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Sagir Ahmed’s Report
943 constables pass out of
Police Training Centre
A Tribune Investigation |
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‘Baba’ levels counter allegations against complainant
Govt to invite 25 envoys to Kashmir
Reorganisation of Legislative Council Staff
Over 2 lakh cases pending in courts
Ration Scarcity
Baglihar project handed over to NHPC for 2 years: RS Chib
Corps Commander briefs Governor
on security
Table report, demands Opposition
NSF protests move to ban
inter-district recruitment
Students taught nuances of classical dance
Kupwara residents oppose shifting of Army camp
Earthquake
15 hurt as minibus overturns
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Sagir Ahmed’s Report
Jammu, March 25 Today when opposition members were demanding tabling of the Sagir Ahmed’s report for discussion, Gupta too supported this demand. Gupta said this report was related to the Centre-state relations so it should be discussed in the House. He made it clear that the BJP had already rejected this report, which according to him was prepared to accomplish secessionist agenda. However, his party colleague Khajuria, who was sitting next to him, warned that if the report was placed for debate he would not allow the Assembly to function. “The Working Group was constituted by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and the report should be submitted to him only,” he said and asked: “Why the report was submitted to the Chief Minister?” Though Khajuria was snubbed by Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone for disrupting the proceedings of the House, his stand landed the party in an embarrassing situation in the Assembly. “You are contradicting the stand taken by your Legislature Party leader on this issue,” he told Khajuria. Other BJP members were also surprised over contradictory stand taken by two senior leaders on this issue. |
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943 constables pass out of
Police Training Centre
Talwara (Reasi), March 25 It was the first-ever batch, in which the constables were given special training for three weeks by commandos.It was also for the first time that computer training was imparted. Mohammad Farooq of Anantnag, who was the topper was given out- of- turn promotion , whereas Pawan Kumar, Arun Singh and Sanjeev Kumar were given Rs 5000, Rs 4000 and Rs 4000, respectively. After inspecting the passing out parade, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Director-General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda lauded the role of the PTC. Omar said: “If any survey is conducted of all state police forces, the Jammu and Kashmir police will be the best in the country.” He further said the government had mooted several welfare and modernisation plans and housing facilities to make the PTCs more relevant in giving training to the recruits. “It is really good to see the constables taking the oath for not accepting bribes. I am proud of the state police as I know how its members work when we call them to use their services at odd hours,” said Omar. Omar further said efforts were being made to bring a qualitative change in the training centres. “Besides the modernisation of the PTCs, the government is giving training allowances. In a short time, the staff of all PTCs will be increased,” Omar added. Later, Khoda revealed that in order to strengthen the force, the number of police personnel in the state was increased. “At present, there are 82,000 police personnel as compared to 45,000 in 1995,” said Khoda. The Chief Minister along with the DGP laid the foundation stone of a building of the upper subordinate quarters and assured to complete it in seven months. However, Omar declined to speak on the Indo-Pak ties and said it was a matter concerning the Centre. |
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A Tribune Investigation
Jammu, March 25 The Class XII paper was leaked two days before the examination. Except for a few examination centres in and around the city, the chemistry B paper was the exact copy of questions that had been circulated by SMSes via cellphones. This time again the SMSes, besides having subjective questions had all answers to objective type questions too. As a precautionary measure, the board this time had changed the paper sets in some centres. But this was not of much help. Many aggrieved students from districts like Rajouri and Kathua called up The Tribune this evening and complained about the paper leak. However, The Tribune again was in the possession of the SMSes. The paper distributed among students at the centres outside the municipal limits of Jammu contained all questions circulated through SMSes. Though the board had written to the administration and the police to keep a tab on such reports, the former had failed in ensuring a smooth exam this time also. “Tracing those involved in the paper leak is not a difficult job. With the help of experts, the board authorities can know who is behind all this. It seems that there is lack of will power or there is a well-oiled nexus of those behind the leak with some board officials,” said aggrieved students over the phone. “If the exams are cancelled and rescheduled repeatedly, it will again impact our performance in the ensuing professional entrance exams,” the worried students said. Secretary of the board Dr Sheikh Bashir said: “The question paper had been changed as part of the strategy to check leak at some centres.” He said the board had taken several steps to ensure a smooth exam. Out of 441 examination centres across the Jammu region in which 43,000 students from different streams are appearing for class XII exams, the Joint Secretary, Examination, said paper sets were changed in 45 centres only. The paper sets were changed at the eleventh hour in examination centres within the municipal limits of Jammu, Miran Sahib and RS Pura. Commenting upon today’s leak, the chairman of the board, Prof Desh Bandhu, said papers could not be changed at all centres due to scarcity of time. “The leaked paper reaches out only to marginal students, who secure very less marks. But still it demoralises studious students,” he said. “We are doing everything possible to ensure a smooth examination,” he added.
