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Employees’ Strike
Bhim Singh supports striking staff
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Bill on Inter-district Recruitment
Govt starts re-employing retired employees
“Need for integrated research to boost productivity”
Lessons to be learnt from Dantewada: Special DG, CRPF
Jawan killed in Kupwara gunfight
Army celebrates 235th Ordnance Corps Day
Govt data on Kashmiri Pandits unrealistic: samiti
Release political prisoners: Mufti
CPM protests against price rise
Workshop on fast track scheme for scientists
PDP’s anti-poor face exposed: BJP
Omar, Farooq visit Tulip Garden
Policy on pvt coaching institutions sought
2 held, narcotics seized
Gang of bovine smugglers busted
16-year-old raped in Kalakote
7 Inspectors promoted DSPs
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Employees’ Strike
Jammu, April 8 This is another step by the government to foil the strike of the employees after imposing the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on them. A senior police officer told The Tribune that all deputy commissioners and SSPs had been directed to constitute mobile inspection teams to check the attendance of the employees. “We have been ordered to file reports to the office of the Divisional Commissioner by 4 pm daily. The government is not ready to give any relaxation to the striking employees, as earlier they did not listen to it,” he added. The officer further said an official notification had been sent to the department to follow instructions. Meanwhile, the police apprehended five more employees from the SMGS hospital here today. However, Basant Rath, SSP, Jammu, showed ignorance about the number of arrested employees. He said, “We are adopting various methods to implement the law against the striking employees.” For the sixth consecutive day today, the employees of all government offices, including civil secretariat, hospitals, schools, colleges and banks, remained away from work. Work in all government departments and offices remained paralysed. |
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Bhim Singh supports striking staff
Jammu, April 8 Bhim Singh expressed full support to the employees in their fight for the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. Addressing a meeting, Bhim Singh exhorted the party workers to support the cause of the most exploited sections of society in the state which had been denied their due rights for six decades by successive regimes. He appreciated the positive and effective role of the Legislators in the Assembly and called on the workers to come on the roads in support of the agitating educated unemployed youths, striking employees and all other sections of society. |
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End strike in public interest: Omar
The Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), spearheading the agitation, that began its strike on Monday last, continued with the strike for the fourth day today. JCC leader Khurshid Alam welcomed the offer of talks from the state government. The employees held protests in different areas of the valley and the police resorted to a cane-charge in which several employees were injured.
Srinagar, April 8 “Our primary responsibility is to provide better services to people with special focus on the essential services,” he said while replying to queries from mediapersons during a visit to the Tulip Garden here today. He said the government incurred Rs 1,800 crore on the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. Keeping all aspects in mind, the striking employees should resume duties in the larger interest of the people, he added. While addressing a high level meeting of officers of the divisional administration in view of the strike here last evening, the Chief Minister had said the government had not closed its doors for negotiations. He urged upon the employees to resume duties in the larger public interest. Omar said the government was committed to fulfilling the genuine demands of the employees, most of which had already been met. The government required a whooping Rs 4,200 crore to pay the arrears on account of the Sixth Pay Commission for which resources were to be arranged, he said. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister for Medical Education RS Chib, Minister for CAPD and Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon, DGP Kuldip Khoda and others. He said “no work no pay” provision would be strictly implemented and the resolve of the government in this regard was firm. Later, the Chief Minister and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah visited the famous Tulip Garden here. A large number of tourists from other parts of the country and abroad, besides schoolchildren, were present there. The Chief Minister also interacted with tourists and sought their views regarding the Tulip Garden and Kashmir. The tourists informed the Chief Minister that they felt fascinated with the beauty of the garden and now they would also visit other hill resorts like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, besides Mughal Gardens. |
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Bill on Inter-district Recruitment
