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BJP returns to Article 370 issue to motivate cadre
Love reforms militant, makes him return
Govt to set up nodal cell for ex-servicemen: Omar
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PDP seeks return of power projects
Srinagar, May 11 President of the PDP Mehbooba Mufti has said the transfer of seven major power projects with a capacity of over 3,000 MW by the Farooq Abdullah government to the Centre had robbed the state of its only potential source of income.
Photo exhibition held on journalist’s death anniversary
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have a look at the photographs displayed at the photo exhibition organised in the memory of photojournalist Ashok Sodhi, who was killed while covering an encounter between the security forces and militants, in Jammu on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma
Narwal Transport Market Robbery
Fake vehicle RC racket busted, kingpin at large
Kashmir Issue
Tavleen, Apoorva win debate contest
Police Deployment on Campus
Talks with Pak beginning of Kashmir resolution: CM
Four killed in mishaps
Fidayeen waiting to strike, but for security forces: CRPF
Moungri mela from May 14
Bodies of drowned youths fished out
BSP forms panel for Marh
APHC for result-oriented talks with Pak
'Efforts on for 33 pc quota for women'
Omar calls on Governor
Pak intruder shot dead
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BJP returns to Article 370 issue to motivate cadre
Jammu, May 11 As the founder of the erstwhile Jan Sangh, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was the first national leader who had launched a campaign against the special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP has today started a series of programmes to remind the people about the agitation launched by Mukherjee in 1952 for the total integration of the state with India. Mukherjee entered Jammu and Kashmir on May 11, 1952, without a permit and was arrested at Lakhanpur and he later died in jail in Kashmir on June 23 under mysterious circumstances. Before 1952, a permit was required for residents of the rest of the country to enter Jammu and Kashmir. To commemorate the entry of Mukherjee into the state, the BJP today organised a function in which all senior leaders were present. Speaking on the occasion, BJP Legislature Party leader Chaman Lal Gupta said, “The day of May 11 is of great significance. On this day Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, who was the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament at that time, had entered the state by defying the permit system.” Gupta said it was all due to the sacrifices of Mukherjee and other activists of the Jan Sangh that the permit system was abolished. “The task of Mukherjee is still incomplete because Jammu and Kashmir is yet not completely integrated with India,” he said and exhorted party workers to step up the campaign for the abrogation of Article 370, which, according to him, was the main cause of militancy in the state. Gupta, while recalling the agitation launched in early 50s, recalled that a large number of people had to sacrifice their lives while hoisting the Tricolour in independent India. “J&K had legally and constitutionally acceded to Indian Union, but under communal considerations many hurdles were created to insulate the state from the rest of the country,” he said and added that such hurdles were affecting the rights of the people of this state. Former state president of the party Ashok Khajuria said the present situation in the state was dangerous, as the government was soft towards the separatists and anti-national elements. “This government has been promoting pro-Pakistan elements and demoralising the democratic, secular and patriotic people of the state,” he said. Deputy leader of the BJP Legislature Party Jugal Kishore, former Mayor Kavinder Gupta and other senior leaders also addressed the function. As people of Jammu are emotionally attached to the agitation launched in 1952, all BJP leaders repeatedly highlighted atrocities committed by the then state government to crush the stir. |
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Love reforms militant, makes him return
Jammu, May 11 He was 15 years’ old when in the name of jihad, he, along with 24 other youths, crossed the LoC via the Poonch sector to undergo arms training. Not a reel life incident, but a real one, Mohammed Ashraf, a youth from Chadoora tehsil in Budgam district, clandestinely deserted Hizbul Mujahideen’s receiving station at Kacharban in Kota in the PoK to return home along with his newlywed wife Asima, daughter of Abdul Subhan. Though the couple succeeded in their attempt, they had to undergo immense hardships trekking rugged mountains and dense forests for almost a week to reach this side of the LoC where the Army captured them and handed them over to the Poonch police. “Ashraf, along with 24 other youths, had crossed the LoC way back in 1999 to undergo arms training in a terror camp in the PoK,” Poonch district SSP
