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Employees want salaries for strike period
Army Chief briefs Vohra, CM on security
Atrocities by Militants |
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Lajpat Nagar Blast Case Verdict
PDP to hold statewide protests on April 26
Stop water lifting from Surinsar, Mansar lakes, demand residents
Engineers told to complete water supply schemes on priority
Dogra sabha alleges bungling in rural job scheme, seeks probe
High Court order on adjustment of Head Assistants quashed
Earth Day
Paper Leak Case
Shopian Case
Adulterated Soft Drinks
Hunt on for two Pak militants
BSP leader joins NCP
Roadmap for NCC expansion discussed
Hunter mistaken for militant
BSF chief calls on Governor
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Employees want salaries for strike period
Jammu, April 22 Around 4.5 lakh government employees had gone on strike demanding the payment of the Sixth Pay Commission arrears and enhancement in the retirement age from 58 to 60 years. After getting an assurance from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that the government needed at least three months to find a way out to accept their demands, the agitating employees had resumed their duties on April 15. After one week, the employees are again up in arms against the government because the authorities have announced to deduct their 12 days’ salaries. “We will not accept deducted salaries. We suspended the strike on the assurance of the Chief Minister.So, the government should also reciprocate our move to end the deadlock,” a senior leader of the Civil Secretariat Employees (Non-Gazetted) Union, said, and added that instead of taking a holistic view of the situation, the government had become adamant. He further said the other employees’ unions, who had participated in the strike, were also in no mood to accept deducted salaries. “We have got the support of other unions in this common cause for the benefit of employees,” he added. Nazir Ahmed Mir, president of the Civil Secretariat Employees’ (Non- Gazetted) Union, said: “I am in a meeting and can’t tell anything at this moment as we are discussing a serious issue.” On being asked, Chandji Bhat, Treasury Officer, Civil Secretariat, on the status of the salary for the month of April, replied: “Usually, we clear the salary bills on or after 26th of every month.” He further said the government had ordered the release of the payment for working days only. |
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Army Chief briefs Vohra, CM on security
Jammu, April 22 The Governor and the Army Chief also discussed various issues and factors relating to the recent pattern of infiltration from across the LoC and the international border and its possible effect on the security in the coming months. Later, the Governor also presented a memento to General Singh. This was General Singh’s first meeting with Vohra after taking over as the Chief of the Army Staff. General Singh also met the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, here in the afternoon. Matters pertaining to security and related areas were discussed at the meeting which lasted half an hour. The Army Chief also briefed the Chief Minister on the security scenario in the state. Earlier, he visited forward posts in the Poonch and Mendhar areas before visiting the Nagrota Corps, near here.He was accompanied by the GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Lt- Gen BS Jaswal, and the GOC, White Knight Corps, Lt-Gen Rameshwar Roy. General Singh who was briefed by the GOC, Ace of Spade Division, Major-Gen Om Prakash, on the latest security situation in the area was satisfied with the state of readiness to counter the infiltration threat and crush terrorism.He lauded the efforts made by the Army in improving the quality of life of locals through Sadbhavana projects. While interacting with the troops at the forward posts, he appreciated their courage, dedication and efforts made by them in keeping the menace of terrorism under check. He said the morale of the terrorists was at its lowest ebb due to successful surgical operations carried out by the Army in the last few months. He exhorted the troops to continue the high vigil on the Line of Control (LOC) and defeat the nefarious designs of the terrorists both along the Line of Control and in the hinterland. Bharti Singh, President, Central Family Welfare Organisation (CFWO) also visited the Akhnoor Military Station accompanied by Ritu Jaswal, President, Family Welfare Organisation (FWO), Northern Command, and Luxmi Roy, President, Family Welfare Organisation (FWO), White Knight Corps. She later interacted with wives of JCOs and jawans at the station. Bharti Singh was also briefed about various activities being undertaken to improve the quality of life of the families as a welfare measure in order to maintain the high standard of morale of the troops of the White Knight Corps. |
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Atrocities by Militants