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‘Baba’ levels counter allegations against complainant
Jammu, March 25 Addressing mediapersons here today, the ‘Baba’, accompanied by his followers, said the woman (complainant) was telling a lie and “her entire family is a big fraud”. He also levelled counter allegations against the woman. He said: “She (complainant) had been a devotee of mine and was living in the ashram here for the past 13 years with her children. But after the retirement of her husband, she hatched a conspiracy to become the sole owner of the ashram.” The ‘Baba’ said he had sufficient evidences to prove himself innocent. Later, the followers of ‘Baba’ raised a number of questions over the statement given by the woman to the police. They also warned her family for not giving false statements. Iqbal Khan, SHO, Satwari police station, said, “We are investigating the matter and no case has been registered against anyone as yet.”
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Govt to invite 25 envoys to Kashmir
Jammu, March 25 Winding up the discussions on grants of his ministry, Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora today told the Assembly that the state had registered decline as far as visiting of foreign tourists was concerned. He, however, said the government was aware of the problem and effective steps would be taken to encourage foreigners to visit the state. He informed the House that envoys of 25 foreign countries, including from Europe and the Commonwealth, would be invited for a self-assessment of the security situation and ground realities in the Kashmir valley this summer. “We want the foreign dignitaries and diplomats to assess and see for themselves the security situation in the Kashmir valley,” Jora stated.
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Reorganisation of Legislative Council Staff
Jammu, March 25 The deputy chairman asked Minister of State for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Aijaz Ahmed Khan to take up the issue at the right quarters within a week. The issue figured during Question Hour here when NC legislator Vijay Bakaya described it a jinxed proposal. “The government admitted in its reply that the Legislative Council staff has been demanding reorganisation, including creation of posts since 2001, but so far they have not been given a fair deal,” Bakaya said. The acute shortage of staff had affected the functioning of the House, he added. The NC legislator was joined by Rashid Qureshi, Khalid Najib Suharwardy, Abdul Gani Vakil, Ajay Sadhotra and Altaf Ahmed Wani, who strongly endorsed the demand. Responding to the members’ concern, Aijaz Ahmed Khan assured the House that the matter would be taken up with department concerned at the earliest. However, Khan’s reply failed to satisfy the members and Arvinder Singh Micky, who asked the minister to take up the issue within a week. Earlier, Khan said the matter was under process in the Law Department after the Legislative Council submitted a proposal for creation of 28 posts in different categories to the department. The matter was examined by the Law Department and was submitted to the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister for taking it up with the Finance Department for their concurrence.
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Over 2 lakh cases pending in courts
Jammu, March 25 During Question Hour in the Upper House here today, Minister of State for Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs Aijaz Ahmed Khan said till January 1 this year a total of 2,37,775 cases were pending disposal in the high court and subordinate courts of the state. He said of these 1,18,599 were criminal cases, while 1,19,176 were civil suits. In the high court, 53,356 civil cases and 2,232 criminal cases were pending, while 65,820 civil and 1,16,367 criminal cases were pending in other subordinate courts of the state. Regarding the total sanctioned strength of judges in the high court, Aijaz said though the sanctioned strength was 14, at present there were only nine judges. NC legislator Mohammad Rashid Qureshi wanted to know whether the government had made any arrangements for holding lok adalats to clear a huge backlog. NC legislator Ajay Sadhotra reminded the government about an apex court’s direction to have fast-track courts. PDP legislator Murtaza Khan wanted to know what exercise had been initiated by the government to clear the backlog. A cornered minister admitted that the pendency of cases take a toll on litigants. He added that 12 courts of district and sessions judges and two courts of sub-judges were created in year 2008. We also conducted lok adalats through out the state to settle the cases of various nature via mediation and reconciliation, Aijaz said. As far as the five vacant posts of high court judges were concerned, we would request the law authorities to fill them, he added. |
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Ration Scarcity
Jammu, March 25 Earlier the minister admitted that there was a vast gap between the allocation and demand of ration in the state. “At present the state is getting a ration quota as per the population projections of 2001 census and over a decade their number has swelled by over 1.58 lakh,” he said. The government, as a long term measure, was committed to projecting the increased population in a proper manner to the Centre so that the shortfall in allocations was rectified. He further said sugar and other commodities were also being provided to people as per the set scale. Earlier, responding to the queries about the measures being taken to meet the shortfall in allocations, the minister said the gap was being filled by diverting variations in off-takes to various areas. He further said additional ration of 15 kg per family being provided from January this year to ration card holders by lifting extra 35,000 metric tonnes under the Central government’s Open Market Sale Scheme-Domestic (OMSS-D) and ad hoc allocations. When the minister was replying, PDP members resorted to shouting slogans. “We are not here to listen to the speech of the minister. We want ration for the people of the state,” PDP member Abdul Rehman Veeri shouted and all PDP members later staged a walkout from the House.
