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Special Powers Act may be lifted from 4 districts
Shalin Murder Case
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Teachers’ selection
list delights Kashmiri Pandits
Govt has failed to solve people’s problems: PDP
BJP move to strengthen party base
BJP to hold youth rally in Jammu
Irregularities in irrigation works
MLA gives Rs 1.3 lakh
to beneficiaries
MC drive against unstamped meat
Two Pak militants killed
Flesh trade racket busted; eight held
Panchayat elections in Oct: Sagar
Vohra’s greetings on Khirbhawani Mela
Missing Udhampur boy found
Take steps to curb corruption in Doda, says front
Mahasabha to celebrate Kabir Jayanti on June 26
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Special Powers Act may be lifted from 4 districts
Jammu, June 18 An exercise has been initiated with the Centre suggesting it to assess the ground situation in four districts i.e. Jammu, Kathua, Srinagar and Budgam where situation is almost normal vis-à-vis militancy, sources in the Home Department said. Though there had been spurt in intrusion bids on the Line of Control and the international border this year but the militancy-related incidents almost died down in these districts. Thus, the Centre has been approached to assess the ground situation, they added. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference continue to express their “concern” over the AFSPA while the ruling alliance partner Congress has maintained a studied silence. “It’s too early to say anything on the issue but the state has suggested that areas that returned to total normalcy in the last few years may be kept out of the purview of the AFSPA,” a senior Home Department official said. Separatists in Kashmir openly dubbed the AFSPA as a draconian law while it becomes indispensable for the security forces fighting Pak-sponsored terrorism. Recently, Army’s Northern Command chief Lt Gen BS Jaswal had described the AFSPA as a holy book for the armed forces fighting terrorism. Repealing, diluting or lifting the AFSPA is purely the prerogative of the security experts and not political outfits, Army sources said. “Giving us the powers under the AFSPA doesn’t mean that we use them daily. Only, demanding situation invited its application”, they added. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also told the Tribune in an exclusive conversation that the AFSPA had to go from the state but at a right time. As of today, the AFSPA is applicable in the state except in Leh and Kargil of the Ladakh region, Law Secretary GH Tantray said. |
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Shalin Murder Case
Jammu, June 18 A mob had set the accused’s house on fire the day Shalin was killed and now the area residents had announced the social boycott of Darbinder’s family. The house of the accused is lying open after the incident, as the family is on the run to save themselves from the wrath of people. After damaging the property in Darbinder’s house, people damaged one of his shops outside his house in Nai Basti late last evening. The Nai Basti residents had announced that they would never allow the accused’s family to return and live in the locality. Though both accused belong to the Sikh community, the members of the community are also demanding the harshest punishment for them. They have also held protests and a candlelight march. The area residents have started holding meetings to discuss the prevailing situation and chalk out the future course of action. They are planning to raise a memorial to Shalin in the locality. Meanwhile, a local court has extended the police remand of the two accused by eight days. In a damage control exercise, the police transferred acting SHO, Gandhi Nagar police station, Ajit Singh to Akhnoor last evening. |
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Zero Line
Samba, June 18 Next to the Zero Line, near Majra village in Samba district, the produce is virtually dripping sweet - in the form of watermelons. Most of the fruits this season came from this belt. And all this has become possible only after the Border Security Force (BSF) realigned the border fencing to bring it to the Zero Line from its earlier position of nearly 500 m into the Indian side. Consequently, the farmers have now reclaimed over 4,650 acres “fenced out” earlier along the 192-km international border from Kathua to Akhnoor. With each acre of this fertile land capable of producing 15 to 20 quintals of wheat or paddy besides vegetables, maize and fodder, the reclaimed land is a major boost to the farmers’ financial condition and the state’s economy. “The water level is 40-60 ft here and we usually grow three to four crops a year. But due to fencing, we couldn’t cultivate the land between the fencing and the Zero Line while Pakistan farmers had no such problems,” Kulwant Singh, a farmer, said. “The farmers do not need a kisan card now to cultivate up to the Zero Line.Earlier, they had to prove their identity to go beyond the fencing.The work hours were restricted,mostly between 9 a.m and 7 p.m.But now they can go up to midnight or later also”,said a BSF spokesman. When asked what if spies or terrorists took advantage of the proximity of the fields to the Zero Line or if Pakistani troops opened fire, the spokesman replied: “There is a ceasefire on the international border. Our posts keep a watch on the activities and no one is allowed to cross it as the fencing is on the Zero Line,” said the spokesman. Janak Singh, nambardar of Nanga village, said the land was lying vacant for over 10 years.’During and after the Kargil war,there was routine firing and shelling.We could not go near the border.Then fencing came up.As a result, the land left out turned dry or marshy,but now we are ploughing it again”. He said following a special request of villagers, the BSF sent a guard along whenever anyone went near the Zero Line.”It wasn’t easy for the government and the BSF to convince farmers to reclaim the land”. The new fencing also keeps away animals coming from the Pakistan side. When asked about the loss of so many years since the Kargil war, Kulwant Singh, a farmer, lamented: “The state and the Centre, both had promised us compensation of Rs 5,000 per acre but we have not got anything hitherto.” |
