|
|
Killings in Police Firing
Troublemakers go underground as cops
on high alert
JJSF seeks Governor’s rule
Vested interests trying to disturb peace: BJP |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A bridge built ‘exclusively’
for Health Minister
Panthers Party to boycott all-party delegation
‘Decision on all-party delegation on expected lines’
No use talking to all-party delegation:
Geelani, Mirwaiz
Defy Hurriyat’s protest agenda: Army
ABVP protests privatisation of education
Power Grid holds medical camp
Tata Indicom launches doctor-on-call service
Army school wins quiz contest
College celebrates World Ozone Day
Flights from Srinagar airport resume today
Undeclared gag on media in Srinagar
7 militants killed in encounters
|
|
After Poonch, curfew imposed in Mendhar
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service
Jammu, September 16 “The curfew is being enforced by the police and the CRPF in Mendhar and Poonch towns,” SSP, Poonch district, Manmohan Singh told The Tribune on phone. The Army had staged a flag march in Mendhar late last night and thereafter the curfew was imposed, he said. The SSP, however, described the situation in Mendhar as peaceful and under control. Regarding those killed in the police firing yesterday, he said three persons were killed in the police action. The dead Arshad of Ari, Shamim Ahmed of Chatral, and Alamdar Hussain of Goldh village in Mendhar tehsil were buried in their native villages today. Members of the minority communities also attended the funeral processions of those killed in the police firing. To soothe the frayed nerves of the people and take stock of the situation, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal and IG, Jammu zone, Ashok Kumar Gupta today visited Mendhar town and held a meeting with senior officers of the civil and police administration. Besides, they also met prominent citizens of the town and sought their cooperation in restoring law and order in the town, said the SSP. National Conference legislators Javed Ahmed Rana, MR Qureshi, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari and Rachhpal Singh were also camping in the town. Brig Dushyant Singh of the 10 Infantry Brigade, who also asked the people to maintain law and order, made it clear that anybody who tried to violate the curfew would not be spared. It may be stated here that after the protesters went on a rampage yesterday and three persons were killed and 45 others injured in the police firing, the Army had refused to stage a flag march in the town. The Army eventually staged the flag march late in the night to restore law and order and instill a sense of confidence among residents. The curfew also remained in place for the fourth straight day in Poonch town since September 13 when the alleged act of desecration of a holy book in the USA triggered violent clashes between the protesters and the police, leaving 15 persons injured. “There was no relaxation in the curfew in Poonch town today as well,” said the Poonch SSP. While Mendhar and Poonch towns remained under the curfew, people belonging to all communities today took out protest marches in Darhal, Manjakote, Surankote and Mandi in protest against the police action in Mendhar. Neighbouring Rajouri town also observed a shutdown. The Muslim Action Committee has also announced a three-day mourning for those killed in the police firing in Mendhar. Almost all educational institutions and offices remained closed in response to the shutdown call.
