Airport described the three events - inauguration of the terminal building, landing of first international flight and the extension of railway line from Mazhom to Baramulla - as three “saugatein” for the people of Kashmir. Though the projects have not yet provided the optimum results, the state government is planning to go for an “aggressive marketing” to attract international tourists to the picturesque valley. It is also hoped that new vistas of progress and development would go a long way through these developments. The rail link within the valley provides services to more than 5,000 people every day between Qazigund and Baramulla cutting across the valley and has also been providing jobs to many people. Over 300 local youth whose land has been utilised on the construction of railway line and different railway stations, have got jobs in the railways. Qazigund is the highest broad gauge railway station in the world at the height of 5,645 ft from sea level. In order to attract international tourists, the state Tourism Department on December 25 declared 2010 as “Visit Kashmir Year” under the slogan “Paradise Awaits”. For this purpose the government has various integrated plans to promote tourism in the state for which various areas having tourism potential have been identified and work on some is going apace. Announcing this while inaugurating the snow festival at the picturesque Gulmarg, Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora said it would further strengthen the economy of the state and added that the Tourism Department would launch a special motivational drive in Chennai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and other states in the coming year to attract people for spending their leisure time in the valley. |
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Lack of banking facilities hits cross-LoC trade
The trade continues to face lack of communication and banking facilities while some items on the trade list from PoK have been deleted for different reasons. The Federation of Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its counterpart from PoK have not been able to devise ways and means to boost the trade and have not held their second round of meeting so far. The federation was constituted during a visit of a 20-member delegation of Chamber of Industries led by Zulfikar Abbasi from PoK in October last year, when the trade started. Various confidence-building measures (CBMs), including the cross-LoC trade, were a good beginning, believes Industries and Commerce Minister SS Salathia. However, he lamented that the developments in Pakistan had come in way of further boosting the trade. He hoped that the impediments would be removed for which various steps were being taken. “We had started the trade with great expectations,” Abdul Hameed Punjabi, senior vice-president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), commented. He told The Tribune that the two governments could not do what was required to be done. This was disheartening, Punjabi commented, and added that instead of creating infrastructure only problems had been created. “It has not been a smooth trade,” he said and held that telecommunication, banking and free travel facilities for the traders, buyer-seller meets and opening of other trade routes were not in place. Even the constitution of the Federation of Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry had not been finalised so far, he said. In order to revive the “ailing” economy of the Kashmir valley, the KCCI then led by the president, Dr Mubeen Shah, had early this year submitted a 65-page proposal to the state government. “Our industrial sector in the valley has not got necessary investments even after the announcement of the New Industrial Policy by the GOI. It is imperative and justified that the Industrial Policy applicable, particularly to the Kashmir valley should be overhauled,” it states. But, there has been no progress so far, laments the senior vice-president. The revival proposal has recommended that Kashmir be declared as an SEZ on the same pattern as Hainan province in China. It also seeks to combine the declaration of valley as SEZ with the LoC trade to change the valley’s economy for better. The business community has little hope in the next year as the infrastructure development, power, road and railway connectivity, industry, tourism, horticulture, banking and other facilities may not be up to the mark. |
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5 BSF jawans injured in IED blast
Jammu, December 26 The blast occurred on a patrolling strip around 9.15 am when a BSF patrolling party was inspecting the front line fence after getting the reports that it was cut by suspected militants to sneak into this side of border. The injured soldiers included CP Shukla, Pandit Yadav, Ranjay Singh, Ashok Kumar and Rajinder Kumar. Ashok, Ranjay and Shukla were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital this morning. Doctors attending to the injured said no soldier was critically injured and they were responding to the treatment. However, Yadav and Rajinder were admitted to the Samba hospital. The injured soldiers at the hospital said another fence was being erected next to the existing fence on the border. “Terrorists cut the fence only to trap cops by planting the explosive device during night. They had no intention to cross the border as the second fence was intact,” they added. Last month, a BSF official of the rank of DIG, OP Tanwar, lost his life in the similar blast wherein four soldiers were injured near a border post in the Ramgarh sector of Samba. A BSF spokesman said senior officers rushed to the spot this morning and further investigations were on. |
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Militant supporter nabbed in Rajouri
Jammu, December 26 Abdul Salaam was nabbed with medicines initially but later investigation found several SIM cards of post paid phones from his possession. The police has so far not disclosed the number of the SIM cards and under whose names were
those taken. The DGP had already said about 30 militants, some of them doctors and other well-trained in medical care had got training from across the border. The police and intelligence sources said the youth was nabbed in Thana Mandi last evening. Questioning revealed he was working for different militant groups for a couple
of years. His brother Mohd Iqbal had already crossed over to Pakistan in 2003 and was allegedly quite active in sending militants here. Salaam was allegedly in constant touch with him. Sources said the security agencies were shocked to know that the boy was active for some years in the area and providing vital information to militants about the area. Sources said further questioning of the minor boy was on and it was likely that his other accomplices can be arrested also. |
