|
|
State BJP Chief’s
Election
Amandeep Case
20 injured in Maisuma clashes
Talks with Separatists |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LeT, Harkat joined hands for Srinagar attack
Omar vows to rejuvenate SRTC
R-Day Function
A securityman checks a car outside the MA Stadium in view of the Republic Day celebrations in Jammu on Friday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma
Arms, ammunition thrown from across border
Activists of the JJSF protest in Jammu on Friday. A Tribune photograph
12 hurt in cylinder blast
Crime File
Students union holds protest
Number of vehicles rises 70 times in 30 yrs
Gujjars oppose ST status to
Pahari-speaking people
Rajnish
Case
35 boys return from Bharat Darshan
|
|
Shanta Kumar seeks partymen’s opinion
Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 8 Shanta Kumar is in-charge of the Jammu and Kashmir affairs of the party and Manohar Lal is its national secretary.The election for the chief of the state unit was scheduled to be held on January 4, but was postponed due to failure of the leaders to evolve a consenus. The high command while fixing January 9 as the new date of the election had asked the state leadership to evolve a consensus to avoid bickering. Sources said party leaders were divided on the name.So, senior leaders decided to come here to seek the opinion of prominent activists for evolving a consenus. The candidate was likely to be announced tomorrow.Leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha Arun Jaitely would arrive here tomorrow with another leader Vijay Goel to formally announce the name of new chief. Four leaders, namely, Bali Bhagat, Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLA, Kavinder Gupta, Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and Shamsher Singh Manhas are in the fray. Bhagat, a former MLA from Ramban, who belongs to the Scheduled Castes is the general secretary of the party.He is a former ABVP leader. A strong faction has been supporting him. Jugal Kishore Sharma has been staking his claim too due to two successive victories from the Nagrota assembly segment. Some leaders have supported Mayor Kavinder Gupta and Shamsher Singh Manhas. After reaching Jammu this morning, Shanta Kumar and Manohar Lal started meeting senior activists.Both leaders also held meetings with party MLAs. Except Chaman Lal Gupta and Lal Chand, all others MLA met them and discussed the issue.District presidents also met the two central leaders. Although the choice of the RSS would prevail, its leaders have maintained a silence. “It is an internal matter of the party.So, let the BJP leaders finalise the name of their new president”, a senior RSS leader told The Tribune.
|
|
Main accused ‘fakes’ consuming poison
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 8 “He was brought here from the Kot Bhalwal prison for a medical examination”, said a GMCH spokesperson. He was found in good health and sent back to the prison, he added. Sources at the GMCH police post said since he had not consumed any toxic substance no medico-legal case was registered against him. In the hospital, he had a scuffle with the jail staff, but was overpowered, said a senior police officer. Despite repeated attempts, Superintendent of the Kot Bhalwal prison Mirza Salim Beig could not be reached for comments. Apart from Jatinder Singh, his father, Nagar Singh, uncles Rakesh Singh and Ujagar Singh, co-accused Royal Singh and six police and FSL officials, including former Jammu SSP Manohar Singh, are also lodged in different prisons.
|
|
20 injured in Maisuma clashes
Srinagar, January 8 Business establishments remained closed today as clashes between the stone-pelting youth and the police continued. Clashes between the agitated youth and the police also took place in Baramulla and Sopore towns after the Friday prayers today. At least 20 persons, including 10 policemen and six CRPF men, were injured in the clashes in Maisuma where the trouble started soon after the shopkeepers started opening their shops after two days. The establishments had remained closed in view of the encounter.The protesters were demanding shifting of the CRPF camp at Lal Chowk. The police lobbed teargas shells to quell the demonstrations in Maisuma, Kokar Bazar and other adjacent localities. The incidents disturbed the movement of traffic for several hours which had to be diverted through other routes. The police also had a tough time in chasing away protesters in downtown localities of Gojwara, Kawdara, Nawakadal, and Tengpora near Bypass after the Friday prayers. However, the situation was brought under control after some time. Several others were injured in the clashes between agitated mobs and the police in Baramulla and Sopore. The situation was reported to be tense in Baramulla after the clashes.