|
|
Troublemakers go underground as cops
on high alert
Tribune News Service Jammu Deputy Commissioner MK Dwivedi said: “Already there had been a peace march in the city and various communities have also agreed not to take out any protest rallies.” The incident of the alleged sacrilege in the US has already been condemned widely. The district administration has not given permission to anyone to take out protest march, the DC added. “We have already talked to prominent citizens and they have assured that there would be no protest march tomorrow,” Jammu SSP Basant Rath told The Tribune. However, police sources said, tomorrow being Friday and in the backdrop of the Mendhar killings troublemakers may attempt to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere and, hence, we are keeping an eye on the situation. They said policemen in civvies have been deputed around the sensitive areas. Following the development, some elements having suspected credentials have gone underground. In the prevailing circumstances when the atmosphere is surcharged, we cannot afford to remain off-guard, the sources said. The sources, however, admitted that following pro-active approach of the police, certain elements in Khatikan Talab, Gujjar Nagar and Ustad Mohalla had gone into hibernation. On September 13, a Muslim youth had been attacked by an unidentified assailant in the New Plots area when a group staged a protest against a clash between the police and protesters in Poonch town. Some mischievous elements in the group had also shouted provocative slogans on that day. The Chief Minister’s Office had already asked Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal and Jammu zone IGP Ashok Kumar Gupta to strictly deal with troublemakers and rumour mongers. Meanwhile, following a meeting of a delegation of Christians with the Jammu Divisional Commissioner, the state government has posted policemen in churches, missionary schools and hospitals across the temple city. |
|
Jammu, September 16 Pushvinder Singh Manhas, state president of the JJSF, said if the Centre wanted to curb the voice of the separatists and normalise the situation in the state, the state government should be sacked with immediate effect. Manhas said the withdrawal of the AFSPA from the state would not only demoralise the Army but also give boost to the separatists. — TNS
|
|
|
Vested interests trying to disturb peace: BJP
Jammu, September 16 The BJP activists staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, and later submitted a memorandum to him to draw his attention towards the deteriorating law and order situation in some areas of the Jammu province. Addressing the gathering, Khajuria said the violent incidents in Mendhar and Poonch towns indicated that vested elements were trying to disturb peace in Jammu. He said during the last three months when the Kashmir region was on the boil, Jammu by and large remained peaceful. “Some vested interests have been desperately trying to vitiate the atmosphere in Jammu also,” he said, adding that “Such elements are also there in districts of Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar and are trying to disturb the communal harmony.” He said if the administration failed to take immediate steps to restore the law and order, minorities might plan to migrate to other places for safety. |
|
A bridge built ‘exclusively’
for Health Minister
Jammu, September 16 The new bridge constructed by the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control over the Ranbir canal that meanders along the Jammu-Poonch National Highway, is a classic example illustrating ‘babus’ indulging in sycophancy and ingratiation of state Cabinet ministers. The bridge has reportedly been constructed to “exclusively” cater to the upcoming bungalow of the Health Minister near Mishriwala, nearly 15 km from the city. While there is hardly any other home in the close vicinity of the minister’s private home, the bridge has “needlessly” been constructed between the existing two bridges, each located at a distance of 200 metres on its either side. On the other side, there are adjoining localities across the canal that meanders along the national highway, which have been demanding a bridge or repair of the existing bridges for the past four years, but to no avail. “Citing norms or fund constraints, the department was not clearing the project for a new bridge over the Ranbir canal,” said residents of Laxmi Nagar and questioned on what grounds the bridge was constructed for the benefit of a single person. They added, “The work on the home of the minister is yet to be completed but the bridge has come over the canal within no time. When there are already two bridges at a walking distance from the home of the minister, isn’t the third one a waste of public money?” “We have been demanding a broader bridge for long so that four-wheelers and load-carriers could also enter the locality, but to no avail,” said residents of nearby Dream City. They added, “The new bridge has an overhead barricade to intercept the entry of heavy vehicles, while the nearby bridges are also narrow for the load carriers. So we don’t understand how the new bridge will improve connectivity to other localities. It is for the personnel use of the minister only.” As many bridges over the canal cry for repairs, there remains a threat of accidents. Moreover, the site selected for the construction is also in contravention of the norms as far as traffic management is concerned. It is situated along the ever-bustling highway on a sharp curve. The Chief Engineer of the department concerned, BR Dogra, said the tender for the bridge was not passed during his tenure. However, he commented, “The bridge does not cater to the minister’s home alone. There is a locality behind it, so a lot of people will be benefited.” “As the new localities develop across the canal, we construct bridges depending upon the availability of funds,” he said. He added that the demand of residents for more bridges would be examined. |