Jammu, April 8 Opposing the Bill, members of the organisation alleged that it was politically motivated and tended to justify the monopoly of a particular section of the society in the valley. “It will put an official stamp on the attempts to ethnically cleanse the valley of all its minorities. The provisions of the Bill will also create a permit system in recruitment at the district level. The Kashmiri Pandit community will also suffer, if this Bill is allowed a smooth passage in the House”, they said. Meanwhile, the members expressed satisfaction over the rejection of the Permanent Resident Women (Disqualification) Bill in the Legislative Council and condemned the manner in which the government had treated the demonstrating refugees. “The brutal lathi-charge and events thereafter show that the government has no regard for the miseries and plight of the refugees who are demanding nothing but their due rights”, the members said. Meanwhile, many organisations have supported the bandh call given by the BJP against the decision of the government to ban inter-district recruitment. The Jammu State Morcha (JSM), while supporting the strike call, asked people to express solidarity with the weaker sections. The JSM observed: “The Bill proposed to be passed implies that the state government does not consider Jammu and Kashmir as one unit and now wants to treat each district of the state differentially, thus, not allowing the SCs/STs candidates to be appointed in the districts of the Kashmir valley as per the reservation quota prescribed in the Indian Constitution.” A joint meeting of various Sikh organisations was held today under the chairmanship of Harjeet Singh, president of the Nirbhow Nirvair Organisation (NNO). The All-India Sikh Students Federation, All J&K Sikh Youth Organisation and the Istri Sudhar Sabha participated in the meeting. In the meeting it was decided to support the bandh call. |
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Govt starts re-employing retired employees
Jammu, April 8 The decision of the state government to re-employ retired employees is considered as glaring example of betrayal with 5,67,358 educated unemployed youths of the state, who have registered themselves with different employment exchanges. On behalf of the Jammu Divisional Commissioner, an advertisement was issued today inviting applications from retired head assistant and junior assistants for re-employment in the Revenue Department against the posts lying vacant in the Divisional Commissioner office, Jammu, as well as in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu. It has been mentioned in the notice that the applicant should not have attained the age of 65 years for this purpose and the appointee will get a consolidated pay equal to the last salary minus pension. April 20 has been fixed as last date for receiving the applications. “We have advertised these posts because there is an immediate requirement of experienced staff in some offices,” Jammu Divisional Commissioner Dr Pawan Kotwal told The Tribune and said the retired employees would be engaged for three to six months purely on contractual basis. “The process of recruitments for vacant posts has already started and after the completion of this process, these contractual employees would be replaced with fresh recruits,” Kotwal said. Interestingly, the government had recently stated in the Assembly that “as a matter of policy extensions in government services are not favoured”. The government had assured that culture of re-employing the retired employees would not be encouraged in the state due to increasing number of unemployed youth. It is all due to the pressure of educated unemployed youth that the state government has failed to take decision on enhancing retirement age of employees from 58 to 60 years. Despite repeated assurances of the authorities to give priority to the unemployed youth filling vacant posts, the government itself admitted that since January 2009, 26 retired government employees have been re-employed by the authorities in various departments. According to official data available with The Tribune, number of unemployed youth in the state is 5,67,358, out of which 2,95,266 have registered themselves in the Kashmir valley and 2,72,072 in the Jammu region. |
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“Need for integrated research to boost productivity”
Jammu, April 8 The two-day-long meeting was held under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor of the varsity, Dr B Mishra. It was attended by the Directors of the Line Department, Deans/Directors, Heads of divisions and other chief scientists. In his opening address, Dr Mishra emphasised that the state was deficient in wheat, rice, fruits and vegetables, dairy and animal products. He underlined the need for integrated research efforts to enhance the productivity levels. He suggested that a specific strategic research plan was needed for the state where 70 per cent agriculture area was rainfed. He reiterated the university’s commitment to the well- being of farmers of the Jammu province through the promotion of need-based projects on a priority. Director, Project Directorate of Cattle (ICAR), Meerut, Dr A. K. Mishra, was the expert of eminence in the field of veterinary sciences for the meeting. The Director, Directorate of Rice Research (ICAR), Hyderabad, Dr B. C. Viraktamath, held the view that the university should focus on development of hybrid varieties of basmati, maize and vegetables to meet consumer preference and demand and at the same time to preserve the indigenous genetic resources of different crops available to enrich the genetic pool for breeding purpose. Director, Agriculture, Jammu, Ajay Khajuria suggested there should be frequent interactive meetings between the department and the university scientists for technological dissemination. A book on “Walnut in India and Heritage Cultivation”, written by Dr B. L. Puttoo, was also released by the Vice- Chancellor. Prof Deepak Kher conducted the proceedings while the vote of thanks was delivered by Prof J.P. Sharma. |