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Teachers’ selection
list delights Kashmiri Pandits
Jammu, June 18 The Service Selection Board released the list today. Most KPs started their day by searching the names of their wards in the list published in a local daily. Some KPs also organised corner meetings to discuss the list. Those who found the names received compliments from their neighbours, relatives and friends throughout the day while those whose names were not found were upset. The selection list has also brought excitement among Kashmiri Pandit youths who are willing to return back to the valley to serve their motherland. While talking to The Tribune, Archana Bhat of Purkhoo migrant camp said: “I will definitely return back to the valley to do my job.” Expressing happiness, Meenakshi Bhat, another candidate who was also selected for the post, said: “Now, I can fulfil all my dreams. Despite being highly qualified I did not get any job that had made life difficult for me but now, the Almighty has showered his blessings on me.” The excitement among them for the job could be gauged from the fact that the news about the release of the list spread like a wild fire among the KP community last evening. Almost all cyber cafés were crowded with the customers and telephone lines were busy since last night. As per the list, about 907 candidates were selected for the post under Open Merit whereas about 200 candidates fell under the waiting list. About 257 candidates were selected under the Rural Backward Area (RBA) category whereas 23 were selected under the SC, ST, OSC and ALC categories. |
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Govt has failed to solve people’s problems: PDP
Jammu, June 18 According to a handout issued by the party, PDP general secretary Balbir Singh, while addressing a convention of party cardholders at Ramban and Banihal yesterday, said except promises nothing concert had been done by the government during the past one-and-a-half years. He said the government appeared only on paper because the ruling elites were more particular about issuing press statements and conducting photo sessions to befool people rather than resolving their problems. Balbir Singh warned that mis-governance by the NC-led regime would lead to further alienation of people. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Sartaz Madani said the inability of the NC-led government to resolve people’s problems could have a negative impact on the situation in the state. Expressing concern over growing alienation among people, he regretted that this regime had failed to come up to the expectations of the people. He further added that the government was more concerned about misleading people rather than addressing their problems. PDP vice-president Trilok Singh Bajwa also said mounting problems of people were the outcome of the indifferent attitude and non-serious approach of the present dispensation. |
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Human Rights Violations
Srinagar, June 18 Yasin Malik was among 25 persons who courted arrest in the central Lal Chowk area in protest against alleged human rights violations by the security forces in Kashmir. Earlier, he led a protest march from the head office of the JKLF at Maisuma towards the Budshah Chowk. Others who courted arrest with him included advocate Zafar Ahmad Shah, Dr Altaf Hussain, Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadith chief Showkat Ahmad Shah and former Bar Association president Nazir Ahmad Ronga. The protests against the killings, particularly that of Tufail Ahmad Mattoo last week, had been launched by several other separatist organisations, including both factions of the Hurriyat Conference, each led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Geelani. The Mirwaiz, without any prior announcements visited the nearby district headquarters of Ganderbal and addressed a public meeting on the occasion of Friday prayers today. Geelani led a protest dharna in the Magharmal Bagh area here after the Friday prayers. Holding banners, placards and photographs of Tufail the gathering raised slogans against the human rights violations. Speaking on the occasion, Geelani urged the authorities to restrict the forthcoming Amarnath yatra to 15 days only. “The pilgrims are our guests. We respect them all,” he said. He added that no adverse effect on the environment of the valley would be allowed. Geelani also demanded the release within three days of all youths detained for stone throwing. He also asked people to stay away from the panchayat elections, which are being held during
October. |
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BJP move to strengthen party base