|
|
|
Govt working to create right environment: CM
Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 8 Talking to an international news organisation, Omar said his government was working on creating a palatable situation for talks and facilitating the state-Centre dialogue with all shades of opinion. “Separatist groups differ in opinion with the national consensus on the Kashmir issue, as such their dialogue is more relevant with the Union government than the state,” he said in reply to a question. He added that they had no dispute over the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir to discuss it with the state government. “We have otherwise social contacts with them.” However, if they wish to discusses matters with the Centre jointly with us “we are more than willing”. Omar said the most satisfying achievement of the last year, he spent in office, was the lowest ever human rights violation in the state in the last 20 years and the considerable reduction in militancy-related incidents. “We succeeded in creating, by and large, a conducive environment for carrying forward development works smoothly in the state,” he maintained. “No, it was not a fidayeen attack,” he said when asked about yesterday’s Lal Chowk incident. He added that a fidayeen attack meant a suicidal attack on high value target, while this was a simple encounter between fleeing militants and the security forces,” he explained. The Chief Minister said the security forces had inputs about these militants and they were intercepted at a naka, but they escaped by throwing a grenade on the police party and entered a hotel. Omar said a dialogue was imperative to bring about most needed thaw in relations with Pakistan. However, Pakistan had to meet Indian concerns to create a conducive situation that had been disturbed owing to the 26/11 incident. On relations between the coalition partners in the state, Omar said the Congress-NC government was working in complete tandem and every decision was made unanimously and in a coordinated manner.
|
|
LeT, Harkat joined hands for Srinagar attack
Srinagar, January 8 On the role of the LeT and the Harkat, official sources said Manzoor Bhat, who hailed from Sopore and was killed along with Qari of Pakistan, was an “A-listed”, a list of most active and dangerous militants, militant in their records and was associated with the Harkat. However, the fact that the LeT played a key role was clear from the fact that Qari spoke to Pakistan-based senior LeT commander Tahir a couple of times from Punjab Hotel even as a gunfight was raging. The police has got records of their conversation and Tahir, who runs an LeT camp in Pakistan and was active in Kashmir for some years before returning to Pakistan, asked Qari to “kill as many security personnel as possible”.
DGP Kuldip Khoda had said yesterday that the LeT was behind the attack. Police sources said Tahir was speaking on a satellite phone, while Qari had a local mobile phone. “Militant outfits are increasingly collaborating with each other to mount operations on the Indian soil, as most of them are not strong enough to strike on their own. But it is clear that we can’t discount other Pakistan-based outfits like the Harkat,” the sources said. Reports were also circulating here that Qari “was also a Kashmiri”. However, the police firmly denied it. “We are sure that he was from Pakistan and have evidence to back it up,” DIG HK Lohia said. A senior official said Pakistan and its protégés in the valley had floated this rumour that Qari, who hailed from Balochistan, was from Kashmir to rule out the involvement of Pakistan, which is under pressure for its role in sponsoring terrorism in India. |
|
Omar vows to rejuvenate SRTC
Jammu, January 8 “The government is determined to make the corporation vibrant and viable to serve the public to its best capacity,” he said. Flagging off a fleet of 34 modern buses procured for the SRTC for plying in Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts, here today, the Chief Minister said a policy to make the SRTC a profitable venture had been put in
place. “We expect a healthy change in the functioning of the corporation in coming days,”
he added. Omar further said procurement of latest buses and making them operational in the areas of erstwhile district Doda, is aimed at minimising the chances of accidents. “It was observed that frequent accidents in these districts take place due to bad condition of buses and overloading,” he said, adding the new buses would lessen the dependence of public on private transport. The Chief Minister said the government was working on a comprehensive policy to gradually increase the number of modern buses in the SRTC annually to strengthen it. “Voluntary retirement offer to the employees is also there to reduce the number of surplus staff, besides other measures, ” he informed. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Transport and CAPD Qamar Ali Akhoon said the Chief Minister had also approved procuring of 150 modern coaches for the SRTC. Of these, 75 will ply in Jammu and equal number in the Kashmir division. “We are gradually increasing the number of buses and taking other measures to strengthen the SRTC and provide better service conditions for its employees,” the minister added. |
|
|
Stadium shut to sportsmen
Archit Watts Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 8 All possible arrangements have been made at the MA Stadium, the venue for the main R-Day function here. The stadium has been turned into a cantonment, as men in khaki have been deployed in every corner to ensure foolproof security. After visiting the stadium, The Tribune team learnt that no outsider is allowed to go inside the stadium and a large number of policemen along with CRPF and private security personnel had been deputed for the purpose. The tight security arrangements are creating hurdles in the daily practice of sports lovers. Naresh Kumar, a cricket player, lamented, “The steps taken by the police are appreciable, but it should provide some other place for us to play. Where should we play cricket?” It has been decided in a high-level meeting of security officials to adopt zero tolerance to security lapses during the R-Day celebrations. All latest scientific instruments, including metal detectors and other electronic gadgets, are being used for the purpose. A police official said, “Elaborate security arrangements have been made to thwart the designs of militants to create trouble on the occasion. Cameras will also be installed around the stadium to keep a close watch on miscreants.” He said at certain points people would have to undergo frisking to attend the function at the stadium. Extra vigil is being maintained in thickly populated parts of the city and police officials have been deputed at various places in mufti. At all entry points to the city, the police has been deployed to check every vehicle coming into the city. SSP, Jammu, Basant Kumar Rath said, “Though there is no serious threat from the militants, we are taking the maximum care to make the Republic Day celebrations safe.”
