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Sopore Beopar Mandal chief shot dead
Manhas for war against female foeticide
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Minister seeks people’s support
to ensure quality work
Militant hideout busted
4 youths attacked for mistaken identity
‘Sub-standard food served to students’
Decomposed body of man found hanging
‘Overstretched’ Dumping of construction material on roads banned Shiv Sena protests against registration charges
‘Prem visheshagya’ staged at
Natrang theatre Lecture on electronic media Tithwal Brigade relives 1948 victory VDC members, cops given training near LoC Iron out differences, Tarigami urges India, Pak Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam Revisiting water pact with NHPC must for growth: Mufti Omar assures
to safeguard women’s rights Police drive against poppy cultivation
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Sopore Beopar Mandal chief shot dead
Srinagar, May 23 The police said the militants fired at Ghulam Nabi Khan, president of the Sopore Beopar Mandal, at a market square in the town.He was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. The security forces have launched a massive manhunt to nab the assassins. “He was shot dead from point blank range and we have launched a manhunt to trace the killers,” a senior police officer said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has condemned the brutal killing of Ghulam Nabi Khan. Expressing his sympathies with the beareaved family, Omar described him as a popular tradesman and a sincere human being who would be remembered for his great contribution in uniting various traders’ bodies and maintaining harmony among various sections of society. Describing the act as barbaric and cowardly, the Chief Minister said the forces which were not happy with peace and tranquillity in the state had a sinister agenda to target popular personalities like Khan. He hoped that all who believed in human rights would condemn the killing. Minister for Rural Development, Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister of State for Health, R&B, Javid Ahmad Dar, MLA, Sopore, and Haji Mohammad Ashraf condemned the killing. Sagar, along with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone and other leaders also visited the residence of the slain NC activist.
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Manhas for war against female foeticide
Jammu, May 23 He was addressing a one-day convention of the state executive committee of the Mahila Morcha here. “On the one hand, we have been projecting ourselves as modern while on the other hand, the birth of a girl child is taken as a curse in the society”, he regretted. He criticised the political parties for opposing reservation for women in law-making institutions. He said the need of the hour was to make women socially, economically and politically strong and treat them as important as males. BJP legislator party leader Chaman Lal Gupta, while addressing the convention said “a woman plays an important role in our lives right from her childhood till the last breath,but still we do not come out in the open against social sins which impose so many restrictions on them” National executive member and former state president Nirmal Singh, in his address, said that history was witness to the facts that a woman had proved her ability and capability many a time. “We all need to work towards making her self-reliant and it can only be done if social bindings are removed and she is treated as an important part of the society and the nation”, he said. Mahila Morcha president Sakina Bano and general secretary Priya Sethi also addressed the convention. Suresh Jamwal, Mamta Singh, Nirmal Kamal, Shilpi Verma, Sushma Manhas, Raj Rani Jamwal, Neena Gupta, Sudesh Trilochan, Kamla Gupta, Vijay Raina, Rajni Sethi, Santosh Bhagat, Sureshta Jamwal, Priya Jral, Pinky Gupta, Pushpa Wazir, Anuradha Charak, Vimla Padha, Kiran Salathia, Sangita Gupta, Sheela Handoo, Sweety Koul, Sonia Gupta and Anju Bala were prominent among those who attended the convention.
