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Withdrawal of Opposition Leaders’ Security
600 ultras active in state: Army
Strictly implement new transfer policy, says minister
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CM for private players in job fairs
Fraudulent Appointment
Move on Inter-district Recruitment
Shiv Sena (Hindustan) for revision of poll rolls
‘Immense Punjabi literature role in freedom struggle’
Rs 8.65 cr spent on use of govt aircraft
Man held for fraud
Cheating in Exam
Flat tyres in bikes no more a problem
MC electoral rolls full of errors
Theatre personalities felicitated
‘Funds being deducted for welfare of policemen’
Rs 6.17 crore ex gratia for displaced families of 1947
Govt moots steps to check illegal conversion of farm land use
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Withdrawal of Opposition Leaders’ Security
Jammu, March 29 As soon as the House assembled this morning, PDP leader Abdul Rehman Veeri raised the issue of withdrawal of security to party leader Khawaza Ghulam Mohammad Mir, who has Y- category protection. He reminded the House that the Speaker had asked the Additional Director-General of Police (ADG), CID, to submit a report in this regard. “This government is not taking the House seriously”, he shouted and charged the government with acting in a vindictive manner. All PDP MLAs resorted to sloganeering. Amidst the din, PDP member Moulvi Iftikar Hussain Ansari stated that the security of Mir was withdrawn on the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah because Mir had organised a protest against the failure of the government in Pulwama. Ansari’s charges infuriated Law and Parliamentary Affair Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar who entered into a verbal duel with PDP members and alleged that it was during the PDP-led regime that the security cover was withdrawn from even sitting MLAs. To counter allegations of the PDP, he quoted a statement of Shoaib Lone, son of late minister Ghulam Nabi Lone who was gunned down by some militants. “Shoiab Lone had stated on the floor of the House that some PDP leaders were involved in his father’s assassination”, Sagar stated while countering allegations of Ansari. Opposition and treasury benches indulged in sloganeering and counter slogans. In the pandemonium, Sagar read the report of the ADG but the PDP members shouted that the minister was misleading the House. Shouting slogans against the government, all PDP members staged a walkout. Later talking to reporters outside the House, PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh regretted that the government was not taking proceedings of the Assembly seriously. “At a time when members were asking questions, the Chief Minister was found playing games on his cell phone”, he alleged, adding, “it is height of the non-serious attitude”. Beigh announced that the PDP would not participate in the rest of the Budget session due to non-serious approach of the government. |
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600 ultras active in state: Army
Nagrota, March 29 Brigadier General Staff of 16 Corps Brig Gurdeep Singh told mediapersons here today that though the security forces had upped their ante against terror outfits, 250 terrorists were still operating across the Jammu region while 300 others were operating in the Kashmir region. Among 250 terrorists operating in the Jammu region, 50 were foreign mercenaries. “Based on our intelligence inputs we feel that around 600 terrorists are operating in the state. But we are determined to defeat their nefarious designs,” Brig Gurdeep Singh said. This year, the Army, along with the police and other security agencies, had been able to eliminate 21 terrorists in the Jammu region, including 12 top commanders belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami, he said. Last year, a total of 82 militants, including 24 top commanders, were gunned down in the region, Brig Gurdeep Singh added. He, however, evaded a direct reply on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s pet policy move of granting amnesty to ‘misguided’ youths, who had gone to the PoK for arms training. “Amnesty and rehabilitation of ‘misguided’ youths is a government decision and we are with the government but certainly we do expect a proper screening and a foolproof mechanism in place,” Brig Gurdeep Singh said. On troop pullout from the state, he said relocation and redeployment of forces were a routine exercise. On smuggling of arms and ammunition via trans-LoC trade at the Chakkan-da-Bagh transit point in Poonch district in the recent times, the officer said the Army, too, had received such intelligence inputs. “We have sensitised the Poonch district administration, the Jammu Divisional Commissioner and the police. On our part we have also initiated sufficient measures,” Brig Gurdeep Singh said. He, however, denied any information about suicide bombers entering the state to carry out attacks. A video footage on television news channels recently showed United Jehadi Council chief Syed Salahuddin visiting a terror camp and asking terrorists to adopt new plans. The Army officer also put to rest speculations in a section of media about the Pakistan army built-up near the LoC. |