|
Panthers Party to boycott all-party delegation
Jammu, September 16 These political groups are of the view that there was no need to send the all-party delegation to the state to assess the ground situation for taking a decision on the AFSPA, as any move to dilute this Act would have dangerous consequences. While announcing to boycott the all-party delegation, Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh said, “We boycott the delegation for the reason that there is no terms and conditions attached with the visiting team of leaders nor such a delegation has any constitutional authority to take cognisance of the facts and the situation that prevails today in the state and particularly in the Kashmir valley.” The decision to boycott the all-party delegation was taken at a meeting of the core committee of the Panthers Party. “Any delegation where the ruling partners of the state namely the Congress and the National Conference would be included, the Panthers Party shall boycott such a delegation that is a burden on the tax payers as well as a waste of time. “The delegation has been proposed only to provide a further dose of oxygen to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has lost his acceptance among people,” Bhim Singh stated. State BJP president Shamsher Singh Manhas was also not much optimistic about the visit of the delegation. “Instead of sending this delegation to the state, the Centre should have rather made it clear in the all-party meeting that the AFSPA would not be repealed or diluted at any cost,” he said. He added that “instead of adopting such a soft attitude, the government should give a clear message to those who have been demanding the repealing of the Act just to demoralise the security forces.” He, however, said the BJP would avail of the opportunity and inform the members of all parties about the discrimination and step-motherly treatment meted out to Jammu and Ladakh regions by the successive state governments. Echoing a similar viewpoint, the Jammu State Morcha (JSM) took a strong note of ignoring the Jammu region in the all-party meeting. “Neither the Jammu and Ladakh-based regional parties were invited to the meeting nor any MP from both regions were present,” pointed out Anil Gour, a leader of the JSM. He added that only leaders of Kashmir-centric parties were invited to the meeting. Gour said the JSM would highlight the issue of discrimination against Jammu and Ladakh regions during interaction with the all-party delegation.
|
|
|
‘Decision on all-party delegation on expected lines’
Jammu, September 16 “The Kashmiri Pandits are the indigenous people of Kashmir and have a natural and first right over the territory of Kashmir. As such it is obligatory for the all-party delegation to meet their representatives in Jammu,” he said. “The only unsettled political aspirations in the state are that of the displaced Kashmiri
Pandits,” he added. Chrungoo said the time had come for the Centre to initiate a serious dialogue on the creation of a homeland with a union territory status in the Kashmir valley. — TNS |
|
|
No use talking to all-party delegation:
Geelani, Mirwaiz
Srinagar, September 16 The hard line APHC chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, rejected the proposal to enter into a dialogue with the all-party delegation that would be visiting Kashmir to resolve the crisis, saying the outcome of the meeting was disappointing. He said the APHC had already put forth its five-point conditions for any talks. “Unless there is a positive response on our five-point conditions, there is no hope of improvement in the situation,” Geelani said and asked the Centre to adopt a “realistic approach” to resolve the Kashmir issue. The moderate APHC chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, held that the all-party meeting was aimed at misleading the international community and the people of Kashmir. The meeting had no clarity of ideas and the leaders attending the much-hyped meeting were confused, he said. “The people of Kashmir are clear with regard to their demands and we would not relent on any partial fulfilment,” he commented. Referring to the proposed visit of the all-party delegation to Kashmir, the Mirwaiz said it would not serve any purpose. He lamented that there was no concrete outcome while 90 lives had been lost. He added that the sacrifices made by people were not for any economic package or jobs. The Mirwaiz sought an end to the killings, repeal of the AFSPA, withdrawal of troops from civilian areas and release of all political prisoners. JKLF chairman Yasin Malik said the meeting only appeased the communal and anti-Kashmir parties. In case of further delay in the resolution of the Kashmir issue, the people would have no alternative than to take recourse to violence, he said.