Manmohan Singh told The Tribune. During questioning, Ashraf divulged that they were taken to a terror camp in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in an armoured vehicle, said the SSP. Before being taken to a terror camp in the NWFP, Ashraf like other recruits was ‘religiously’ indoctrinated by his mentors at the Hizbul Mujahideen’s receiving station in Kacharban. After arms training in the camp, Ashraf was given the charge of training other recruits for a monthly salary of Rs 2,500. For 10 long years he had been performing the task assigned to him at the camp, but last year he returned to Kacharban and there he fell in love with 20-year-old Asima, who lived in the neighbourhood, said the SSP. Asima’s father was a petty carpenter while one of her elder brothers worked as a labourer in Lahore. After Asima’s family came to know about their love affair it solemnised their marriage as per Muslim rituals. But the bride’s family had no idea, whatsoever, that the newlywed couple would soon fled. The bride, on the pretext of purchasing vegetables, left her parental house just to join her husband in his attempt to return home. With Rs 2,700 in pocket, Ashraf and Asima secretly left Kacharban and stayed at a dhok in the upper reaches for almost a week, to save themselves from the Hizbul Mujahideen militants. As soon as Ashraf and his wife reached the Nalla Ban post on the LoC in the Sabjian sector of Poonch yesterday, they raised the alarm in a bid to seek the Indian Army’s help, said the SSP. Obviously, Asima, who speaks Kashmiri fluently, proved to be a catalyst for Ashraf to realise the futility of gun and he gave up arms, he added. It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had already been talking about providing amnesty and rehabilitation to those misguided Kashmiri youths languishing in various terror camps in the PoK who wanted to return to the state to start a normal life. |
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Govt to set up nodal cell for ex-servicemen: Omar
Nagrota (Jammu), May 11 Omar announced this at the rally, a first effort of its kind, organised at Sainik School, Nagrota, by the White Knight Corps. Stalls of all government departments were set up for the ex-servicemen to help them in understanding the process to iron out problems concerning their work with these departments. “We are duty-bound to respect soldiers with or without uniform,” Omar said, adding that the nodal cell would be working under the Home Ministry, which is headed by the Chief Minister himself. Lt-Gen BS Jaswal, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, GOC-in-Chief Northern Command, Lt-Gen Rameshwar Roy, AVSM, VSM, GOC, White Knight Corps, and various senior Army and civil dignitaries graced the occasion. Later, Lt-Gen Jaswal expressed indebtedness of the nation to the soldiers and ‘Veer Naris’ for the supreme sacrifices made by them. Nearly, 1,000 veterans and 15 ‘Veer Naris’ (war widows) attended the rally. The rally consisted of approximately 25 stalls from various Army and civil departments so as to make the ESM aware of various welfare schemes provided by the Army and the government. Representatives from the Sainik Welfare Department, Resettlement Department, Department of Rural Development, ESM Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Army Recruitment Organisation, Army Welfare Education Society, Defence Pension Disbursement Office had established stalls in the rally and they provided the much-needed information and helpline to the ESM. In addition, officials from various Regimental Centres, NCC, State Bank of India, Fisheries Department, Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department and the Animal Husbandry Department also established their stalls. A medical camp was also organised on the occasion. “The rally was a big success towards extending our obligations to the ex-servicemen of the region and showcase the continued commitment of the Armed Forces for the recognition of the valuable sacrifices and services rendered by the ESM and ‘Veer Naris’ towards the prosperity and development of the nation,” said Brig Umar Faruk, Chief Signal Officer of the White Knight Corps and overall in-charge of the conduct of the rally. |
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PDP seeks return of power projects
Srinagar, May 11 Addressing a rally in the Langate area of Kupwara district today, Mehbooba said water was a major asset and lamented that due to an agreement between Farooq Abdullah and then Union Power Minister Kumaramanglam, it was not able to execute these projects that could generate electricity worth crores each year. “Had we been having the authority over our water and power sector, the state would not have had to beg even for the salary of its employees,” she said. Mehbooba said on the one hand the NC handed over our basic source of income to the Centre, on the other they had put those employees in jail who demanded salaries. She said instead of endorsing the PDP’s demand for the return of power projects like Salal, Dolhasti and Uri, the present government had entered into another agreement with the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) that would again hit the interests of the state. She added the NC was clinging to political power at the cost of electric power that was vital for the economy. “Unless these projects are returned to the state and the terms with NHPC for new projects are renegotiated, the PDP will not rest,” she said, hoping that people would rise to the occasion and lend their voice to this genuine demand. Referring to the on Inter-district Recruitment Bill passed by the government, Mehbooba said people in all regions were suspicious of its impact because of the manner in which the government rushed it through the Legislature. She said this was the only Bill on which there was no debate and even the ruling party members were not allowed to speak, not to mention the Opposition. She said the government’s intolerance of a democratic debate could lead the state again into more complex problems even as we were not able to resolve the existing ones.
