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BJP up in arms against Working Group’s report
University on terror radar,
say authorities
CM urged to order rescue operations
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Army constructs girls hostel in remote area
Demand For ST Status
Panthers’ membership drive from today
State awardee history-sheeter in police records
On Lohri, jail inmates say no to violence
No headway in grenade attack on union leader’s house
2 held for giving SIM cards to militants
Soz: Cong to strengthen govt functioning
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BJP up in arms against Working Group’s report
Jammu, January 13 All senior leaders were present to celebrate Lohri. After the celebrations, the leaders took oath for fighting against the evil designs of the government, especially against the Working Group’s report, and termed the celebration as an occasion to pledge to fight for total integrity and abrogation of Article 370. The BJP leaders and the activists further pledged for zero tolerance against the anti-national forces and the anti-national elements within and outside the government. Speaking on the occasion, the BJP leaders said the state had been passing through crucial juncture as pro-secessionist groups supported by the Kashmir centric political parties had become active to demoralise the nationalist forces. They said the recommendations of the Working Group were also a step in the direction of disintegrating the country. State president Shamsher Singh Manhas, Chaman Lal Gupta, Ashok Khajuria, Dr. Nirmal Singh, Rajesh Gupta, Bali Bhagat, Yudhvir Sethi and others senior leaders were present on the occasion. |
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University on terror radar,
say authorities
Jammu, January 13 The officers,namely, Registrar P S Pathania, Controller of Examinations R D Sharma and Dean, Academic Affairs, N A Gani said the police would not interfere in the internal issues or day-to-day functioning. They also gave a warning to students who have threatened to disrupt examinations of various courses starting tomorrow. On the contentious issues of marks tampering and mass copying, they said they had already taken action under the university norms. The police guards had been deployed and the post would have around 50 personnel, including a DSP,an Inspector, constables and others, said Ganai.However, the guards would be under the control and supervision of the university authorities.The expenditure on the police post would be borne by the government and not by the university. Cops would be deployed on the campus on a deputation basis. He added:”It is not in this university only but also the government has deployed police at the Mata Vaishno Devi University campus and the University of Kashmir for the purpose”. Rejecting allegations levelled against the university authorities by the students that no action had been taken in the marks tempering case and in mass copying case, the authorities said that they had taken action against the guilty as per the norms of the university. “Whatever was possible under university norms we have done. After getting information about marks tempering, we detected the cases, set up an enquiry committee and later the cases were handed over to the police” said the Controller of Examinations. Various student organisations are also seeking disaffiliation of the colleges which allowed mass copying in the B.Ed exams. Replying to a question in this regard, the university authorities said immediate action was taken by cancelling the papers.He said there was no provision for disaffiliation of the colleges. |
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CM urged to order rescue operations
Udhampur, January 13 Ruing alleged official inaction in rescuing the victims, its president Eshfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal said Kishtwar MLA Sajad Ahmed Kichloo apprised the organisation that no rescue operation had been taken up by the government so far, despite the matter being in the notice of the authorities concerned. Poswal urged the state government to take the incident seriously and order rescue operations. Carelessness on the part of the authorities concerned speaks volume of violation of human rights and shedding crocodile tears towards the plight of poor, hapless Gujjars who have become victims of such natural phenomenon in the past as well. Poswal demanded that services of Army helicopters should be requested to recover the bodies and at least Rs 2 lakh should be given to the breaved families as ex gratia. Both steps were urgently required to control the resentment prevailing in the Gujjar community, he added. |
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Army constructs girls hostel in remote area
Udhampur, January 13 In the remote and rugged hill features, the Army, apart from guarding the country, has taken up the daunting task of infrastructural development along the border areas. The endeavour is to make the local populace join the mainstream and stride forward towards national development, said an Army spokesperson. He informed that the construction of the new hostel with board and lodging facilities at Hemishukpachan was taken up to facilitate poor children, deprived of quality education facilities in modern schools. Children from various walks of life come to Hemishukpachan after walking over 6 -10 km. The hostel will provide comfortable stay and suitable environment for studies. It can accommodate 32 children at any given time. It has been constructed at an overall cost of Rs 20 lakh and aims to provide a home away from home for children coming to Government High School, Hemishukpachan, from the far-flung areas. |