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One dead, 10 hurt in accidents
Srinagar, December 26 The police here said Abdul Ghani Sheikh of Kakapora died when he was hit by a train near the railway track at Kakapopra, Pulwama district, about 25 km from here, this morning. He died on the spot. As many as eight passengers were injured when the bus in which they were travelling from Khag to Srinagar met with an accident at Habbar Khan in Budgam district. The injured have been hospitalised. A pedestrian was injured when hit by a Maruti car at Pampore in Pulwama district. Another pedestrian was injured when hit by a speeding motorcycle at Sopore in Baramulla district. |
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PDP protests price rise
Jammu, December 26 Speaking on the occasion, PDP general secretary Balbir Singh lambasted the coalition regime for its failure to solve problems of the common man. He said except promises this regime had done nothing for the people. The PDP leader said the government had almost completed one-year in power and during this period the Congress-NC regime had compounded the woes of the people due to its policies against the poor. He called upon the party workers to educate the masses about the misdeeds of the coalition and came on roads to oppose policies against people being pursued by this dispensation. Calling upon the party to take peoples’ fight on roads, PDP secretary and MLC Sayed Asgar Ali regretted that despite the construction of the Baglihar hydro-electric project in this belt, number of employed skilled and educated youth have been increasing with every passing day. He demanded that local youth should be provided job in hydro-electric projects. |
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Fake certificate racket busted
Jammu, December 26 A large number of such documents have been recovered from the gang run by Fayaz Ahmad Makhdoomi and Shahnawaz Ahmad, both hailing from Anantnag district of Kashmir valley. Giving details, a police spokesman said the duo had cheated a number of non-state subjects by preparing and selling fake documents, including PRCs, in the name of providing them government jobs. The spokesman said both Fayaz and Shahnawaz were arrested late last night from a hotel located on the BC Road here. During a preliminary search of the hotel room, the police also recovered fake PRCs, arms and driving licences besides fake stamps of various government officials, including deputy commissioners. A case under various Section of the Ranbir Panel Code has been registered with the Police Station, Bus Stand, the spokesman said. He said a huge amount of money had been collected by the duo from various persons in the remote areas of Anantnag district and other parts of the state. In the meantime, the police has requested the general public to cooperate with the investigating agency in case anyone was in possession of fake documents. “The people can submit fake documents and extend their helping hand in accomplishing the investigations to reach the logical conclusion,” the spokesman added. |
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Nod to widening of roads in Gujjar Nagar
Jammu, December 26 The minister said the government had sanctioned to upgrade the DC office on the Gujjar Nagar Road, Jamia Masjid, Talab Khatikan, and extension of work of Jamia Masjid. He further added that the allotment of alternate shops to those whose shops were located in the area where work was on has also been approved. The minister has asked the district administration and Auquaf Board Authorities to expedite the process of land acquisition and compensation to the affected land and house owners. The minister reiterated government’s resolve to provide improved amenities to the people of the state, adding that providing better road connectivity was also on priority of the government. |
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Power shutdown
Jammu, December 26 To carry out the work of maintenance and repairs of 132/33/11KV Grid Station Bari Brahamana and 132/33 KV Grid Station Miransahib, the power supply to Industrial area Bari Brahamana, Narbal, Gangyal, Jakh, Vijaypur and Kartholi and the areas being fed from Bari-Brahamana-1 Grid Station and RS Pura, Bishnah, Seora, Selhar and Miran-Sahib besides areas being fed from Miran-Sahib Grid Station shall remain affected on December 27 from 7 am to 1 pm. The PHE, MES installations and other essential loads shall also remain affected during the shutdown. According to Chief Engineer, EM&RE Wing, Jammu, the shut down shall be subject to fair weather conditions. |
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Cold wave grips valley
Srinagar, December 26 With the minimum temperature dipping to - 19.4°C in Leh and - 14°C in Kargil, the cold desert of Ladakh was reeling under severe cold wave, the Met office said. Even the day temperature registered a steep fall as it dipped to - 5.8°C in Kargil and - 2°C in Leh. Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, recorded a low of -4.4°C. The city had recorded -4.9°C yesterday. Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir recorded a low of - 5.8°C followed by Kupwara (- 5.3), Qazigund (-4.0) and Kokernag (-2.8°C). However, there was a little improvement in Jammu as the city recorded a minimum of 6.8°C. The city had recorded a low of 4.7°C yesterday. Katra recorded a low of 6.3°C followed by Batote (4°C), Banihal (3.4°C) and Bhaderwah (1°C). The day temperature also showed some improvement in Jammu as it recorded a high of 21.2°C followed by Katra at 18.2 °C, Bhaderwah at 16°C, Batote (15.5°C) and Banihal (14.4°C).
— PTI |
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Two die in mishaps
Srinagar, December 26 |
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Jammu, December 26 70-year-old Mohammad Yaseendent of Sialkote district was arrested near the Sidherwan border outpost in the Kanachak area of the Akhnoor sector on December 24. Yaseen seems to be mentally unstable. — PTI
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Ammunition seized
Poonch, December 26 On a tip off, troops of the Rashtriya Rifles during the search operation busted a militant hideout in the forest area of Surankote, about 210 km from Jammu, in Poonch district this evening. The recoveries from the hideout included seven Chinese grenades, an UBGL grenade, two AK magazines and two sniper magazines, the sources said.
— PTI |
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Srinagar, December 26
Srinagar, December 26