Jammu, June 18 The BJP leadership hopes that the step will revive the shattered confidence of the cadre, especially in those areas where the party does not have a stronghold. Gupta will look after the Doda-Udhampur constituency and Kashmir, while Khajuria has been assigned the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency as well as Akhnoor. Party MLA from Nagrota Jugal Kishore Sharma will look after Poonch, Jagdish Raj Sapolia has been tasked to visit Kathua at least once a month and Baldev Raj Sharma will manage the party affairs in Reasi and Udhampur districts. Gharu Ram will look after Doda and Leh districts, while Choudhary Sukhnand will take care of Rajouri, Sunderbani and Nowshera areas. Durga Dass has been assigned Samba district, Bharat Bhushan Ramban and Master Lal Chand will look after Srinagar district. Meanwhile, the BJP has decided to organise a number of programmes in the memory of former Jan Sangh leader Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, who had launched an agitation against the special status to Jammu and Kashmir. |
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BJP to hold youth rally in Jammu
Jammu, June 18 Manhas said the youths were the future of any nation and hence they had more responsibility towards the motherland. The responsibility of the youths was all the more important in the state in view of efforts by some elements to demoralise nationalist forces. Criticising the NC-Congress coalition for ignoring the youths, the BJP chief regretted that there was no youth policy and as a result the number of unemployed youths was increasing. “Due to fewer job avenues in the state, many educated youths have left for other places,” he said and warned that silent migration would turn the Jammu province into a youth-less zone in the coming years. Manhas said there could be numerous job avenues if tourism and agriculture-related sectors were helped to flourish. He added that the government should remove all hurdles in allowing outsiders to set up industries and other such establishments in the state so that the unemployed got jobs. Munish Sharma, state president of the BJYM, stressed on the youths to join politics. He said the youths should be more alert, visionary and capable of competing with the global forces and facing challenges in a more effective way. |
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Irregularities in irrigation works
Srinagar, June 18 The suspended officials include Muhammad Sarwar Dar, Superintending Engineer, JKPDC, Khazir Muhammad Khanday, AEE, irrigation division, Ganderbal, Bashir Ahmad Kakroo, AEE, J&KPDC, Altaf Hussain Wani, AEE, irrigation division, Handwara, Ghulam Rasool Sofi, head assistant, Nazir Ahmad Lone, AAO,Saif-u-din, senior assistant, Akther Hussain Sofi, junior assistant, Irfan Ahmad Pathan, draftsman, Akther Mohi-ud-din, draftsman, Mushtaq Ahmad Banday, draftsman, and Ibrahim Banday, draftsman. The inquiry was ordered by the Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, after receiving a complaint from local MLA Mohammad Ramzan regarding irregularities in the execution of works and contracts in the irrigation division, Handwara,in the last financial year. Meanwhile, Ramzan has appreciated the action.In a statement,he said the officers along with some contractors had embezzled crores of rupees through fictitious papers. |
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MLA gives Rs 1.3 lakh
to beneficiaries
Udhampur, June 18 He also listened to the problems of residents during meetings at Kaldi, Rua Bagh, Thakurdwara and Basoua Dabber Barmmen and Gordon Nagrota in the area. The total amount distributed by the MLA included Rs 76,500 under the Catalytic Development Programme and Rs 55,000 under the NREGA. The demands included road connectivity, drinking water, power supply, medicare and provision of adequate staff in government schools. Bhagat assured to install two tube wells at Ghordi and Barmeen and three hand pumps, one each for Kaldi, Barmeen and Langa village. President Mahila Jagaran Manch, Ghordi, Darshana Devi led a delegation to apprise the MLA of the illegal sale of alcohol in the area that restarted even after an order was passed by the Udhampur Deputy Commissioner to stop it. |
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MC drive against unstamped meat
Jammu, June 18 The team visited the areas of Satwari, Gangyal, Kunjwani, Narwal, and Panama Chowk. The enforcement staff of the Municipal Corporation along with the police yesterday conducted an anti-encroachment drive in various localities. The drive was conducted in areas of Shalamar Road, Kacchi Chawani, Ambphala, Jewel Chowk, Canal Road, Talab Tillo, Bohri and Akhnoor Road. The team seized coolers, fans, plastic goods, signboards, aluminum sheets roll, refrigerator stands etc from
these areas. Besides, about 15 kg polythene bags were seized from the shopkeepers, vendors and others outlets in these areas. A total of Rs 4,000 was charged as fine from 30 defaulters who were using the polythene bags. |
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Two Pak militants killed
Srinagar, June 18 Two AK rifles and ammunition were recovered from the scene of the encounter. On receiving specific information about the presence of the militants in a house in the Kreeri area of Pattan last evening, a joint operation of the 29 RR, 52 RR and SOG was launched, the spokesman said. The hiding militants were asked to surrender, but they opened fire. “The troops laid a cordon around the house, which prevented the terrorists from escaping ”, said the spokesman. The two militants were killed in the gunfight this morning.