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Photo exhibition held on journalist’s death anniversary
Jammu, May 11 The daylong exhibition was organised by some photojournalists associated with several local and national dailies based in the city. In the exhibition, at least 150 frames were put on display. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accompanied by Minister for Higher and Medical Education RS Chib, visited the exhibition and appreciated the photographs on display. The Chief Minister also paid floral tributes to Sodhi, whose daughter Inna was also present on the occasion. The exhibition did not have any specific theme and the pictures put on display were offbeat photographs. The photographers who put up their photographs in the exhibition included Anand Sharma, Indeereet Singh, Afzal Shah, Nitin Kanotra, Joginder Mehra, Vishal Sharma, Raman Raina, Tumul Sharma, Surjeet Singh, Meer Imran, Sanjay Gupta, Ankur Sethi, Sangam Dubey, Guldev Raj, Sishu Pal, SN Acharya, Mulakh Raj, Choudhary Sundar, Amar, Yogesh Manhas and Navdeep Rathore. Several senior police officials and tourists also visited the exhibition. |
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Narwal Transport Market Robbery Tribune News Service
Jammu, May 11 On the night of May 8, Pankaj Jain, owner of Sudershan Auto Store, was returning home with his staff in his car when four unidentified persons wearing turbans came on two motorcycles and robbed him of a bag containing money on gunpoint and fled. Naveen Sharma, in charge of Narwal police post, had been suspended by SSP Basant Rath for not informing any senior officer even after three hours of the incident. Though the shopkeepers have met senior policemen in this regard, tension still gripped Narwal, which is considered as the business hub of the city. A case under Sections 382, 341, 34 of the RPC and Section 3/2 (5) of the Arms Act has been registered. It is the biggest transport market of the state.Expressing concern over rising crime, Sarabjeet Singh, president of the Transport Nagar Welfare Association, said: “The police should take concrete steps to regain the confidence of businessmen in the area.”
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Fake vehicle RC racket busted, kingpin at large
Jammu, May 11 A police officer said during interrogation one accused, Anil Kumar, who was arrested with the fake seals of the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) a few days ago, had revealed the name of Gurdeep Singh and Surjeet Singh. While Gurdeep Singh was arrested today, kingpin of the racket Surjeet was absconding, he added. The officer told The Tribune that Gurdeep Singh, alias Rimple, was arrested from his house today and 22 fake seals of RTO and about 50 fake RCs were seized. Besides, a large number of RC forms were also seized from his house, he added. Azhar, SHO, Warehouse police post said, “All seals used in issuing fake motor vehicle registration certificates were seized from the house of the accused.” He further said raids were being conducted at various places to arrest the kingpin of the racket. A case under sections 419, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the RPC has been registered at Warehouse police post. Meanwhile, sources said some employees of the RTO, Jammu, may also be involved in the racket. To set the house in order, the RTO needed a clean-up operation, they added. The police officer said they were also watching the activities and movements of some RTO employees. |
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Don’t compromise on nation’s sovereignty, JSM warns Centre
Tribune News Service
Jammu, May 11 “Efforts have to be made to restore the confidence of people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions and of those in its democratic and secular ethos and traditions,” said JSM leaders. They added that “to meet the aspirations of people of all regions, the state needs to be reorganised and divided into three independent political units within the Indian constitution. And this is the only solution to the issue”. The JSM also condemned the statements of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayed and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, who, according to them, had been trying to put pressure the Indian leadership to hold talks with Pakistan. “We find it strange that these people are dictating the Union government to hold negotiations with Pakistan to settle the Kashmir issue at a time when the country is facing a proxy war forced on it by Pakistan,” they said. The JSM leaders said the talks at this level to settle the issue amounted to asking the nation to accept defeat. “By giving such statements, these leaders are attempting to push the Indian leadership to the wall to accept their respective formulas of greater autonomy and self rule and are also demoralising the nation and the forces,” they said and termed the statements as treacherous acts.