Jammu, April 22 Sources in the security forces expressed regret over what they claimed “criminal” silence maintained by the human rights activists over the atrocities committed by the militants. “Every year on December 10, the human rights activists in Kashmir seldom miss the opportunity to take out protest rallies to highlight human rights violations allegedly committed by the security forces,” they said. In an obvious reference to JKLF chief Yaseen Malik’s torchlight procession that caught media attention, the sources lashed out at the separatists, saying, “They are always quick to seize an opportunity to hold protest rallies over the alleged human rights violations by the troops immediately following an incident. However, they maintain criminal silence when it comes to militants’ atrocities.” Recalling unprecedented street protests across the Kashmir valley following Bomai, Khaigam, Shopian and Sopore incidents, the sources said as a matter of fact, the vested interests in most of these incidents, which forms the basis of such hype, was brought out in full measure by the CBI in the Shopian incident. “It is obvious that these incidents were laid at the doorsteps of the security forces even if they do not have any basis in truth,” they added. Paradoxically, none from human rights organisations, separatists, political parties and NGOs ever called for any form of protest against the atrocities committed by the militants on innocent people. They said in 2009 over 30 persons were killed by militants in the Kashmir valley and nine, so far, this year. “It is time for the people to do some introspection and launch a movement against the militant atrocities,” they added. The sources also divulged that six out of 30 persons killed by the militants in Kashmir were young women in their teens. Baramulla district accounted for nine such killings, followed by Srinagar and Shopian with seven each, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Kulgam and Pulwama with three each, and Anantnag two. However, the sources also admitted that there had been stray incidents of human rights abuse by the security forces, but added that militants by far exceed the former. |
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Lajpat Nagar Blast Case Verdict
Srinagar, April 22 A spokesman for the Mirwaiz-led APHC stated that details of the sentence were awaited and any decision on its future action would be taken only after going through the details. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has termed the death sentence to three Kashmir youth in the case as unfortunate. In a statement, Mehbooba said Kashmir was an unresolved political problem and such tragedies flow out of the inability of India and Pakistan to resolve this six-decade-long tragedy. She said Lajpat Nagar case was not the first in the long story of bloodshed associated with Kashmir problem, but looking at this problem purely on technical and legal level would only add to the complexities that have prevented a solution so far. Mehbooba said it was encouraging that there had been a countrywide debate on the approach on the Maoist extremism. But by contrast, Kashmir problem was being addressed only through force and a bureaucratic disposal. “Kashmir too needed a more restrained response from the state to prevent recurrence of violence in any form,”
she added.
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PDP to hold statewide protests on April 26
The PDP patron urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Raza Gilani to discuss the Kashmir issue during their meeting at the forthcoming two-day SAARC summit beginning at Thimphu in Bhutan on April 28. “The two leaders will have a chance to meet after New York. We appeal them to talk on this (Kashmir) issue at a substantive level,” the Mufti said while addressing a press conference at his Gupkar residence. The revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), reduction of troops, release of detainees and the share of water resources were the PDP’s main agenda, he said. The Mufti held that unless the Kashmir issue was taken up with Pakistan, peace could not be restored in the state. “This is not the demand of militants but of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to the people and leadership of the country,” he said. The former Chief Minister said, “You will have to change this mindset and address the issue by shifting from the stated position.” He also appreciated the UPA government at the Centre for “helping us a lot in our efforts to find a solution to the Kashmir issue”. At the same time, the Mufti lamented that the announcement by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram about “quiet diplomacy” did not yield any results. Referring to the measures taken by the NDA government earlier, the Mufti said the process was going on smoothly, but now there had been a “kind of confrontation” between the two neighbouring countries. He added that after the Mumbai attacks certain elements in Pakistan had been identified and action had been taken against them by its government. The Mufti asked the two Prime Ministers to take substantive measures to resolve the Kashmir issue. A formal peoples’ movement was being launched for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, he said and held that his party would try to use “peoples’ power politically and democratically”. Elaborating further on the need to shun the path of confrontation, the Mufti recalled that the PDP-Congress coalition government had taken various people-friendly measures even during the NDA government at the Centre. Meanwhile, the youth wing of the PDP has alleged that the government, instead of responding to problems of educated unemployed, had unleashed terror on them and was misleading them in the name of employment policy. Speaking at a meeting of the Srinagar district youth wing, its president, Bashir Assad, said instead of providing employment and sustenance to the educated youth, the Omar Abdullah regime was implicating many of them in false and fabricated cases. Assad added the state government had also devised a novel way by which the victims of violence were prosecuted and punished. He asserted the party would play a pivotal role in highlighting the problems of the youth and plead their cause vociferously. It also resolved to continue its campaign to focus on the problems faced by the people as a result of the NC-led government’s failure to resolve day-to-day problems.