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Lessons to be learnt from Dantewada: Special DG, CRPF
Jammu, April 8 It may be stated here that the CRPF had been performing duties such as road opening , area domination operations and counter-terrorism operations since the eruption of terrorism in the state. Furthermore, there had been fidayeen (suicide) attacks on the camps of various security forces, including the CRPF, in the past in the Kashmir valley. “Though our troopers are always under threat here in the state while performing various duties, we do review our tactics from time to time and take necessary precautions,” sources in the CRPF told The Tribune. No doubt, it (Dantewada killings) was a big loss, but the situation here was altogether different because the CRPF concentration in the state was more compared to that in Chhattisgarh, they added. As of now a panel of the Union Home Ministry was busy finding what exactly happened on the ground at Dantewada on the fateful day but of course reconciliatory action would also follow in Jammu and Kashmir, said the sources. The fact could not be denied that CRPF personnel remained under immense pressure all the time, they added. The sources also divulged that a senior CRPF officer of the rank of DIG, an IPS cadre officer, who had ample experience of combating terrorism during his stint at Anantnag, was the in charge of the Dantewada operation. Just three months ago, he was shifted to Dantewada. At least one company (76 jawans) was wiped out in the Maoist attack and one could imagine the damage the incident caused to the remaining five companies of the battalion, said the sources. Talking to The Tribune over the phone from New Delhi, Special DG, CRPF, J&K Zone, NK Tripathi said, “Definitely, the CRPF in general will draw certain lessons from the Dantewada incident and in its wake if we feel that certain things needs to be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, the same will be done.” However, the senior officer said for the past six months special emphasis was being given on the training of CRPF personnel in the state. It has been reliably learnt that Tripathi had flown to New Delhi to temporarily look after CRPF DG Vikram Shrivastava’s office, besides supervising arrangements for the “Valour Day” celebrations of the CRPF tomorrow. Shrivastava, along with CRPF Special DG, Raipur Zone, Vijay Raman, is camping at Jagdalpur after the Maoists massacred 76 jawans in a meticulously planned ambush on April 6. |
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Jawan killed in Kupwara gunfight
Srinagar, April 8 “The security forces were in pursuit of a top LeT commander, who was believed to be hiding in the forest. The militants opened fire in which one jawan was killed and three jawans were injured. The
militants, however, escaped”, said the officer. A senior Army officer said though the encounter had ended, a combing operation in the area was on and reinforcements had been called. Meanwhile, a major tragedy was averted when the security forces detected an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted in a pressure cooker on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway at Mirgund. The IED, weighing about 2 kg was later defused. Meanwhile, the security forces busted a militant hideout in Kokarbagh Behak in the upper reaches of Budgam district and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition today. The recoveries included two AK 47 rifles, one AK 74 rifle, a rocket projectile gun with rockets, a latest wireless set, RDX packed in several packets and a huge quantity of ammunition, including grenades and material used to make IEDs. In another incident, militants fired at and injured a former militant, Ali Mohammad Mir of the Hizbul Mujahideen outside his house at Waddar Bala in Handwara. He has been shifted to hospital. |
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Army celebrates 235th Ordnance Corps Day
Jammu, April 8 The Army Ordnance Corps is entrusted with the task of managing a large, complex inventory and providing logistic support to the field Army across a wide spectrum of conflict situations. The daunting task calls for dedication, high degree of professionalism and flexibility in keeping with the changing situation of war and peace. The Corps has a record of outstanding contribution in all operations and has proved its mettle both in war and peace. In the Northern Command, the Army Ordnance Corps has carried out its assigned task of ordnance logistic support to the equipment intensive field the Army effectively to ensure that field formations are fully equipped to rise to any call of duty. Contribution of the Army Ordnance Corps in diverse conditions and varied terrain during Operations Vijay and Parakram and in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment has been praiseworthy. |
