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Lone among 30 Youth Cong activists hurt in lathi-charge
CPM for unconditional talks with all sections
CET Impersonation Case |
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Student bodies, morcha hold protests
Militants kill woman, daughter
Cops taken off VIP duties, sent to Valley
Free ration for flood-hit Kargil farmers
Jammu Heritage Society sends ration for Leh flood-hit
Funds collected for flood victims
35 children from Kashmir visit Temple City
Man killed in freak incident
BJP supports agitating
BDS students
Valley Turmoil
Child killed, 5 hurt as house collapses
Unrest fails to hit fruit growers
Students plant saplings
Two cops hurt in mishap
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Lone among 30 Youth Cong activists hurt in lathi-charge
Jammu, August 23 The injured included the national general secretary of the All-India Youth Congress, Amarinder Singh ‘Raja’, state president and senior vice-president of the PYC Shoaib Lone and RS Pathania, respectively, were injured in the police action. The police also arrested over 50 PYC workers, including all senior leaders, and took them to city police station. The PYC took out a peace march in the city in the evening in which a large number of party activists were took part. The march started from the party headquarters at Shahidi Chowk here and passed through various localities of the city. As the march reached near Shalamar Chowk, the police stopped the PYC workers and this led to a scuffle. The police resorted to a cane-charge on the marchers and also arrested them. As soon as the party leaders received information about the incident, they immediately reached the police station. Cabinet ministers Raman Bhalla and RS Chib along with the Lok Sabha member from the Jammu-Poonch area Madan Lal Sharma reached the police station. “We were holding a peace march over the prevailing situation in the Kashmir valley, but some police officers of Jammu used a brutal force against us and that too without any reason,” alleged Raja, who was especially deputed by the party high command in New Delhi to encourage the party workers in their efforts to bring normalcy in the state. “It is really unfortunate that the Youth Congress workers, who were spreading the message of peace and brotherhood, were targeted by the police,” he said. He added that he would bring the matter to the notice of the Congress high command. While talking to The Tribune over phone, Raja said they had informed the authorities concerned about the peace march. He said at the eleventh hour, some police officers advised them not to take out the march. Shoaib Lone, who also faced the wrath of the police, regretted that it treated them like anti-social elements. “When cops were beating me, I repeatedly told them that I am a former legislator as well as president of the PYC. But they did not even spare me,” said Lone. Despite repeated attempts, SSP, Jammu, Basant Rath could not be contacted for his comments. |
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CPM for unconditional talks with all sections
Srinagar, August 23 “Our party has been of the view that talks with Pakistan have to be resumed and a dialogue without preconditions has to be taken forward in Jammu and Kashmir. The resumption and continuation of the CBMs was also necessary”, Karat told mediapersons at the end of a two-day visit here. He was accompanied by party’s Central Committee member Mohammad Salim and the Secretary of the state unit of the party, M.Y Tarigami. Replying to questions, the CPM General Secretary held that the Centre was concerned more about the Nuclear Liability Bill than the “burning” Kashmir issue. “It is shameful that there is a Bill like this”, he commented. The Centre was trying to get the Bill cleared before the scheduled visit of President Barrack Obama to India later this year. “This clearly shows how the Government of India is working”, the CPM leader said. “The question of Jammu and Kashmir should be treated in a special, and not, conventional manner,” he said, and added “The way forward is by recognising the special status of the state and assuring the Kashmiri people of their identity”,he said. Blaming the UPA- II for its failure in handling the situation in Kashmir, Karat said his party would strive to get the Central Government “address the political issues without further delay by not treating the situation in the state as a law and order problem which could be resolved through administrative measures”.