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Stop water lifting from Surinsar, Mansar lakes, demand residents
Jammu, April 22 The Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department has installed a pumping station on the banks of both lakes to lift water. Residents were of the view that natural resources of this belt were depleting due to the gradual drying of these two water bodies. During the visit of a team of the State Finance Commission (SFC), the residents drew the attention of its members towards the shrinking of the Mansar lake, which, according to them, was virtually converting into a pond. They pointed out that during the last five years the lake shrunk about 15 feet and no action had been taken in this regard. They also pointed out that “regularly 5,500 to 6,000 gallons of water is being taken out of the lake for supply to the adjoining localities for drinking purpose and this is the main reason for the shrinking of the water body”. The residents also drew the attention of the team towards the Surinsar lake, which was also facing threat due to the lifting of water by the PHE
Department. Keeping in view poeple’s concern, the Finance Commission team assured that the matter would be brought to the notice of the authorities concerned. Earlier to discuss major development demands and infrastructure requirements, a team of the commission headed by its chairman Mehmood Ur Rehman today held extensive deliberations with the representatives of
different political parties, prominent citizens in Udhampur and Ramnagar areas. Mehmood said due consideration would be given to people’s suggestions while formulating developmental policies and programmes in their respective areas. Keeping in view the complaints of discrimination against different regions and subregions of the state, the government had constituted the Finance Commission to seek suggestions from people of all walks of life so as to ensure an equal and balanced development in all areas. |
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Engineers told to complete water supply schemes on priority
Jammu, April 22 Reviewing the availability of drinking water in the Basohli area of Kathua district today, the Minister said the aim of the policy was to clear the backlog of pending water supply schemes and cover more areas. He stressed the need for augmenting the sources of water supply schemes to make them viable for times
to come. Stressing the need for conserving water resources, the minister asked the engineers to supplement the conventional water sources
with ground water potential to cover all the uncovered areas. The meeting was told that at present 48 hand pumps had been installed in Basohli town. Earlier, at a meeting with a team of Central Water Commission (CWC), the minister discussed flood management programmes to be implemented in view of the coming season. He also sought their support for the state in
the expeditious completion of all flood-protection works. |
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Dogra sabha alleges bungling in rural job scheme, seeks probe
Jammu, April 22 Addressing a press conference here today, president of the sabha Gulchain Singh Charak alleged that job cards had been issued to undeserving people while the deserving had been deliberately ignored due to rampant corruption in the Rural Development Department (RDD). “I have received a large number of complaints regarding bungling in the implementation of the rural employment scheme,” Charak pointed out. He demanded a high-level inquiry into the complaints of corruption and malpractices. Pinpointing discrepancies in the existing lists of below poverty line (BPL) families in the rural areas, Charak demanded that a special drive be carried out to conduct a fresh survey to include deserving people in the list. The sabha president pointed out that the BPL lists were prepared way back in 2001 and many deserving families were left out. “It is high time to conduct a fresh survey to include deserving people