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Govt data on Kashmiri Pandits unrealistic: samiti
Srinagar, April 8 “The figures given by the state government on the floor of the House were unrealistic and hinted at a conspiracy against the Kashmiri Pandit community,” Sanjay K. Tickoo, president of the samiti, said here yesterday. “We never expected that the state government will even fiddle with the data related to the Kashmiri Pandits,” he added. Tickoo said the samiti would organise a series of seminars on the issue “against the false propaganda” of the state and Central governments so that the world community could understand their mala fide intentions against the community. Giving details, he said an independent census programme in 2008 revealed that 99.14 per cent of the total population of 3,67,289 Kashmiri Pandits had migrated from the valley from time to time since the eruption of militancy. The number of Kashmiri Pandits who migrated was 3,64,130 comprising 74,692 families out of a total of 75,343 families. Tickoo contested the claims of the government that 808 families were still residing in the valley and only 219 Kashmiri Pandits were killed during the past two decades of violence in the state. He added that hundreds of them were killed with the very first list showing 403 Kashmiri Pandits killed during the past two decades. On the details about temples in Kashmir provided by the government, the samiti said as per the state government report only 170 out of the 430 temples were damaged in militancy-related incidents during the past 20 years. “The report also said out of the 170 temples, 90 had been renovated at a cost of Rs 33 lakh by the state government. But as on March 31, 2008, during the census programme, the samiti came across 665 temples that were damaged in militancy-related incidents during the past 20 years,” Tickoo said. |
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Release political prisoners: Mufti
Srinagar, April 8 In a statement, the Mufti said here today that it was perturbing that the government had “resorted to the draconian Public Safety Act to stifle the voices of dissent”. He described as alarming the government violating the orders of higher judiciary to hide its inability to sort out issues politically. The Mufti said leaders like Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Ashraf Sehrayee, Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi, Nayeem Ahmed Khan and General Musa were imprisoned in distant jails even though the courts had struck down their detention. Some of these leaders had developed ailments as a result of long incarcerations but the government had revealed its worst face in dealing with them, he added. Referring to recent statements from the Central government on the possible resolution of the Kashmir issue, the PDP patron wondered how that could be achieved through dialogue in an atmosphere where the government did not tolerate any voice of dissent. He said repeated statements about dialogue were losing credibility as a result of the inability of the government to build confidence among people. The Mufti said on the one hand the government was claiming credit for the so-called policy to facilitate the return of the youths from the PoK, while on the other it had put in jail hundreds along side criminals. “The phony claims of the government are now a common knowledge. But the pain of the victims of its cruel policies goes unnoticed,” he said and cautioned the government that the PDP would not desist from actively campaigning for the release of innocent detainees. |
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CPM protests against price rise
Srinagar, April 8 Addressing the protesters, party leaders said the prices of essential commodities had risen manifold, putting a huge burden on the common man. A senior leader, G.N.Malik, said considering that a vast majority of people did not have fixed income and had no protection from inflation,a huge increase in the prices of essential commodities constituted a regressive redistribution of income from the poor to the rich having a reverse impact on the lives and livelihood of the common man. Malik said the government’s callous attitude to the price rise would not be tolerated by the people and his party had decided to intensify its struggle. Various other leaders also expressed concern over the increase in the number of unemployed educated youth in the state and said the number had now touched five lakh. |
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Workshop on fast track scheme for scientists
Jammu, April 8 The event has been organised by the Department of Zoology in collaboration with the Directorate of Internal Quality Assurance (DIQA). Vice-Chancellor of the varsity, Prof Varun Sahni, was the chief guest. It may be pertinent to mention that around 50 young scientists from all over the country shall be submitting their progress project reports before the expert panel in this three-day workshop. Director, DIQAC, Prof Kuldeep Sharma, welcomed the chief guest, the members of the expert panel and the participants of the programme. Dr Rambir Singh from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, briefed the participants about the workshop and the scheme. Prof. Varun Sahni in his speech expressed hope of further collaboration between the Department of Science and Technology and the varsity for the benefit of the scientists and scholars. The compendium of progress reports was also released on the occasion. Other speakers included Prof BD Joshi, who was member of the expert panel, Dean,Faculty of Life Sciences, and head, Zoology Department, Prof Subhash Gupta. The vote of thanks was proposed by former Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences, Prof MK Jyoti. Registrar PS Pathania, Director, Colleges Development Council, Prof Rajive Gupta, Dean,Students Welfare, Prof DS Tara, Prof NK Tripathi, besides heads of various departments were also present. |