He demanded that the AFSPA be amended to remove some of its draconian provisions. Till then, the Disturbed Areas Act be withdrawn from Srinagar and certain other civilian areas that would make the AFSPA redundant there. Referring to economic losses during the past over two months, the CPM leader urged the government to revive trade and other economic activities. He sought to address the disruption of education of children due to closure of schools and also demanded immediate end to the “brutal and inhuman police firing”. |
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CET Impersonation Case
Jammu, August 23 Sources said the police teams left for various places outside the state to conduct raids and arrest the alleged kingpin of the racket, Kunj Bihari, a resident of Samastipur in Bihar. They said during interrogation the seven arrested impersonators, including two girls, had revealed that they all came in contact with Kunj Bihari in Delhi. Kunj Bihari, who is a medical student, along with several others has been running an inter-state impersonation racket in Delhi. Meanwhile, the family members of all arrested persons reached the city and met with their children. The sources said the parents were baffled after they came to know about the alleged involvement of their children in such a criminal activity. They said one of the arrested girls had come to the city on the pretext of paying obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. The girl belonged to a rich family and is also an MBBS student, they added. The sources said the relatives and family members of the accused even met with some advocates to file a bail application in court. Hilal Mohammad Azhar, in charge of Nehru Market police post, said, “We are investigating the matter and so far only seven impersonators have been arrested. But we are trying to arrest the remaining accused in the scam as soon as possible.” All arrested persons have been kept in Gandhi Nagar police station. On the other hand, some politicians are pressuring the police to arrest the students who took the help of the impersonators, as some ministers’ children are allegedly involved in
the racket. They have already made a political issue out of it and are demanding a free and fair probe into the admissions of the children of all politicians. However, neither any student nor the alleged kingpin or his accomplices were arrested till this evening. |
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Student bodies, morcha hold protests
Jammu, August 23 BJYM activists demanded arrest of the minister allegedly involved in the case. At Jammu, BJYM activists, under the leadership of state president Munish Sharma, took out a protest demonstration in the city. They chanted slogans against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and charged him with patronising the corruption in the state. The BJYM state chief said the corruption had reached towards its zenith. He added on the pretext of developmental activities, the minister and officers were emptying the public exchequer with no development being carried out. He further added the conduct of these ministers whose wards were being impersonated exposed prevailing mockery in the state. At Bhaderwah, activists of the BJYM took out a protest demonstration in the town and demanded action against the minister and other influential persons whose names were involved in the scam. They also demanded the minister should be arrested to ensure an impartial inquiry. Various student associations today held protest demonstration against the alleged involvement of a minister and former minister for arranging impersonators for their children in the MBBS/BDS enterance examination. Protesters demanded immediate sacking of the minister and a CBI inquiry into the case, so that all those involved should be booked under the law. Activists of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthiya Parishad (ABVP), a unit of University of Jammu, held protest demonstration on the campus against the present minister. The protesting students chanted slogans and burnt an effigy. While addressing the protesters, ABVP president of University of Jammu, Preety Choudhary, and Naseeb Ali, member of the ABVP, demanded action against the minister involved in the case. Meanwhile, activists of the Jammu Joint Students Federation also held protest demonstration in front of Government Gandhi Memorial (GGM) Science College. They also demanded a strict action against those involved in the case. |
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Militants kill woman, daughter
Srinagar, August 23 Four militants, suspected to be from the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), barged into the house of Mohammad Hussain Gorsi at Nadimarg in the Dhamal Hanjipura area of Kulgam district, some 80 km from here, around 9 pm yesterday. Their mission was to punish Gorsi for the “sin” committed by his wife by seeking the Army’s medical help, the police said. The man was not not at home. His wife and daughter begged for forgiveness but their pleas did not impress the militants. They shot dead the woman and her daughter. The local medical centre in the village was closed because of the strike call given by the separatists. Therefore, the mother-daughter duo went to the nearby medical camp of the Rashtriya Rifles. The militants also killed Ghulam Nabi Wani, an employee of the Social Welfare Department, at Chakoora, 45 km from here, last night. Suspected militants fired at the residence of MLA, Sopore, Mohammad Ashraf Ganai on Saturday night, the police said. The guard posted at the MLA’s house retaliated and there was no damage or injury to anyone. This is the second such attack on Ganai’s house. One policeman on guard was killed and another injured in a similar attack last week. Meanwhile, DGP Kuldeep Khoda today visited police stations in Srinagar and Budgam to review the prevailing law and order situation there. He stressed for better coordination among all security agencies for dealing with the situation