in the BPL lists so that the benefits of the scheme meant for the poor reach genuine persons,” he observed. Expressing concern over the condition of residents of the Kandi belt of the Jammu region, Charak stressed the need for taking urgent steps to provide drinking water in these areas where natural resources had already depleted due to a continuous dry spell. He announced to launch a “save the birds” programme by arranging water in clay pots in the forest areas to protect birds in the Kandi belt. In the campaign, over 1,000 volunteers of the sabha, including college and school students, would visit the Kandi areas to provide water to the birds. “Students of some schools have agreed to participate in the campaign,” Charak said. |
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High Court order on adjustment of Head Assistants quashed
Jammu, April 22 Governed by the J&K High Court Staff (Conditions of Service) Rules,1968, the petitioners, Rajesh Kumar and
others, had challenged the order of adjustment of respondents 3 to 13 as Head Assistants in their own pay and grade until further orders, entitling them to charge allowance for working against the promotional post. The petitioners assailed the adjustment as unwarranted besides being unjustified as they did not possess the graduation degree, the academic qualification prescribed for the post of Head Assistant. The High Court administration tried to justify the adjustment order of the respondents who were senior to the petitioners, as only a stopgap arrangement for running the affairs of the Registry of High Court till the time eligible and suitable candidates were available to fill the posts, and which, according to it, would not affect any of the petitioners’ enforceable right. The judge observed that “The adjustment of respondents no 3 to 13 against the posts of Head Assistant affects the petitioners’ right to consideration entitling them to invoke the extraordinary writ jurisdiction of the court. The J&K High Court Staff (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1968, do not vest absolute power in the Acting Chief Justice to relax the rules and the power of relaxation, in terms of High Court order, dated October 10, 2008, is exercisable in case of only those officer/officers who had joined service before April 15, 1987. The Acting Chief Justice had not, thus, relaxed the Rules in approving the respondents’ adjustment in order, dated November 24, 2008”. |
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Earth Day
Srinagar, April 22 “It is important that we at the governmental level and academics and scholars work together to prepare society to go for the use of non-conventional sources of energy, particularly the solar energy,” said the minister during an inaugural session of Earth Day Celebrations 2010 organised by the Department of Geology and Geophysics of Kashmir University and sponsored by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and Mercy Corps, USA, at the varsity here. Stressing that it was the collective responsibility to save earth, the minister said society here thought that it was entirely the responsibility of the government to preserve nature. Pointing towards the preservation of world famous Dal Lake, Agha said lots of funds had been pumped into it but that had hardly made a difference. Asking the younger generation to stand up and save environment and its resources, Prof Riyaz Punjabi, Vice-Chancellor of the varsity, said, “This should be a movement for you. You have to go a long way and spread the message to save environment.” Dr Rakesh Chandra from the Department of Geology and Geophysics emphasised that protecting earth was everyone’s responsibility. Prof S Fayyaz Ahmad, Registrar of the varsity, said, “Earth is unique in its diversity and there is a need to address this issue.” A music video on climate change “Say it is Possible” prepared by the Educational Multi Media Research Centre (EMMRC) of Kashmir University and Mercy Corps, USA, was released on
the occasion.