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PDP’s anti-poor face exposed: BJP
Jammu, April 8 In a statement here today, BJP spokesman Ramesh Arora said utterances of the PDP chief had exposed the real face of the party which had been promoting a secessionist agenda. He said that instead of realising miserable conditions of the weaker sections, the PDP was more concerned about accomplishing its own Kashmir-centric agenda. It was high time for weaker sections, especially the Gujjars and Bakerwals, to realise that Kashmir-based political parties, especially the NC and the PDP,had been only hoodwinking them by raking up their sentiments. He said the stand taken by these parties on the Bill had totally exposed their anti-SC, anti-Gujjar and anti-Bakerwal face. “The parties have been exploiting sentiments of SCs, Gujjars and Bakerwals for years and claiming to protect the interests of these communities”, he said. |
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Omar, Farooq visit Tulip Garden
Srinagar, April 8 Omar also interacted with tourists and sought their views regarding the Tulip Garden and Kashmir. The tourists informed the Chief Minister that they felt fascinated with the beauty of the garden and now they would also visit other hill resorts like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam. Omar gave details about measures underway for the promotion of tourism and the development of infrastructure and allied facilities for the tourists at various destinations. |
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Policy on pvt coaching institutions sought
Jammu, April 8 Addressing a press conference, NSF president Vikas Sharma alleged that private coaching institutions had been charging exorbitant fees from the students preparing for competitive entrance examinations. He said these institutions were exploiting the students and their parents in the absence of any policy. Sharma also urged the government to arrange coaching classes for needy aspirants of medical and engineering exams at district-level so that students belonging to far-flung areas could also get benefits and compete with the students of cities. “The NSF is planning to file a PIL in this regard, if the government fails to fulfil these demands,” he said. |
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2 held, narcotics seized
Jammu, April 8 The accused have been arrested. The police said the accused were travelling in a Maruti. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered at Janipur police station. Two consume
poison
Two persons, including a woman, attempted suicide in the Jammu region on Thursday, the police said. Rajni of Shiv Nagar and Nek Ram of Raipur Bantalab were admitted to the GMCH, Jammu, after they consumed some poisonous substance. Cases have been registered in this regard. Two motorcycles stolen
Mangat Ram of Panjtirthi filed a complaint with the police alleging that his motorcycle (JK-02-AD-5369) had been stolen from outside his house on the intervening night of April 6-7. In another incident, Vipan Kumar Gupta of Lajpat Nagar lodged an FIR with the police alleging that his motorcycle (JK-02-R-2029) was stolen from outside his house on Wednesday. |
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Gang of bovine smugglers busted
Jammu, April 8 It said after observing the movement of Mushtaq Ahmed, the arrested supplier of bovines and resident of Muralian, three other persons involved in bovine smuggling were also arrested from near the Dak Bungalow of Muralian this morning. The other three arrested persons are as Maharaj-ud-din, Ikhlaq Ahmad and Mohammad Amin, all residents of Baramulla. The police added that Mushtaq had even earlier been involved in bovine smuggling and was the kingpin of the gang. Javed Iqbal Tantrey, DSP (probationer), Miran Sahib police station, said, “In the wee hours today, three smugglers and a supplier of bovines were arrested when they were on their way to the Kashmir valley in a truck.” |
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16-year-old raped in Kalakote
Jammu, April 8 It said that victim, a student of Class X, was on her way back home in Dolli village after getting her marksheet from the school when two youths, namely Sohan Singh and Sham
Singh, accosted and raped her. The two who are drivers were later
arrested. Rajinder Khajuria, SHO, Kalakote police station, said: “A case has been registered and we are investigating the
matter.” |
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7 Inspectors promoted DSPs
Jammu, April 8 Those promoted as DSPs (Administrative Officers) included Pritam Chand Saini, Ashok Kumar, Khizar Mohammad, Abdul Rehman Pampori, Mir Hussain and Kuldeep Krishen Raina. As per an official handout, Mohammad Amin has been promoted as DSP (Private Secretary) in the Stenography Cadre.
— TNS |
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