effectively. Khoda, accompanied by the Special DG (CRPF), the Joint Director, IB, and senior officers of the police and the CRPF visited Nowhatta, M. R. Gung and Humhama police stations in Budgam. He held meetings with the officers of police and CRPF to discuss the strategies for tackling the situation. Threadbare discussions were held with regard to the prevailing situation in their jurisdiction. He was briefed by the SHOs concerned about the methods adopted to tackle the
challenges. Normal life continued to remain paralysed across the Kashmir valley today as the curfew continued in 12 police stations in Srinagar city while it was imposed in Pulwama and Sopore following fresh clashes since yesterday. All shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the road.Schools and banks were also closed. The police here said heavy stone throwing was reported from Prichoo Pulwama, Muran Chowk, Rajpora Chowk, Tahab and Pulwama police station. A huge mob threw stones at these places till late last night resulting in injuries to at least 28 police personnel, including SP, Pulwama, and three CRPF officials. One stone thrower was also injured, the police said. Meanwhile, one person, Bilal Ahmad Sheikh of Kralpora, Pattan, who was injured in a clash between protesters and the police at Singhpora on August 14, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital today. |
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Cops taken off VIP duties, sent to Valley
Jammu, August 23 Some PSOs had already been sent to various parts of the Valley and were performing their duties well there, a senior police officer said. He further said the PSOs had been deployed for a short period and once the situation came under control, they would resume their duties in the Jammu region. Only some VIPs would have to suffer with their security and that too for a short period, he added. After a great deliberation, it was decided to send some PSOs from the Jammu region to Kashmir, as the situation was worsening there. However, sources said earlier the PSOs were being provided to some VIPs without even getting the report from security agencies. A senior CID officer stated a report had been sent to the higher authorities favouring the removal of PSOs from their present positions, as a majority of VIPs didn’t have security threats. “There are some persons who have not even received a single threat call from the militants but are using the services of PSOs. So, they are likely to lose their PSOs,” added the officer. He further said the report had mentioned that services of such cops, who have been deployed as PSOs, could be better used if their services were utilised in a proper manner. However, repeated attempts to contact the IG, Jammu zone, Ashok Gupta, proved futile. |
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Flood phobia, stress disorder haunt Ladakh residents
Leh, August 23 A large number of residents are unable to sleep at night, fearing the flash floods may recur. “We are unable to sleep and we wake up suddenly fearing that the floods might hit us again,” said Tsering Dolma, who lost his house in the flash floods, but luckily survived. The effect of the PTSD is more visible in small children, who are unable to cope up with the tragedy that killed their loved ones. Four-year-old Staizing Thordot is unable to sleep and his father is worried for him. Thordot saw his mother and elder brother being washed away in the floods. He himself was washed away but was rescued after two days. “He saw his mother and elder brother being washed away in the flash floods. He himself was rescued after two days. Now, he is unable to sleep and whenever I force him to sleep he wakes up suddenly and starts crying,” said Staizing Tsering, father of Thordot. Not only children but also people of all ages are suffering from the stress disorder and are unable to get counselling anywhere. “I wanted to take him to a doctor but no one was available,” said Tsering. Dominika Lis, a Polish national, who works for a company and is qualified psychologist, says that most of the people in Leh are suffering from the PTSD. “People are under acute depression. They can’t sleep and continue to visualise the images of the disaster they have been through. These people need immediate help and I am ready to help them. But there is a communication barrier, which needs to be overcome,” she says. |
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Free ration for flood-hit Kargil farmers
Srinagar, August 23 He took stock of link roads, bridges, water supply schemes, residential structures and standing crops which had been affected due to floods, an official spokesman said. Interacting with the locals, the minister assured them to rebuild the damaged infrastructure at the earliest. He said the farmers whose crops had been washed away would be given one-month’s free ration. Akhoon asked the revenue authorities to compile reports of damages of residential structures, plants, farms and standing crops so that the affected people were given adequate relief. He urged the people to restore their damaged irrigation schemes, link roads and other infrastructure for which the government would provide necessary material and labour wages. |
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Jammu Heritage Society sends ration for Leh flood-hit
Jammu, August 23 The society had collected the relief a few days ago and sent it today to Leh through the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Manoj
Dwivedi, for the victims of flash floods and cloudburst. The consignment was airlifted today by an Air India flight and would be delivered to the Deputy Commissioner,
Leh. The society had collected these ration items by making announcements in an open jeep in Raghunath
Bazar, Purani Mandi, Pucca Danga, Rajinder Bazar, Residency Road and Hari Market. Appreciating the motivation and assistance rendered by the Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, president of the society Baldev Khullar stated that they would now send blankets for the victims. He appealed to the people in the city to donate blankets for the Leh people who are in distress.