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Ethnic divide widens as Paharis intensify stir
Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 13 Gujjars and Bakerwals were granted the status in 1991. After suspending their agitation for about two years, the Pahari-speaking people have once against revived their stir in support of their demand and this time they have decided to launch a decisive battle. Cutting across party lines, the Pahari-speaking people from different groups have floated a common platform to jointly pursue their agenda. Pahari leaders of the National Conference,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Congress and the BJP have formed a joint platform to intensify the stir. As soon as the Paharis revived their stir, the Gujjars also started a propaganda to stall any attempt to grant ST status to the former. For the last one week, a war of words has been going between the two communities and there are chances of a conflict between the two ethnic groups. “We don’t want any confrontation with the Gujjars. They (Gujjars) have been unnecessary opposing our genuine demand and their actions have been creating tension”, observed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, convener of the Pahari Forum. Bukhari, a prominent National Conference leader, asserted that all Paharis irrespective of their caste, creed, colour or religion were united this time to take the on-going struggle to its logical end. Taking strong note of the actions of Gujjar leaders who have been opposing ST status to Paharis, Bukhari argued that Gujjars were granted the status in relaxation of rules as they (Gujjars) were the settled community like others. “Only Bakerwals, Gaddis and Sippies are the real nomads”, he argued and vowed to take their agitation to its logical end. “First, we will meet the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister and then take any step in regard to our agitation”, he disclosed. The Gujjars, on the other hand, defended their decision to oppose the ST status to the Paharis. “ The Paharis are demanding the status as a languistic group and there is no provision in the Constitution to grant the same on the basic of language”, argued Dr Javid Rahi, secretary of the Tribal Research and Cultural Society, and added “ the language is a loose term to grant such a status”. Rahi pointed out that the status was granted to only those communities which were historically proved as tribe. He, however, asserted that the Gujjars would oppose tooth and nail any attempt to dilute identities of tribes by granting it to the Pahari-speaking people.
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Panthers’ membership drive from today
Jammu, January 13 Balwant Singh Mankotia, Udhampur MLA and state present of the party, said the membership drive would be launched on January 14. He said party chairman Bhim Singh would launch the drive from the party headquarters at Gandhi Nagar. Bhim Singh will enrol the central office-bearers, district presidents and members of the working committee under his signatures. After strengthening its position in Udhampur district, the Panthers Party has decided to concentrate on new areas, especially in Samba, Reasi, Samba and Ramban districts. In the last Assembly elections, party candidates had performed well in some constituencies of these districts. |
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State awardee history-sheeter in police records
Jammu, January 13 His fault seems to be his unflinching faith of taking up human rights abuse cases, which earned him wrath of many police officials. After making endless rounds of bureaucrats and police officials to clear his name, Kesari has in an affidavit submitted before media and the government announced an award of Rs 50,000 to any police official, who can prove any charge against him. One among the 17 persons selected for the state Award on last Republic Day, Kesari does not know how to feel happy at this, “ I have been given awards like state award for saving environment earlier also. I have been nominated for several award by the Government of Italy besides other states of the country, yet, the Doda police lists me as a criminal and that too when courts have acquitted me of all charges,” Kumar regretted. Basharat Dar, chief secreary, general administration, said Kesari deserved the award for his exemplary work in saving the environment in Doda. “ I can not comment on police records but we recommended his name on the basis of his work in environment protection. His feat of planting lakhs of saplings helped in forest growth and many animals, reportedly, returned to the area.” A senior police official of Doda district said there were a number of criminal cases against them. The official said the cases were pending and till then his name could not be cleared. Carrying thick files of the court orders in his favour, Kesari narrates one after another tale of bravery and suffering at the hands of the police and militants. “I fought militants and took on human rights abuse cases. Both became my enemy. My son was recruited as an SPO in the police due to my family’s continued tirade against militants in their own zone in Doda. But later he was killed in flimsy encounter. My demand of a CBI inquiry into the murder has not been accepted.” Kesari said the tag of history-sheeter was affecting his free movement and he was not being given security also. “ My security was withdrawn several years ago. I was accused of stealing the gun of my security guard. The court orders (he produced the copies) proved my innocence, yet my name is included in the history-sheeters’ list,” he said. |