|
|
|
Arms, ammunition thrown from across border
Jammu, January 8 The recoveries included two pistols, four magazines, 70 rounds, 1.5 kg of RDX and Rs 30,000 Sources in the BSF told The Tribune that a jawan, Himmat Singh, who was on patrol duty near the Jabowal post, heard a sound. “ Amidst thick fog and poor visibility, the jawan couldn’t see anything, but he fired three rounds in the direction”, they said. Taking advantage of thick fog, the miscreants escaped back to Pakistan. Hearing gunshots, other jawans rushed to the area and a search operation was launched immediately, said the sources. The jawans recovered five packets of arms and ammunition, besides Rs 30,000 that appeared to be genuine, they added. Probably, the consignment might have been thrown for ISI conduits to hand it over to the ultras, they said. The incident took place within a fortnight of some miscreants throwing arms and ammunition in the RS Pura sector, they added. The
Arnia police has also initiated investigations. |
|
|
Police post in varsity opposed
Jammu, January 8 According to a statement issued here, the protest was held at Industrial Training Institute (ITI) College. Students boycotted their classes and raised slogans against the University of Jammu and the state government. Addressing the gathering, Partap Singh Jamwal, state vice-president of the JJSF, said there was no need to establish the police post. Criticising the RTO, Jamwal said the students were suffering as some transporters were not ferrying them due to the 50 per cent fare concession. He demanded that the RTO should take the necessary steps in this regard. Meanwhile, continuing with their protest for the 21day against the University of Jammu authorities,members of the National Secular Forum (NSF) held an awareness campaign on the campus and sought immediate response of the authorities towards their demands. According to a statement issued here, the NSF members led by Vikas Sharma, its president, distributed pamphlets among the directors, assistant directors, doctors, Deans, students, scholars, teachers and all other staff. |
|
|
12 hurt in cylinder blast
Udhampur, January 8 SDM, Bhaderwah, Kalyan Singh and SDPO Bharat Bhushan Sharma rushed to the spot. Both ruled out any foul play from the security point of view. They said the accident occurred due to a blast in a gas cylinder as a petromax cylinder was recovered from the debris. The victims along with their relatives were present in the house, which was badly damaged, when the blast took place. The seriously injured, Parveena Begum and Tahir Hussain, were rushed to Jammu in a helicopter for treatment. The blast occurred in the house of a government employee, Mohammad Iqbal, at Khakhal Mohalla, which is in the heart of the city, around 2.30 pm. Panic gripped the area around the house. The shopkeepers shut their shops apprehending some bomb blast. The injured have been identified as Parveen Bano, wife of the house owner, their daughters Safia Bano, Tabiya Bano, Javesh Bano, Asmma Bano and Rokiya Bano, besides relatives Shaheen Bano, Amina Begum, Heena Bano, Abdul Khurshid, Tahir Hussain and Azar Ahmed of Doda. |
|
|
Man dies of poisoning
Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 8 Meanwhile, Yash Paul, a resident of Muthi, was admitted to the GMCH after he allegedly consumed some poisonous substance, it said. A case has been registered. 38 bovine seized
The police claimed to have busted a gang of bovine smugglers and seized 38 head of cattle, six vehicles and arrested Farooq Ahmad of Samroli in Udhampur on Friday. However, his accomplices managed to escape due to darkness, the police said. It said all vehicles had been impounded and a case registered at Kathua police station. Body found
The body of a woman was found at the Bus Stand in Jammu on Friday, the police said. It had been shifted to the GMCH for post-mortem. The police said investigations had been started. |
|
|
Students union holds protest
Udhmapur, January 8 The district unit of the union had yesterday announced to start agitation against the government apathy towards the students of Udhampur. As a part of this, its members gathered at Indira Chowk here. Unit president Ajaz Sumbria said the government as well as authorities of Jammu University was ignoring the interests of the students of this area. He alleged that the discrimination was palpable because the authorities developed cold feet on construction of building of Jammu University campus here despite selection of land and release of funds for the purpose. Due to political consideration, the government opened a new campus at Bhaderwah during the tenure of former Chief Minster Gulam Nabi