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Funds collected for flood victims
Jammu, August 23 Principal M.S. Baloria said the money would be sent to the affected people through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Funds were collected under NSS Programme Officers, Dr Rajinder Sharma and Prof V.K. Chandan. Senior NSS volunteers, Mohammad Arif and Sumit Kumar Dogra, led the team of volunteers.
— TNS |
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Unsafe structures threat to Jain Bazaar area residents
Jammu, August 23 A few days ago, the half portion of a three-storey building collapsed due to a heavy rain. The incident has created fear psychosis among the area residents. The debris of the building has blocked the common passage in the street and chocked the drains in the locality. Worried over the pitiable condition, Vijay Khajuria, an area resident, said, “The half portion of our neighbour’s house collapsed due to a heavy rain. Now, it has become life threatening for us as the remaining portion of the house can collapse any time.” The debris of the collapsed building has blocked the main gates of many houses. It has also blocked the street restricting the movement of people and vehicles. “The drains are completely blocked and have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. It will adversely affect our health,” Ashok Khajuria, another resident, said. Moreover, the telephone and electric overhead wires in the locality are buried under the rubble. “The electric poles supporting the wires have been damaged, thereby disrupting the power and telephone services, which cannot be restored until the debris is removed,” said Khajuria. He added that an iron angle supporting the electric overhead wires had damaged the building of Jain Optical stores and bricks of which could fall on the passersby. The area residents said though the Municipal Commissioner visited the area recently, nothing had been done so far in this regard. However, the Municipal Corporation has deputed around four vehicles to lift the debris from the area. While talking to The Tribune, SC Sawhney, Municipal Commissioner, said all unsafe structures in the area would be demolished immediately. “We will demolish the unsafe structures in the area tomorrow or day after tomorrow depending on the weather.” |
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Security Concerns
Srinagar, August 23 The six-member delegation also discussed with the Governor the situation in the Kashmir valley and varied issues in regard to the welfare of the Sikh community in the State, particularly the security concerns. The demands included measures for socio-economic development of the Sikh community, its representation in various bodies, including the state Legislature, the J&K Public Service Commission and the J&K Subordinate Services Recruitment Board. It also demanded a special recruitment drive for the youth of the community and introduction of the Punjabi language in schools for students in the Valley. Other demands included setting up of a Punjabi department in the University of Kashmir and establishing a Punjabi section in the Jammu and Kashmir State Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. The Governor informed that he had asked the Chief Minister earlier this month to urgently enforce effective measures for safeguarding the Sikh community and that he would write to the Chief Minister yet again. The deputation comprised All-India Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) general secretary S Bhagwant Singh Oman , state president Dr Joginder Singh Shan, state general secretary S Satinder Singh, advocate S Satnam Singh Kanda and S Harminder Singh Hanji. Meanwhile, the deputation also met former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti at their Gupkar residence. The delegation also had an hour-long meeting with separatist APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at his Nigeen residence this afternoon. The Sikh leaders discussed issues related to the restoration of peace and normalcy in the state, which has been witness to the trouble over the past about two and a half months during which at least 62 persons have been killed in the clashes between protesters and the police. |
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Forum celebrates Rakshabandhan with BSF jawans
Jammu, August 23 According to a statement issued here, the Commandant of the battalion, Vaneet Kumar, was the chief guest whereas 2 I/C Manoj Karkee, Rakesh Chib, president, Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association, and Romesh Chowdhary were the guest of honour. The function was presided over by state president of the forum Vikas Sharma. NSF activists visited the border area and the female members tied rakhies on the wrists of the jawans. Vaneet Kumar appreciated the efforts of the activists of the NSF. He stressed upon the youth to contribute towards the development of the nation and appealed to them to eliminate all evils from the society. The jawans expressed their overwhelming joy and extended gratitude to the forum’s activists for remembering them on the festival. |
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MC inspects ongoing construction work
Jammu, August 23 According to a statement issued here, the team inspected the construction going on in the city in order to ascertain whether it was in conformity with building plans approved by the Municipal Corporation or not. During the inspection, the team found some illegal construction works going on in the areas of Akhnoor, Gandhi Nagar and Nanak Nagar. Some flats being raised under the Group Housing Scheme by the Private Builders at Topesherkhania, Extension Trikuta Nagar and Deeli were also inspected by the team. |