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On Lohri, jail inmates say no to violence
Jammu, January 13 Rakesh Kumar, a city resident, has spent 14 years in jail and has vowed a life without violence. He still remembers the good old days and festivals spent with his family when he was free.He is serving term in a murder case.He killed a local financier, Pappi. “ I still remember the day when I killed the person and since that day, I have been suffering punishment of life sentence,” said Rakesh, in a pensive mood. “Now, I prefer to say no to violence because of the hard jail life. I have learnt a lesson and will also advise others not to do indulge in criminal activities”. Not only Rakesh but also many others feel the same. “I will never advise anyone in my worst dreams to take the path of violence”, were the words of a woman inmate who requested anonymity. There were Lohri celebrations in the jail today.Abhay Rustum Sopori, a famous singer, entertained jail inmates. Vinod Gupta, jail superintendent, said the purpose of the jailing a person was to reform him. “I am glad many inmates decided to take a vow to shun violence”. DGP (Prisons) Ashok Bhan greeted the inmates and appealed to them to become a model for other prisoners in the country by their good conduct. |
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No headway in grenade attack on union leader’s house
Jammu, January 13 This is the first time in two decades of militancy that a grenade was hurled in a local house.Khurshid Alam, president, Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) and chief inspector in the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department (CAPD), and his family members were in the house when they heard a loud bang resembling a blast late in the evening.They rushed out and found a crater in the lawn and the windowpanes shattered. Luckily, no one was injured. A number of senior bureaucrats and police officers, including DGP Kuldeep Khoda, live in the colony.The explosion broke the windowpanes of an adjoining house also. Following the blast,panic has gripped the city and security arrangements for Republic Day have also been reviewed by the police. A senior police officer told this correspondent that splinters were seized from the spot and investigation was being done to solve the mysterious explosion.Asked if any militant group had owned responsibility, the officer said: “As per the preliminary investigations, it doesn’t seem to be the handiwork of militants. But, we are not ruling out anything.” This was, incidentally, the third grenade attack on the union leader.Before this, there were two such incidents in Srinagar where his house was targeted. The organisation led by him is ,at present, protesting for better pay scales. Alam suspects a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the attack. Meanwhile, an FIR under Section 4/25 of the Explosives Act has been registered Basant Rath,SSP, Jammu said:“We are investigating the matter and it is premature to arrive at any conclusion.” |
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2 held for giving SIM cards to militants
Srinagar, January 13 Malla and Ahmed were picked up and subjected to detailed questioning, after which they told the police how they had procured the SIM cards and when the cards were handed over to the Lashker militants. The duo told the police that they had procured 120 SIM cards and handed these over to the militants during a period before the ban on pre-paid mobile phones was ordered, sources said. All SIMs were supplied to Javed of Sopore in north Kashmir for which they got money, the duo said. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range) Farooq Ahmed, who has to his credit the successful operation at the Lal Chowk, has formed several crack teams to trace Javed, they said. The terrorists killed during the Lal Chowk encounter had kept the mobile connections with them for a long period and these were meant for use only during “operations”. Though the government had imposed a ban on issuance of fresh pre-paid mobile cards from November 1 last year, the existing subscribers have been asked to convert it to post-paid by January 29 this year, failing which the services will be stopped. — PTI |
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Soz: Cong to strengthen govt functioning
Srinagar, January 13 "There are some inherent difficulties in the coalition, but the Congress is on move to strengthen the coalition in the state so that the government reaches out to the people in a better way," JKPCC president Saifuddin Soz said while chairing a day-long convention of party workers at Damhal Hanjipora. Soz said he would take personal interest in resolving their problems in the near future. —
PTI |
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Jammu, January 13