Azad. |
|
|
Number of vehicles rises 70 times in 30 yrs
Srinagar, January 8 “The number of vehicles in 2004 has increased by 70 times as compared to that in 1971. The length of roads during this period, however, has increased three times only,” said Gurcharan Singh, former mass media officer of the Directorate of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing. Providing figures, he said there were 813 buses and 1,982 trucks in 1971, whereas in 2004 the figures stood at 20,139 buses and 29,924 trucks. Similarly, the number of taxis rose from 489 in 1971 to 10,306 in 2004. Gurcharan added that the number of cars rose from 1,828 in 1971 to 74,187 in 2004, whereas the number of motorcycles rose from 1,305 to 253,611 during the same period. “The number of auto-rickshaws rose from 97 in 1971 to 20,578 in 2004. From just 17 tractors in 1971 the number rose to 10,969 in 2004.” He informed that the length of roads had increased from 4,790 km in 1966 to 15,113 km in 2004. Traffic in Kashmir had increased 70 times, whereas the length of roads had increased just three times, he added. Gurcharan said, “These figures do not depict development exactly. The number of vehicles should keep pace with the length of roads and population.” “Despite directions from the High Court that vehicles ought to be phased out after 15 years, nothing is happening,” stated Gurcharan, adding that “the emission of smoke from old vehicles result in air pollution. New engines are fuel efficient. Consequently, the extent of damage is reduced.” Suggesting measures to cope up with such challenges, he said vehicles and engines should be perfect and fuel efficient. According to him, proper pollution checks should be maintained and shift to kerosene, gas and solar heaters should be eco-friendly. Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo, District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, during the inauguration of the Road Traffic Safety Week here on January 1, said traffic mishaps were a major cause of concern as “road accidents claimed more lives than violence in the valley last year.”
|
|
|
Gujjars oppose ST status to
Pahari-speaking people
Jammu, January 8 They have warned both state and central governments against any such move aimed at diluting the tribal status of nomadic communities by enacting a “linguistic group” into the “tribal amalgam”. Haji Shamsher Ali Boken, state president of the Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar Bakerwal Joint Forum, at a meeting expressed anguish over the vested interests, including some Poonch and Rajouri-based politicians, trying to weaken the “tribal character” of various communities, including Gujjars, by trying to get the tribal status for Pahari-speaking people. The forum faxed a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram submitting that some people were trying to get the ST status in the name of a language called western Pahari to secure certain benefits available to tribal and nomadic people only. |
|
|
Samiti seeks support of Rajput Sabha
Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 8 The MSS, it may be mentioned, had been spearheading an agitation seeking a CBI probe and the arrest of culprits.The committee members comprising Pankajaji, Priya Sethi, Archana Koushal, Shilpi Verma, Anuradha Charak and Usha Choudhary took up the issue with the Rajput Sabha office-bearers. The members expressed concern over the inordinate delay in action against the guilty police officers. They also called on Jain Bazar Association president Arun Sethi and sought his support to put pressure on the government so that justice was given to the family of the deceased. Presidents of both organisations expressed sympathies with the family and said no one had any right to kill any innocent. They assured full support to the MSS.
|
|
35 boys return from Bharat Darshan
Srinagar, January 8 They travelled by air,enjoyed a Metro ride in Delhi and covered a road journey of about 4910 km. “During the tour, they carried a message of peace and love from the valley to the rest of India”, a BSF officer said. As part of the the force’s programme to reach out to the youth, the BSF has so far sent 432 state boys on Bharat
Darshan.
|
||
|
| 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 | |