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Minister seeks people’s support
to ensure quality work
Jammu, May 23 Addressing a series of public meetings in Gandhi Nagar Assembly segment, he said during the last 17-month period of Omar Abdullah-led government, unprecedented development has been made in the three regions of the state. Bhalla said the coalition government was committed to provide better road connectivity to people, adding that every nook and corner would be connected with the nearest urban centre. The minister asked the officers to personally monitor the quality of work and sought the cooperation of the people in ensuring the completion of the ongoing development projects within the prescribed time. Responding to the demand of the locals of the Jeevan Nagar area, the minister asked the authorities of the Roads and Building Department to prepare an estimate of the construction of left out lanes and drains and submit the same for funding, so that the work could be started soon. Regarding upgradation of the two 250 KVA transformers, he asked the Power Development Department (PDD) to upgrade the existing transformer for improving power scenario in the area. For improving the drinking water infrastructure in the Gandhi Nagar and its adjoining areas, Bhalla said the Government has approved Rs 225 crore for the purpose adding that Rs 3.5 crore tube well has already been dedicated to the people of Gandhi Nagar. |
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Militant hideout busted
Jammu, May 23 Official sources said acting on a tip off, a joint column of 16 Rashtriya Rifles and the police busted a militant hideout in the Pir Topa area of Chamrar forests and recovered a big haul of arms and ammunition. Recoveries made from the hideout included one UBGL, 25 UBGL grenades, one Chinese pistol, six pistol magazines, 47 IED fuses, four IED batteries, one radio set, 57 AK rounds, 34 PIKA rounds and eight detonators. —
TNS |
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4 youths attacked for mistaken identity
Jammu, May 23 The youths caught villager’s suspicion as they reached Satraiyan village of RS Pura late at night in an open jeep (HR-34-B-3222) and carrying weapons. As some of the villagers were drunk and were not ready to listen to the clarification of the youths, who were carrying weapons for their security to travel at late hours. The injured, identified as Avtar Singh, Tejinder Singh of Digiana, Baljit Singh of Preet Nagar, Jammu, and Surinder of Mangowali village, are currently being hospitalised at the Government Medical College and Hospital here. The sources said the victims travelling in a jeep sustained severe injuries and three of them were referred to the GMCH, Jammu. A police party rushed to the spot from the RS Pura police station to pacify the angry villagers. The villagers said they thought the boys must have come to do some anti-social work or beat a village resident at the late hour. RS Pura police station SHO Gurmeet Singh said, “The residents of the village were reportedly under the influence of liquor and after seeing an open jeep, presumed that some youngsters had come to attack them.” |
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Mid-day Meal
Jammu, May 23 While addressing a press conference here today, Thakur Varinder Singh, president of the unit said they have constituted a committee to conduct a survey in all government schools to check the quality of food being provided to the poor students under the scheme. He also urged the State Board of School Education to open single counter for sale and submission of re-evaluation forms in all districts and towns. “The students hailing from areas like Rajouri Samba, Kathua and Doda have to travel long distance to Jammu and they face difficulties in purchasing and submission of the revaluation forms,” he added. |
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Decomposed body of man found hanging
Jammu, May 23 Hari Ram, a local resident, immediately informed the police. In-charge, Pouni Chak police post, Brahm Dev said: “Inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC have been initiated in this regard.” —
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‘Overstretched’ Jammu, May 23 “Unlike the 229-km international border, there is a heavy deployment of Army troops on the 749-km LoC where the BSF has also provided at least 15 of its battalions,” sources in the BSF told The Tribune. It may be stated here that the BSF guards the international border, while the Army has the operational responsibility of safeguarding the LoC in militancy-plagued state. Reluctant to divulge the actual figures of BSF troops on the border, mostly in the plains of the Jammu region, sources said in the wake of fresh intelligence inputs, the BSF had moved all of its troops on the border. “We do have the Army on the border, but it is the second line of defence and hence the BSF has to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the border,” they said. While winged “spies” (pigeons), purportedly flown into the restive state from Pakistan, have security and intelligence officials on tenterhooks, the BSF has to grapple with extra pressure. “Barbed fence was raised to prevent trans-border crimes, but the situation is altogether different yesterday. We are engaged in a low-intensity conflict with Pakistan,” they said. The BSF, which was in the soup over Samba and Chinore encounters, felt that the training aspect also took a beating because of the extra pressure on its jawans and officers in the form of operational duties and administrative requirements. “Unlike others, the BSF men on the border don’t get holidays on festivals and don’t have a Sunday because they had to guard the border from an invisible enemy round-the-clock,” a BSF officer said. “Despite performing the strenuous task 24x7 throughout the year on the border, the BSF men are getting no extra allowance as given to Army personnel. But some exercise has been started by the Centre,” he added. “Lately, the government has given its consent to providing some extra allowances to the BSF men as well and the move would go a long way in improving things,” sources said. “At the same time, the BSF has also started acquiring more sophisticated weapons and gadgetry to meet the emerging challenges effectively,” they added. |