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Tavleen, Apoorva win debate contest
Jammu, May 11 The topic of the debate was ‘Social Networking Sites are Responsible for Moral Degradation of Youth’. As many as 56 students from 14 schools of the city participated in the competition, which was held under the aegis of the Jammu Sahodaya School Complex (JSSC). Tavleen said the dream of an ideal friendship and relationship were being brutally betrayed in this modern world of moral bankruptcy, escalated further by unmonitored sites, which play havoc on the formative and impressionistic minds of the youth. She said several sites encouraged teenagers to build transient relationships that could leave them traumatised and prone to suicide at the collapse of the same. Tavleen said due to these sites, the parent-child kinship was endangered as kids share their feelings on these sites rather than discussing with their families. Aproorva spoke against the topic and stressed upon the audiences that social networking sites were not responsible for moral degradation of the youth. She said the youth should develop the ability to draw a line between the positive and negative effects of the social networking sites. She added the youth should take the advantage of these sites instead of misusing it. At the same time, Herman of Jodamal Public School and Sanchit of Delhi Public School (DPS) were adjudged the best interlocutors, who asked questions from the debaters in favour of the topic, while Hemani, another student of DPS, was also adjudged the best interlocutor. The concept was appreciated by guests, judges and students.
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Students boycott classes
Tribune News Service
Jammu, May 11 Several student organisations, including the Progressive Students’ Association, People’s Democratic Student Front and the Student Scholar Joint Action Committee formed a student-scholar committee against the police post and held a demonstration on the campus. The students boycotted classes and held a demonstration on the campus and shouted slogans against the police deployment. They said there was no need for the police as it was imposing unwanted restrictions on the movement of students. “The varsity shall remain closed till Friday in protest against the police deployment and the proposal for setting up a permanent police post in the varsity,” president of the PSA Rahul said. Rahul added: “The Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the university, has set up an inquiry committee, but the assurance has proved an eyewash only as there is no breakthrough.” President of the Student Scholar Joint Action Committee Varinder Singh Chib said: “We have only one-point agenda that the police should be removed from the campus.” People’s Democratic Student Front president Suhail Khan also addressed the students and asked them to stay away from classes till some logical conclusion was reached.
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Talks with Pak beginning of Kashmir resolution: CM
Nagrota (Jammu) May 11 “The solution of the Kashmir issue begins with the Delhi-Islamabad dialogue and the Centre-state understanding over it,” he told mediapersons at a press conference organised on the sidelines of an ex-serviceman rally here today. Already there is lot of talk going on in the state that a draft solution for the Kashmir issue had been ready since long and it was awaiting the resumption of the talks. Answering a query about the rehabilitation policy offered to militants, the Chief Minister said the policy was being finalised with certain issues over the points on the border or the LoC to be used for crossing over by the militants was being discussed. Omar also said the militancy incidents had gone up not because infiltration had increased but because the government was following a pro-active policy in seeking and destroying militants and their hideouts. “Earlier, we waited for them to strike and then we launched a counter attack but of late we started seeking their hideouts and launched operations,” he said. |
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Four killed in mishaps
Jammu, May 11 In another incident, two persons were killed when a tipper hit a motorcycle (JK-02-AF-5787) at Nadwal Morh in the Khour area.The bodies were taken to a hospital for post-mortem. A case has been registered. Meanwhile, one person was killed and 16 others were injured in road accidents in the Jammu region yesterday, the police said. A truck coming from Srinagar to Jammu rolled down about 200-250 feet into a gorge on the National Highway near Kella Morh in Ramban killing driver Madan Lal, a resident of Chak village in Udhampur. The body was taken to the district hospital in Ramban for post-mortem. A case has been registered. Abus coming from Arnia to Jammu fell off the road at Chorli Kothey Bulendhey village in Bishnah causing injuries to seven persons. The injured were hospitalised. In other incidents, nine persons were admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital here. |
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Fidayeen waiting to strike, but for security forces: CRPF
Srinagar, May 11 He said the militants carried out fidayeen attacks to draw international attention and to inflict maximum damage to security personnel. “They keep changing their strategies. They throw grenades, use pistols and shoot security personnel from pointblank,” Reddy said. He said another strategy the militants adopted was to force civilians to demand the removal of forces from certain areas so that they could move freely and carry out their nefarious activities. “This is the only place in the country where people don’t want security forces as they are under threat from the militants,” the IG added. He said a big nexus was going on between local businessmen, separatist leaders and their mentors from across the border that funded and sponsored stone throwing on the security forces. The CRPF officer said a youth who threw stones got around Rs 200 to Rs 300, but the need was to arrest those responsible for instigating these incidents. “Some people have been booked under the PSA but the need is to crack the entire network,” Reddy said, adding that stone throwing had become a lucrative business in the valley. He said prior to the two-month-long Amarnath land agitation of 2008, the separatists in the valley had lost their foothold and had no issue. However, it was observed that peace could have been possible but the agitation disrupted it. “Since the stone throwing began in 2008 and about 1,600 CRPF personnel have been injured, as our men are trained to deal with counter insurgency and not stone throwing,” Reddy said. Asked about the upcoming Amarnath yatra, he said: “If they try to attack, they will be killed. I assure you that the yatra would be cent per cent safe.”