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Baglihar project handed over to NHPC for 2 years: RS Chib
Jammu, March 25 Technical Education Minister RS Chib claimed that the state government had handed over the Baglihar project to the NHPC for its operation and maintenance for a period of two years. “Since we didn’t have the expertise, the NHPC would run and maintain the project for two year and at the same time would train our engineers,” Chib said. Second phase of the project at a cost of Rs 2,800 crore would begin next financial year and would be completed by 2014-15, he added. Asking supplementary queries on power sector during Question Hour in Upper House here today, Congress legislator Abdul Gani Vakil, however, expressed regret over what he felt wrong replies furnished by the Technical Education Minister. “As per my information, we owe more than Rs 500 crore to various power providers,” Vakil said. Chib reiterated that the state as of February owed Rs 250 crore to various power providers, and clarified that there was no such move on their part to either reduce or stop supplying electricity to the state. It may be stated here that National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL), Tehri Hydroelectric Development Corporation (THDC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) provide electricity to the state. On another question pertaining to the Baglihar hydroelectric project, MLCs Naresh Kumar Gupta, BR Kundal, Vijay Bakaya , Ghulam Rasool and Rashid Qureshi cornered the minister on various issues, including compensation to the people of Pul Doda, completion of phase second of Baglihar and handling of phase one of Baglihar by NHPC. Kundal and Ghulam Rasool said how engineers of State Power Development Corporation, who had worked in several state and central governments’ hydroelectric projects, could be incompetent in running and maintaining the project.
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Corps Commander briefs Governor
on security
Srinagar, March 25 He briefed the Governor on the internal and external situation in the Kashmir valley, particularly the continuing infiltration attempts from across the LoC, an official spokesman stated. The Governor discussed with the Corps Commander the broad contours of the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra.Appreciating the security arrangements already under way,Vohra observed that the schedule of sectorwise coordination meetings, also involving the civil and police administrations and the CPOs, along both the routes, had also been drawn up. Meanwhile, a deputation led by Muzaffar Bhat, an RTI activist, also called on the Governor. An official spokesman said the deputation discussed with the Governor measures for strengthening the RTI movement in the state. It also brought some cases to his notice and sought his intervention. |
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Table report, demands Opposition
Jammu, March 25 Though the state government has announced to discuss the recommendations of all five Working Groups, the Opposition demanded that the Saghir Ahmed’s report should exclusively be discussed in the House as it pertained to the Centre-state relations. Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed argued that there was no reason to discuss the recommendations of other four Working Groups. He demanded that the Sagir Ahmed’s report be tabled on the House for discussion. His demand was also supported by Panthers Party Legislature Party leader Harsh Dev Singh and BJP Legislature Party leader Chaman Lal Gupta. Harsh Dev Singh said that he was a member of the Working Group headed by Sagir Ahmed, but copy of the report was not provided to him. “There is a total confusion over the report of this Working Group,” he said.