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Strictly implement new transfer policy, says minister
Jammu, March 29 Reviewing a meeting of Chief Education Officers of Jammu Division here, Peerzada directed the officers to keep a check on the mushrooming growth of private schools and stressed for strict implementation of the guidelines issued by the government in this regard. The minister directed early submission of draft constitution of divisional and district level committees for appointments of class four employees to the administrative department for further action. To implement the mid-day meal programme more affectively, he directed the CEOs and principals of DIETS for monitoring the implementation of the scheme in all schools. He also asked for active involvement of village education committees in the monitoring system. The meeting also reviewed the pace of progress of construction of kitchen sheds in various schools. Peerzada directed the authorities concerned that all ongoing works, including construction of additional classrooms and toilet blocks should be completed in the stipulated time. He exhorted the officers to work with dedication and missionary spirit for improving quality education, especially in the remote and hill areas of the state. Secretary, School Education, GA Peer, Director, School Education, Jammu, Zahida Khan and chief education officers of all the districts attended the meeting. |
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CM for private players in job fairs
Jammu, March 29 After inaugurating the Jammu District Employment Fair here, he said the Sher-i-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY) would be more productive if private players come forward for on the spot recruitment. The government is endeavouring to open more and more avenues for youth to get jobs through SKEWPY, he said and asked the Employment Department to rope in industrialists and private investors in such fairs for talent hunt. “This would serve the dual purpose of on the spot recruitment by industrialists as well as information to the youth about the requirement in the private job market,” he said. Minister for Higher Education and Employment Abdul Gani Malik, said 19 such district fairs were held so far. Two more are scheduled in Kargil and Leh districts next month. Malik added that 60,000 youths had registered themselves in these fairs. —
PTI |
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Fraudulent Appointment
Srinagar, March 29 The charge sheet was filed against Mohammad Ramzan Mir of Ajas Bandipora and Mohd Afzal Sheikh of Koil Muqam, Bandipora, in the court of the CJM,Bandipora. The crime branch had received a complaint from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests regarding the fraudulent appointment of Mohammad Afzal Sheikh as a forest guard. During investigation, it was found that Afzal had managed his appointment in forest division, Bandipora, on the basis of a fake order. He managed it with active participation of Mir who was functioning as in- charge of the establishment and despite knowing the facts, he allowed the accused to join the department, thereby causing a loss to the state exchequer. |
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Move on Inter-district Recruitment Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 29 A large number of BJP workers under the banner of the Anushucit Jatti Morcha gathered at Indira Chowk and from there they started marching towards the Civil Secretariat. The protest rally was organised against the reported move of the government to table a Bill in the Legislative Assembly for banning inter-district recruitment in the state. A protest was organised under the leadership of morcha president Chaman Lal Kanathia and party MLAs belonging to the Schedule Caste (SC) community Prof Gharu Ram, Durga Dass and Bharat Bhushan. Senior leader Bansi Lal Bharti also accompanied the activists. The marchers were stopped by a heavy contingent of police from proceeding towards the secretariat. The protest was turned into a rally and it was addressed by senior leaders of the party. While addressing the rally, BJP leaders came down heavily on the NC-Congress coalition government in the state for taking the anti-SC community decision to deprive the weaker sections of their constitutional rights. They also urged the MLAs belonging to the SC category in other parties to oppose the move. When the BJP activists tried to break the police cordon, they were arrested.
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Shiv Sena (Hindustan) for revision of poll rolls
Jammu, March 29 He said the state election commissioner had spent huge money on the purchase of software for the electoral list, but the names, parentage and addresses of almost 70 per cent of the total electorate were wrong.Most of the voters were not even provided the new voter identity cards. |
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‘Immense Punjabi literature role in freedom struggle’