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Dumping of construction material on roads banned Udhampur, May 23 As per the order issued here, no one is allowed to dump construction material like bricks, sand, stones and bajri on public paths, link roads as well as on the national highway passing through the district. The order comes into force with immediate effect and shall remain effective for two months. The District Magistrate has also banned all types of construction on common land, particularly on nullahs, ponds and common paths to keep a check on encroachments by unscrupulous elements and
land mafias. The district revenue and police authorities have been asked to act against persons found violating the order in their respective
jurisdictions. |
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Shiv Sena protests against registration charges Jammu, May 23 The protest was held under the leadership of Dimply Kohli in which large a number of sena workers were present. Addressing the workers, Kohli asked the government to revoke its decision to impose tax as it would discourage those who wanted to provide free food during the annual pilgrimage. He also asked the government to respect the sentiments of the devotees. |
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‘Prem visheshagya’ staged at
Natrang theatre Jammu, May 23 The story of the play revolves around a love guru, who has opened a clinic to cater to the growing demand of counselling over relationship conflicts. Though he claims himself to be the final resort for all broken hearts, accidentally he gets confronted with the complications for which he has no solution. The dramatic turn comes in the play when a young girl comes to his clinic to get rid of the modern ‘Majnu’, who has sacrificed everything for her. In the process of treating the girl, the love Guru falls in love with her, thus creating yet another comic situation. Who will treat if the doctor himself becomes the patient? Other than making people laugh, the play impresses upon youth to concentrate on career rather than flying high in imagination. Arvind Singh as ‘doctor’, Balwinder Singh as patient, Sona Mehar as ‘Ragini’, Pankush Verma as ‘father’ and Vasu as ‘attendant’ did justice to their characters by performing well with professional ease. Mohit Sharma operated the lights and Rohit Verma designed the sets. Rajni Bhatti did the presentation and Sumeet Sharma coordinated the show. |
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Lecture on electronic media Jammu, May 23 All participants of Mr J&K 2010 and freshers were among the audience. A noted actor and director Raj Kumar Jamwal and producer and president of the Nirvana Academy Hitesh Badyal delivered lectures on the occasion. Raj said the state has abundant young talent, but it lacks opportunities. According to him, the electronic media in the state was playing a vital role and people wanted fresh faces on the screen. He further said the activities like acting, modelling, dance and singing provides quick employment to the youth. |
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Tithwal Brigade relives 1948 victory Jammu, May 23 The enemy was completely surprised by the unexpected attack by the Indian troops and evicted from Tithwal without any resistance and were forced to withdraw across the Kishanganga River. The Brigade remembered the valiant sacrifices made by the officers during this operation. The Brigade came up with a novel method involving the local populace. A number of ventures were taken up, keeping in mind the Army’s motto
“Army by the People, of the People and for the People”. An educational and motivational tour for students of the remote areas of the Nowshera-Rajouri region to South India was flagged off and a tree plantation drive was organised. Inspired by the need to provide quality education to the youth of the remote villages, the Commander, Tithwal Brigade, also inaugurated a computer-training programme for the local schoolchildren and an informal interaction was also conducted with the ex-servicemen of the Nowshera-Rajouri sector. |
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VDC members, cops given training near LoC Satowali (RS Pura), May 23 At least 105 VDC members and 43 SPOs participated in the camp and improved their shooting skills. The motive behind organising such kind of an event was to motivate the VDC members and SPOs to improve their skills in fighting anti-national elements. A senior police officer said a majority of the VDC members were equipped with the .303 guns and landline telephone facilities to face any untoward incident and immediately inform the nearest police station or any of the border outpost located in the area, which were equipped with WLL phones. During the training, many VDC members hit the target and there were some of them who fired all the five bullets into the bull’s eye. Rajinder Kumar, an SPO of the Chakroi area, said, “This is a good experience for people like us, who are serving for the benefit of countrymen. Last year, I could hit the target three times, but this year there has been a tremendous improvement.” Not only Rajinder, a number of VDC members and SPOs improved their shooting skills. SP, Headquarters, JS Johar said, “These people are aware of the area along the border and can help us in curbing the infiltration. So we have organised a training camp for them here.” This training camp was organised after a span of one and a half year. Johar added, “The next camp will be organised at Bishnah and Arnia areas. Also, Akhnoor and Pallanwalla will be covered under this series of training camps.” All senior police officers, including SP (Operations) Joginder Singh, DSP (Probationer) Riaz Ahmad Tantray and SHO (RS Pura) Gurmeet Singh, were present during the camp. |
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Iron out differences, Tarigami urges India, Pak
Srinagar, May 23 He said rigidities must be replaced by flexibilities and both the countries should realise that partisan interests did not complicate the issues further. He cautioned that the continued hostilities between the two countries would be dangerous for stability in the subcontinent. “Delhi and Islamabad must make serious efforts to turn a new leaf in their relations,” he said. Addressing a public meeting at Ashmuji, Kulgam, he said the alienation must be addressed. “We must realise that alienation is not going to go by only holding elections. There has been so much violence and people are deeply affected by it. We must have something like a truth and reconciliation commission.”— TNS |