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35 children from Kashmir visit Temple City
JAMMU, August 23 The children also visited the subcontinent’s largest underground aquarium near Bagh-e-Bahu and experienced the exotic aquatic world. Regarding the historic Bahu Fort, the children were briefed about its history. The oldest fort in Jammu city was constructed by Raja Bahulochan nearly 300 years ago. The children enjoyed the enviable sight of the Tawi from the Fort that flows in spate during the monsoon. The children were extremely happy to be a part of this tour and all of them wished for increased frequency of tours in future too. According to the Army officer accompanying them, the tour will inspire them to integrate further with the national mainstream and know the rich culture of India. The party is scheduled to visit the Dogra Regimental Centre in Faizabad. |
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Man killed in freak incident
Jammu, August 23 It further said the body had been kept in the mortuary and after conducting the postmortem the exact reason behind the death could be established. It added they were trying to establish the identity of the deceased and inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC had been initiated in this regard. |
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Romeo Force organises Iftaar party
Jammu, August 23 At least 80 civilians from various walks of life attended the cezlebration, which included a sumptuous feast and offering of namaaz. The gathering included religious teachers, social activists and representatives of the civil administration and witnessed a free and frank exchange of views, ideas and greetings. The Sector Commander of the Rashtriya Rifles, present on the occasion, emphasised that peace and stability were prerequisites for the all-round development of the area. Religious teachers and elders stressed upon the need to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood in the society. They appreciated the unique initiative of the Army to reach out to the people in religious celebrations during this holy month of
Ramdan. |
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BJP supports agitating
BDS students
Jammu, August 23 In a statement issued here today, Dr Kamal said the agitating students were virtually on the roads protesting against the de-recognition of Indira Gandhi Dental College. It was in the knowledge of everyone that Ghulam Nabi Azad, the then Chief Minister of the state and presently Union Health Minister, had rechristened the Dental College as IGDC with much enthusiasm, but this college had been derecognised by the DCI, putting the career of young aspiring dentists at stake.”This is the only college in the Jammu region which is catering to the young students’ career who otherwise had to go out of the state for availing the training in this line”, she said. Dr Kamal further stated that BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas had met the Union Health Minister recently in Delhi and had apprised him of the problem of BDS students. |
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Valley Turmoil Srinagar, August 23 “We were expecting respite from oppressive measures during the holy month of Ramadan. But, on the other hand, these have increased,” PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti told reporters here. “In addition to the youth, now children and women are being targeted and molested. The PDP will not remain silent and will come out on roads if these measures are not stopped forthwith,” she said. Flaying thegovernment, she said, “It has become defunct. It has become irrelevant. It has no vision.” — PTI
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Child killed, 5 hurt as house collapses
Jammu, August 23 The police said the house collapsed due to heavy rains and the child sitting inside the house lost his life after the roof fell on him. The others who received injuries were standing on the roof, it added. It further said after hearing the cries, neighbours rushed to the spot and rescued the victims from the debris. The injured were rushed to the subdistrict hospital at Billawar for treatment, where the child, Raj Kumar, was declared brought dead. However, others were recuperating from their injuries. |
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Unrest fails to hit fruit growers
Srinagar, August 23 An official spokesperson said here in spite of the disturbances in the Valley, 23,825 MTs of fruits from orchard owners and growers had been dispatched during July and first 20 days of August. As a result of this, the orchard owners and growers had earned Rs 87 crore. The fruit growers from Sopore, Rafiabad, Pattan, Kreeri, Ganderbal, Handwara, Sumbal, Rajpora, Lar, Pulwama, Budgam, Zawan and lower parts of Shopian have benefited. |
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Students plant saplings
Jammu, August 23 Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said air pollution was increasing. He said every citizen should plant at least one sapling to counter global warming and make the environment clean. Prominent among others who participated in the drive included Rajinder Singh Chib, Hardeep Singh, Jaimal Ram, Gandharv Singh, Mohan Lal Sharma, Bodh Raj, and Pardeep Kumar. |
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Two cops hurt in mishap
Jammu, August 23 The police said constables Nidhan Singh and Irshad Ahmed were patrolling in the area when the minibus hit their motorcycle from rear. Both injured were taken to the sub-district hospital, Billawar, and later shifted to the GMCH, Jammu. The minibus driver has been arrested.
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