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Earth Day
Jammu, April 22 According to an official statement issued here, Gul was speaking at a function organised by the Rural Development Society at Gandhi Nagar, in connection with Earth Day. Gul urged people that everyone should plant at least one tree to maintain the ecological balance. He said due to deforestation, the ecological balance had changed the environment, thus, led to global warming. He said: “All of us have to contribute to save the forests, environment and water bodies.” |
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Paper Leak Case
Jammu, April 22 A senior police officer said the accused, Mohan Singh, was arrested after a hunt and he had been absconding for a long time. However, his five accomplices were arrested a few days ago. During interrogation, the five accused had named Mohan Singh, who was arrested today from Miran Sahib. Mohan Singh is at present working as a Section Officer at the board office in Jammu, the police said. Reaz Tantrey, DSP (Probationer), Miran Sahib police station, said the paper leak case came to light when solved question papers were seized from two students appearing in a Class X exam at New Gandhi Memorial College in Miran Sahib on March 26. Tantrey added, “Asked from where they got the solved question papers, the students had disclosed the names of some persons. Following which five persons,
including a teacher, were arrested. They revealed during interrogation the named Mohan Singh, who was arrested today.” Describing the modus operandi of Mohan Singh, the police said he used to charge Rs 30,000 for leaking papers. A case under sections 409, 109 and 353 of the RPC has already been registered against the accused at Miran Sahib police station. The police said all involved in the paper leak scandal had been arrested. A senior official of the education board said, “We are trying our best to streamline the examination system. Still some officials are indulging in such types of illegal practices.” |
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Shopian Case
Srinagar, April 22 Submitting a
fresh affidavit in the High Court recently, the CBI gave details about
the lie-detector test conducted on the four police officials and said:
“No deception was found on their part in reply to any of the questions
put to them.” Besides Mattoo, the three others who continue to be
suspended since July last year are DSP Rohit Basgotra, SHO Shafiq Ahmed
and Head Constable Gazi Abdul Kareem. “Further, no criminality could
be attributed to anyone of them and as such they have been sought to be
discharged from this case,” the CBI affidavit said. The CBI had
approached the High Court in March, seeking an end to the monitoring of
the case by the High Court as the agency had already filed a chargesheet
against 13 persons, including doctors and lawyers.
— PTI |
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Adulterated Soft Drinks
Jammu, April 22 “Such cases occur rarely, but for precautionary measures we have seized over 10 samples of soft drinks on random basis from various localities of the city,” health officer of the corporation Anwar Choudhary said. The samples had been sent to the Municipal Laboratory and results would reach within a couple of days, the health officer said. Choudhary added that if any sample was found adulterated, action would be taken against the defaulter. He said within a few days, they would intensify their anti-adulteration drive in the areas that falls under the Municipal jurisdiction. Last year, the corporation had booked some dealers who were found selling adulterated soft drinks to customers at Gangyal and Kana Chack. |
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Hunt on for two Pak militants
Jammu, April 22 Asked about the probable photographs of the fleeing militants, the SSP said these had reached him and the police was cross-checking them. The militants, after successfully intruding into the state, had fired upon a police party on April 19 before taking refuge in a forest nursery near Chabechak village. The security forces had found a rucksack from the nursery containing wire cutters, some eatables
and documents the next morning. Gareeb Dass had then said going by their tactics and training the militants appeared to belong to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). Sources said fresh intelligence inputs also
suggested a rise in intrusion bids from across the border and a tough time for the security forces in the days to come, the sources added. |
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BSP leader joins NCP
Jammu, April 22 Interacting with mediapersons after resigning from the BSP, Gupta said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati had failed to come up to the expectations of the people. He alleged that instead of serving the interests of the weaker sections of society, the BSP leadership was more concerned about raking up their emotions. Defending his decision to join the NCP, Gupta said he was impressed by the leadership qualities of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. Speaking on the occasion, former minister Randhir Singh hoped that with Gupta joining the NCP, the party would be strengthened in the state, particularly in the Jammu region. |
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Roadmap for NCC expansion discussed
Jammu, April 22 During the conference threadbare discussions on training and schedule of the year were made. |
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Hunter mistaken for militant
Jammu, April 22 The villagers mistook him for one of the two militants and informed the police which rushed to the scene and captured the ‘militant”, who later turned out to be a hunter,Rattan Lal of Karyada village in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua, who had gone to the Bani Changi area near Marheen village, close to the international border in Hiranagar, for hunting birds.
— TNS |
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BSF chief calls on Governor
Jammu, April 22 Srivastava discussed with the Governor various issues connected to internal and external security, particularly in the backdrop of recent spurt in attempts of infiltration from across the LoC and the international border. He also briefed the Governor on issues related to the functioning of the BSF in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Srinagar, April 22