Jammu, March 29 Addressing a function at Miran Sahib near here yesterday, which was organised by the Punjabi Sahitak Sabha, Chib lauded efforts of the organisation for the promotion of the language and also remembering the contribution made by various Punjabi authors from time to time in creating awareness among the masses for the service of the country. On the occasion, Chib honoured renowned Punjabi poets Harnam Singh Yachak and Trilok Singh Nirbal posthumously. He presented a citation and a memento each to spouses of both the authors. He said that the late poets made a tremendous contribution to promoting the Punjabi literature and would be remembered forever. Chib also released a book, “Animals around Man” by Prof Anmol Singh on the occasion. National Conference MLC, TS Wazir and president, Punjabi Sahitak Sabha, Miran Sahib, Bhupinder Singh Bhargava, also spoke on the occasion. |
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Rs 8.65 cr spent on use of govt aircraft
Jammu, March 29 In a reply to a question of BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta, the government said in 2007-08 a sum of Rs 2,80,00,857 was spent on aircraft and similarly an amount of Rs 3,15,32,846 spent in 2008-09. In the current financial year, Rs 2,70,61,337 has been so far spent up to January 31 on use of helicopters and state-owned planes. When asked whether some income accrued to the department concerned, the government stated: “The Civil Aviation Department is not a commercial department expected to earn revenue. However, the department has provided airlift on need basis to pilgrims of the Amarnath Yatra and a revenue of Rs 19.21 lakh was also earned in
this regard”. |
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Man held for fraud
Jammu, March 29 The police further said the accused revealed the processing of one ATM was slow and the other was fast. Taking advantage of this, he befooled the public by saying that the machine had not been working after they entered their password to withdraw the amount. The police said a case had been registered. |
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Four Class XII students caught using cellphones
Archit Watts Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 29 He further said the examiner of the school brought the incient to the notice of the police, which conducted a raid at the examination centre, where four students were caught using cellphones. The police said a case under the UMC Act had been registered against all eight accused. It may be mentioned here that this was not the first time when students were caught using cellphones for cheating during exams. Earlier, a number of students were arrested from various schools in the Jammu region while adopting similar means for cheating. Iqbal, SHO of Satwari police station, said, “Firstly, we found just one student using a cellphone, but as we started checking all students, four students were found using cellphones.” He further said the exam started at 1:30 pm and the four students and their accomplices were caught around 2:30 pm. Iqbal added, “It was also necessary to catch those who were dictating them answers over the phone. We asked them about their accomplices and they revealed their addresses. They were also apprehended.” Meanwhile, a flying squad of the Board of School Education today caught seven Class XII students using cellphones for cheating in exam in Dablehar village, but they were threatened with dire consequences by the students, if a case was registered against them. Javed Iqbal, Secretary (UMC wing) of the school board, said, “I personally went to check students and caught seven students using bluetooth headsets concealed under their turbans. They threatened me and ran away from the examination centre.”
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Flat tyres in bikes no more a problem
Jammu, March 29
A postgraduate in science, Pradeep Sharma, a resident of Darhal Malkan village in Rajouri district, has invented “an improved motorcycle”, an effective technology to deal with the problem of tyre puncture. Sharma’s invention has been duly patented by the Patent Office, Government of India. Serving as head of department at education and technology wing, District Institute of Education and Technology, Rajouri, Sharma says, “Now, there will be no need to look out for a tyre repair shop immediately after tyre of your mobike gets punctured.” “I have invented a technology by which the rider can easily inject air by fixing a pipe with the motorcycle engine and the tyre, restoring the latter to its shape within one-and-a-half minute,” he added. The riders will have to carry just a piece of pipe in their tool box. But, in case the tube ruptures badly, then this technology would not last for more than 15 to 20 minutes and the rider would have to locate a tyre repair shop. “My invention that costs less than Rs 100 would surely prove to be a boon for the bike riders,” he said. Pradeep worked for eight long years and damaged three motor cycle engines to realise his dream. “I started working on this technology in 1994 and completed it in 2002 and then it took eight more years to get the model patented from the Union Government, which I got just three days ago,” Sharma said. He claimed that in the world of two-wheeler category, none has ever invented such a technology. He added that he would like to explore possibilities of applying similar technology for four-wheelers too, provided someone sponsored him.