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Moungri mela from May 14
Jammu, May 11 People belonging to various castes and colours visit here during the mela and pay obeisance at the revered cave shrine of Lord Shiv. Besides, they come to see the rich culture of this remote and mountainous belt of the Bhumagh area. This year, too, the district has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the
mela. |
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Bodies of drowned youths fished out
Jammu, May 11 Atul Singh, SHO, Mansar police station said, “The bodies were fished out and handed over to the families of the youths.” |
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BSP forms panel for Marh
Jammu, May 11 According to a handout issued by the party, Tej Ram was elected as office secretary, while Kewal Krishan, Manga Ram, Madan Lal Lakhotra, Harbans, Satpal Lakhotra, Sunil Verma, Jagdish Raj, Bana Ram, Mohan Lal, Dr Ravi Kumar, Om Parkash Kashyap and Sardari Lal Verma were elected as secretaries. The committee was constituted during a conference of the BSP, which was presided over by Rattan Lal Chargotra. State party president Tulsi Dass Langeh was the chief guest of the conference. During the conference, problems faced by locals were highlighted by the participants. Speakers said the coalition government had failed to fulfil its promises. |
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APHC for result-oriented talks with Pak
Srinagar, May 11 The resolution of the Kashmir issue, in view of the renewed hopes of the resumption of the dialogue with Pakistan, was discussed at an executive council meeting of the APHC under the chairmanship of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at the party headquarters here today. Others who attended the meeting included Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Ghani Lone, Masroor Abbas Ansari, Mohammad Abdullah Taari, Musaddiq Aadil and GM Nagoo, its spokesman said. The executive council observed that a meaningful and result-oriented composite dialogue process with the involvement of the Kashmir (separatist) leadership was necessary for finding out an everlasting solution to the Kashmir issue. “Otherwise, it would be a futile exercise,” the spokesman observed. He said the meeting observed that peace in South Asia was embedded in the resolution of the issue. Its resolution would also end skirmishes between the two countries and lead to progress and prosperity in both countries.
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'Efforts on for 33 pc quota for women'
Srinagar, May 11 While addressing the AIMSC at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre here yesterday, she said the State Mahila Congress wing was rejuvenated during the previous coalition government led by Ghulam Nabi Azad. She appealed to the participants to work for strengthening the party. She said the Congress high command always advocated for peace and prosperity of the state. Minister for R&B GM Saroori sought the cooperation of public in taking forward the development programmes. Saroori said there would hardly be any activity where women were not participating. He said the women wing of the party had done a commendable job during previous elections. He added that empowering women was high on the government’s agenda.
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Omar calls on Governor
Srinagar, May 11 During their more than hour-long discussions, the Chief Minister briefed the Governor with regard to various important issues relating to the governance of the state, including certain legislative matters. An official spokesman said the Chief Minister also briefed the Governor about the to-date status of the more important development and welfare projects, particularly the projects in the pipeline to enhance hydro-power generation in the state. They also reviewed the overall security situation and certain measures underway for tightening existing arrangements on the ground in certain parts of the state.
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Pak intruder shot dead
Jammu, May 11 “The 40-year-old intruder was shot dead around 11.45 pm on Sunday while he was trying to intrude into our territory from the Korotana Khurd outpost area being guarded by the 135 Battalion,” a BSF spokesperson said. However, nothing incriminating was recovered from the slain intruder, he added. He disobeyed repeated warnings of the BSF and tried to hide himself, thereby forcing the jawans to open fire, the spokesman said.
— TNS |
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Jammu, May 11
Tavleen Kour of Heritage School and Apoorva Shekhar of BSF Senior Secondary School won the first prize in the inter-school debate competition held at Heritage School here today.
The topic of the debate was ‘Social Networking Sites are Responsible for Moral Degradation of Youth’. As many as 56 students from 14 schools of the city participated in the competition, which was held under the aegis of the Jammu Sahodaya School Complex (JSSC).