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Flesh trade racket busted; eight held
Jammu, June 18 A raid was conducted at the house of the kingpin woman, a native of Himachal Pardesh, who was allegedly running the racket. During the raid, all accused were found in compromising positions and were under the influence of liquor, the police added. Those arrested had been identified as a Junior Engineer (JE) Sandeep Mangotra, a resident of Old Secretariat road, Panjtirthi; businessman Vijay Sharma, a resident of Shiv Nagar, another businessman Sanjiv Sharma, a resident of Sunderbani, the police said. The police added that of the five arrested women, three belonged to Himachal Pradesh, one from Hugli in West
Bengal and one from Sidhra here. Most were married and were allegedly into this
for money. The police said the kingpin had taken the house on rent from a Kashmir-based family, who are in Srinagar presently. SHO Trikuta Nagar police station, Abid Rafiqi said: “A case under Section 3/4/5 of the Immoral Trafficking Act has been registered against all accused
and further investigations are on.” |
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Panchayat elections in Oct: Sagar
Srinagar, June 18 Addressing a meeting to discuss the final arrangements and formalities for holding of the panchayat elections here yesterday, the minister said the tentative draft publication of the electoral rolls would be made on July 20. On August 20 the final publication would be made and accordingly the government would issue a notification regarding the elections. Sagar said by holding the panchayat elections the government would be able to utilise Rs 1,000 crore granted under the 13th Finance Commission to the state for the development of rural areas. He added that it would also be able to utilise the grants being provided by the Central government. Sagar said through panchayats the government would be delegating powers to the gross-roots level by putting in place a three-tier form of governance. He said the women folk had also been empowered by providing 33 per cent reservation to them which would go a long way in the holistic development of the rural and far flung areas. |
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Vohra’s greetings on Khirbhawani Mela
Srinagar, June 18 Today, 1,264 passengers, including 536 women and 246 children, arrived in 33 buses from Nagrota in Jammu to celebrate Khirbhawani mela at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district. Meanwhile, PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and president Mehbooba Mufti extended their greetings to people who came from all over the country on the eve of the mela. They welcomed the package tour for the devotees of Khirbhawani and added that this would boost pilgrim as well as domestic tourism in the state. |
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Missing Udhampur boy found
Jammu, June 18
The police said it had received a call from a representative of the matador union that a child had been sleeping in a matador since last night. The child was then brought to the police station, where he confessed that he had been running from his house for the last two days, the police added. Sub inspector Varinder Singh said: “The boy told us that he ran from his house after his mother slapped him for not going to school.” He added that the family had been informed and the child would be handed over to them at the
earliest. |
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Take steps to curb corruption in Doda, says front
Jammu, June 18 In a statement issued here, the general secretary of the front, Kuldeep Kumar Rao, said due to dearth of proper transport facilities, transporters of the Thathri to Kahara area charged exorbitant fare from the passengers because of which poor people were suffering. Rao further alleged that not even a single Zonal Education Officer in the district was working with dedication. |
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Mahasabha to celebrate Kabir Jayanti on June 26
Jammu, June 18 Addressing a press conference, Suchait Singh, Chairman of the Mahasabha, said the jayanti would be organised by the Bhagat Mahasabha and would be supported by the Mahasabha. Singh has appealed to all devotees to participate in the function. The members of Mahasabha have appealed to the government to announce Kabir Jayanti a gazetted holiday.
— TNS |
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