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NSF protests move to ban
inter-district recruitment
Jammu, March 25 The activists led by president Vikas Sharma assembled on the campus of University of Jammu and burnt an effigy of deputy chief minister Tara Chand for allegedly maintaining silence on the issue. They raised slogans against the government and alleged that the decision was politically motivated move and against the wishes of the youth of the state. Sharma slammed the government for allegedly initiating such divisive measures. “Jammu candidates, particularly those belonging to the SC/ST/OBC categories, have benefited from the inter-district recruitment process,” he added. |
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Students taught nuances of classical dance
Jammu, March 25 Padma Vibhushan awardee and renowned classical dancer Dr Sonal Mansingh explained aspects of the classical dance forms to the participants In the workshop. Quoting her own example, she narrated how she was able to recover from a fatal road accident. “X-rays showed that my vertebra was injured and I had lost all reflexes in my toes, knees, ankles and elbows. It was my earlier training in dancing that gave me self confidence and I was able to recover to dance in a year and a half,” she recalled. Participants learnt some basic movements, hand gestures, poses and facial expressions of the dance style, including all nine emotions of Indian classical dance form such as happiness, anger, disgust, fear, sorrow, courage, compassion, wonder and serenity. The programme was conducted by the secretary, students cultural council, Rameshwari Slathia. |
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Kupwara residents oppose shifting of Army camp Srinagar, March 25 They were pacified only when senior officers, including the Commander of the 8 Sector of the Rashtriya Rifles, assured them that they would look into the issue. This was a rare occasion in the Kashmir valley after the start of insurgency two decades ago when there was a protest against the shifting of an Army camp. “We do not want the Army to shift its camp from here. It has protected us from militants and their excesses. We do not want the dark days to return. If required, we will approach the highest possible authority.We will also go to Delhi, if required”, said Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh (75), two of whose daughters were killed by militants in 90s. “They protect us and we would have been killed, if this camp was not here,” Sheikh said. The valley was once a hotbed of militancy and it was only after a camp of the Rashtriya Rifles camp was established in the area that militancy-related activities were checked. Speaking to The Tribune, defence spokesman Lt-Col J S Brar said: “The readjustment of troops in active counter-insurgency operations is a dynamic and ongoing process. However, this is a heartening development. The senior officers are aware of the matter and the security grid will not be affected ”. |
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Tulip Garden thrown open to public Srinagar, March 25 “The Tulip Garden was thrown open to the public today and we expect a large number of tourists to visit it this season,” Javed Ahmed Shah, district floriculture officer, Srinagar, told The Tribune. Spread over 700 kanals, the garden boasts of being one of the biggest tulip gardens in the Asia with more than 70 varieties of the flower. “There are around 16 lakh tulip plants in the garden this year and more than 60 per cent have bloomed so far. We expect the rest to bloom in the next few days,” Shah said. Initially, tulip bulbs were imported from Holland, but now the department had started exporting the flower to other countries. Originally, the flower is from Central Asia, but in Holland they had made some changes in it in the past 400 years. But now due
to a favourable climate in the Kashmir valley the quality of the flower had improved. “Our flower quality is much better and we have started its cultivation for commercial purpose. This garden on the one hand will serve as a tourist attraction and on the other it is a viable commercial avenue,” Shah said. Various international firms have approached the state Floriculture Department for purchasing tulips from the Kashmir valley. A firm from South Africa wantsto import 5,000 flowers on a daily basis from the valley and even firms from Holland too have approached the department forpurchasing tulips. Meanwhile, a large number of tourists from Gujarat and Maharashtra today visited the garden. “It is amazing. I have no words to express how elated I am to be here. Earlier, I had seen tulip flowers in movies only, but for the first time I am standing between these flowers. It is a lifetime experience,” said Jignesh Patel, a tourist from Gujarat. |
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Earthquake Srinagar, March 25 Reacting to rumours spread by some vested interests in some parts of Kashmir that a major earthquake would occur in south Kashmir, a spokesman for the Disaster Management Authority clarified that earthquakes could not be forecast. According to him, the Anantnag district administration had asked people of the area not to pay attention to
rumours. |
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15 hurt as minibus overturns
Jammu, March 25 The police said the driver was also injured and all injured were rushed to the hospital after the accident. A case has been registered at Sidhra police station. —
TNS |
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The eighth batch of constables today passed out of the Police Training Centre (PTC), Talwara. Of the total 943 recruits, 24 are postgraduates and 81 graduates.
“We have already rejected this report, but we support the demand of the other parties that it should be tabled on the floor of the House because the copy of the report has not been even given to the members of the Working Group,” he said.