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Civil Services (Preliminary) Exam Srinagar, May 23 A majority of the aspirants who came from various parts of the Kashmir valley, including Uri, Kupwara and Gurez, said they wanted to top the examination like Dr Shah Faesal. “If Shah Faesal can do it, why not me. He has become an inspiration”, said Habib Mustaq, an aspirant from Kupwara district. “Dr Shah Faesal made the entire state proud and has become an icon for those who want to do big in the Civil Services examination.We, too, want to follow his path and emulate him”, said Abdullah Majeed, a
candidate from Anantnag district. The aspirants were hopeful that their hard work would bear fruit. A large number of girls also appeared in the examination as they said they wanted to outshine the boys. “We already have a male IAS topper from Kashmir. This time we want to see a girl from the valley top the examination”, said Snober, a candidate. |
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Revisiting water pact with NHPC must for growth: Mufti Srinagar, May 23 “The state has suffered a huge loss due to discriminatory agreements signed with the NHPC against a paltry royalty of just 12 per cent electricity and it is the need of the hour to renegotiate new projects,” Sayeed said. He said the NHPC was exploiting the state’s water resources for a paltry 12 per cent of hydroelectric produced and was selling the energy produced from the state’s resources to the state at a premium of Rs 8 to Rs 12 a unit, the cost of production of which is between Re 0.50 and Re 1 per unit. “According to rough estimates, the state has already been suffering a recurring loss of Rs 600 crore per annum because of the Indus Water Treaty and the surrendering of water resources to the NHPC against a paltry royalty of just 12 per cent electricity, which has further complicated the state’s economic distress,” he said. The Mufti said his party had moved a resolution in the Assembly against this discriminatory agreement, but due to the non-cooperative attitude of other parties the resolution could not be passed in the House. He added it was tragic that a state so rich in resources had been converted into a “virtual begging bowl” as a result of the NC’s lust for power. “We demand rights on our water resources so that we can utilise these resources properly to make our state economically self-reliant,” he said, demanding that the Dulhasti and Uri hydroelectric projects of the NHPC be handed over to the state government. “The need of the hour is to convince the Centre to hand over Dulhasti and Uri power projects to the state,” he demanded. |
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Omar assures to safeguard women’s rights Srinagar, May 23 They felicitated Omar on the passing of the Women’s Domestic Violence Bill, 2010,in the state. The Chief Minister assured Dr Vyas that the state government was committed to taking all steps to safeguard womenfolk from any domestic violence.He said the anti-dowry legislation was in force in the state, but the new Bill would further help the women assert themselves.He also said in the forthcoming municipal and panchayat elections, 33 per cent reservation had been made for the women. Dr Vyas, while appreciating the steps taken by the state government for the empowerment of women, said time had come when the state government should take steps to transfer legal and judicial powers to the State Women’s Commission in tune with the National Women’s Commission so that it could be more affective in protecting their rights. The Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, Shamima Firdous, suggested the establishment of homes in Srinagar and Jammu so that women coming from the far-flung areas could be provided accommodation during their visit to the twin capitals of the state. |
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Police drive against poppy cultivation Pulwama, May 23 Poppy cultivation has become a serious challenge for the law-enforcing agencies as the produce easily makes its way to the city markets and youths are becoming addicts.“The locally cultivated raw opium, cannabis and even poppy husk are a major threat for youths who become addict to these drugs,” Shabir Ahmed, general secretary of Raahat, a drug de-addiction-cum-rehabilitation health centre, said. There has been a manifold increase in the cultivation of the illegal crop in the past few years. As a result, the police has taken various measures to identify the land where the crop is grown so that its cultivation can be stopped. “Yesterday, we destroyed poppy cultivation spread over 64 kanals in Haripora village in the Awantipora area,” said a senior police officer, adding “on an average, poppy cultivation on around 100 kanals is destroyed daily.” Aerial pictures taken by the Anti-Narcotics Bureau have also revealed an increase in the area under poppy cultivation. The department is taking strong measures to discourage people from growing the banned crop. “People are turning towards the cultivation of poppy, which is further refined to make heroin so that they can fetch crores of rupees in the international market,” an officer of the bureau said. A few years ago, when the police in the area was busy curbing the militancy and had no time to check the illegal cultivation, poppy growers took advantage of the situation. However, since the militancy in the area has ebbed, the police is tightening its noose around the narcotics cultivators. “The poppy cultivation has been going on unabated during the past 20 years of turmoil, but now we are educating farmers to grow other crops,” said a police officer. But the growers here resent and say that they had been growing the crop for many years and no one ever told them that it was illegal. “I have been growing this crop for the last 16 years, but a few days ago a group of policemen came and destroyed my entire crop that was my only source of livelihood,” said a farmer in Pulwama. |
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Srinagar, May 23
Exhorting party workers to launch a war on female foeticide, state BJP president Shamsher Singh Manhas today regretted that even after 63 years of Independence, women had been still discriminated against.
Jammu, May 23
Srinagar, May 23