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MC electoral rolls full of errors
Jammu, March 29 There are problems in the electoral rolls of the wards of former Mayor Kavinder Bhushan Gupta, former Deputy Mayor Dharamveer Singh Jamwal and other former councillors also. Residents of the ward number 36, which is the ward of the former Mayor, alleged that their names had been misspelled in the voter list. Residents of the ward of Dharamveer Jamwal also had the complaint as well. Talking to The Tribune, Kavinder Gupta said the names of more than 250 voters were written incorrect and the polling stations were also numbered incorrectly in the electoral rolls. “I visited all voters for checking errors in the electoral rolls and highlighted discrepancies to the officer concerned,” said the former Mayor. He appealed to the Chief Election Officer to give more time to the municipal employees engaged in removing discrepancies from the electoral rolls and recheck the electoral rolls of all wards, particularly of the new ones, thoroughly. Gupta said the Election Commission should appoint well-qualified staff in future on election duties like the preparation of electoral rolls so as to avoid discrepancies. The former councillor from ward number 46, Dewarka Nath Choudhary, alleged that in his ward the names of the members of a family were not in the electoral rolls and some voters found their names in the voter lists of other wards. Levelling similar charges, another former councillor from ward number 64, Sheela Handoo, alleged that around 90 per cent of the voter list in her ward was full of discrepancies. “The names of around 300 voters are missing from the voter list and the names of many voters are misspelled,” said Handoo. However, only two days are left for the employees of the election wing of the Municipal Corporation to remove all discrepancies from the electoral rolls and update them. The voters too have only two days to file their objections or get their names added to the voter lists. |
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Theatre personalities felicitated
Jammu, March 29 Speaking on the occasion, cultural activists Mohan Singh and Dr Sohan Lal Koul appreciated their contribution in the promotion of art and culture. Chief guest and MLA MY Taing spoke about the glorious past of the drama movement in Kashmir. Eminent theatre director and film actor Mushtaq Kak was also present. |
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‘Funds being deducted for welfare of policemen’
Jammu, March 29 This information was given by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar in reply to a question asked by Khalid Najeev Suhrabordy in the Legislative Council today. “Proper accounts of the amount realised are being maintained and the funds are also subject to internal audit at regular intervals. Out of Rs 75.12 crore collected, an amount of Rs 40.86 crore has been disbursed among the police personnel on account of the Contributed Police Welfare Fund from 2005 to 2009,” Sagar said. The minister added that the rates of subscription for these funds were being reviewed at regular intervals and were being enhanced on need basis too. |
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Rs 6.17 crore ex gratia for displaced families of 1947
Jammu, March 29 He said Rs 5,000 per kanal, subject to maximum of Rs 25,000 per family in lieu of land deficiency was sanctioned, earlier, which had now been enhanced to Rs 30,000 per kanal subject to the maximum of Rs 1.50 lakh per family. Replying to a question asked by TS Wazir, the minister said: “The value of land varies from place to place but the amount is being paid as ex gratia in lieu of land deficiency of displaced persons and hence the compensation as per market rate cannot be provided”. Meanwhile, in reply to another question asked by Vijay Bakaya, the minister said the construction of 200 flats for Kashmiri migrants at an estimated cost of Rs 22.90 crore at Sheikhpora Budgam, had been taken up during 2004. Bhalla said: “So far the construction work of 120 flats has been completed, of which 31 flats have been allotted in favour of such Kashmiri Pandit families, who had not migrated from the Kashmir valley, but were displaced from their native villages, due to security reasons”. He said the construction of remaining 80 flats would be completed during this fiscal, and these flats would be used as transit accommodation for migrants, who would return to the valley. In reply over the question asked by Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, the minister said district collectors were authorised to issue passbooks to farmers as per revenue records and 74,4991 passbooks had already been issued to them. “However, the process of issuing revenue passbooks is held up in the areas where settlement operations are going-on. When the settlement operations are completed, the process of issuance of passbooks, in such areas, will be initiated forthwith,” Bhalla added. |
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Govt moots steps to check illegal conversion of farm land use
Jammu, March 29 The Legislative Council today witnessed a heated debate on the shrinking area of agricultural land. As soon as Bhalla started replying to a question by BR Kundal, other MLCs also supported him and asked supplementary questions over the issue. A number of times the Deputy Chairman of the council, Arvinder Singh, advised the members to ask questions one by one and be patient. However, the members seemed willing otherwise. They expressed resentment against the state government and showed concern over the “failure of the government to keep a check on illegal land use conversion”. The MLCs, including TS Wazir, Abdul Gani Vakil, MY Teing and MR Quershi, asked the minister about what steps had been taken to stop the illegal conversion of land use; how many persons had been penalised or arrested; use of how much agricultural land had been changed for other purposes in the state. However, the minister assured the House that the government was taking the matter seriously and some more steps were yet to be required to keep a check on this illegal activity. Bhalla said a high-powered committee consisting of agriculture and revenue officers had been constituted and its two meetings had already taken place. He added, “If any member can identify or give us information about the illegal conversion of use of agriculture land for other purposes, the department will be thankful to him.” Later, Bhalla appealed to people to desist from any such illegal activity. He said, “The government is seriously contemplating to form a new policy in this regard.” He further said anybody found guilty would be penalised under Section 133-A of the J&K Land Revenue Act, 1996. “Only two kanals of agricultural land is allowed to be used for residential purpose and those found using or converting more land for the purpose would be fined Rs 500 per day.” Terming Bhalla’s reply as unsatisfactory, the members again raised their voice and asked him “when an Act is already in place, what is the need for a new policy?” They further demanded that some strict measures should be adopted to keep a check on the use of agricultural land for other purposes. |
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Out of a total of 42 terror camps in the PoK 34 camps having about 2,500 terrorists are still operating, while 200 to 250 terrorists in various launching pads close to the LoC are waiting for opportune time.