|
|
|
CM briefs Governor on situation
Srinagar, September 16 The Governor and the Chief Minister discussed, for over an hour, the obtaining situation in the state in which the latter briefed the Governor about the measures being taken for the restoration of normalcy, an official spokesman said. The Governor particularly stressed the need for ensuring security of the minority communities and the institutions run by them, including their places of worship. He also expressed concern over the irreparable loss being done to students by affecting their educational schedule and the need to take possible measures for the resumption of academic activities. The importance of ensuring the functioning of the administrative apparatus was also underlined, particularly the need to ensure the delivery of public services and meeting the day-to-day needs of the common man. |
|
|
Defy Hurriyat’s protest agenda: Army
Udhampur, September 16 The Hurriyat Conference has been issuing regular protest calendars, causing a lot of inconvenience to the peace-loving people of the state. In their latest protest calendar, it has declared 10 days of bandhs with two days of respite. It has asked people to step up violence from September 21 by staging sit-in protests outside Army camps and preventing the movement of the Army convoys. This is being seen as a deliberate attempt to embroil the Army in the ongoing agitation and distract it from its primary role. In view of this, the Army has issued an appeal to the people to avoid being misled by the Hurriyat leaders and avoid confronting the Army garrisons or vehicles. It has also assured the people of Kashmir that it will continue to work for their safety, welfare and empowerment. Sources said the Hurriyat leadership would do well to take note of this appeal by the Army. In case it failed to relent, any showdown might lead to unsavoury developments. An Army spokesperson said the Army had always been a “people’s Army” and it had been at the forefronts of all rescue and relief missions during natural disasters faced by the people of the Valley. In the recent floods, the Army carried out the relief and rescue work in Kupwara and Pulwama districts for the affected people. The ongoing rehabilitation work had also been undertaken under various Sadhbhavana projects. Mega medical and veterinary camps were held regularly in the larger public interest in remote and inaccessible areas. It was in the line of this the body of a boy, who had drowned in the Jhelum in Baramulla, was recovered by the divers of the Army and handed over to his family. In an ongoing operation, efforts were afoot for the last 48 hours to recover the body of another youth from the Jhelum at Khanabal. He reiterated that the Hurriyat was indeed misleading the masses and trying to create a wedge between the Army and the people for its vested interests. “Apparently, the aim is to portray that the Army is not with them, and for their welfare. The Army appeals to the people of Kashmir to avoid falling into the trap of Hurriyat leaders,” he added.
|
|
|
ABVP protests privatisation of education
Jammu, September 16 The protest was held outside Government Gandhi Memorial Science College under the leadership of Pradeep Sharma, an ABVP activist. The protesters criticised privatisation and commercialisation of education in the state for earning profit. “The authorities concerned have increased fee in colleges but they have not raised the level of education,” alleged protesters. They said besides increasing the admission fee in the BEd course, the re-evaluation fee had also been raised. They also demanded that instead of opening more BEd colleges in the state, the authorities concerned should increase seats in government colleges.
|
|
Power Grid holds medical camp
Jammu, September 16 The medical camp was inaugurated by Jagmohan Sharma, general manager (O & M), Northern Region transmission System II, in the presence of deputy general manager RH Zaidi and other senior officials of the Power Grid. Around 600 people availed the free health checkup. Free medicines were distributed among the patients. A clinical laboratory facility was also provided during the camp. Power Grid is a managing 77,500 circuit kilometres of transmission network and 132 EHVAC and HVDC sub-stations with a total transformation capacity of 89,500 MVA. It transmits 50 per cent of total power generated in the country through its network. A team of doctors headed by Rajeev Sharma, BMO, Dansal, which included specialists in gynaecology, dentistry, paediatrics, neurology and general medicine checked people. Prominent citizens of Kishenpur appreciated the role of the Power Grid in the development of Kishenpur village and submitted new proposals which could be considered for future corporate social responsibility schemes. |
|
|
Tata Indicom launches doctor-on-call service
Jammu, September 16 This service provides assistance under any medical emergency situation and also provides medical consultations. The calls for consultation are chargeable at Rs 9 per minute. Tata Indicom subscribers pan India can access the doctor-on-call service by simply dialling 54887. Based on an IVR system, medical consultancy will be offered by doctors who are experienced and once the subscriber calls on this service the doctors through a clinical procedure would assesse the health problems. On the sole discretion of the caller, medical history would be asked which includes complete information on age/ sex/ marital status/ location/ medical history and clinical history. |
|
|
Army school wins quiz contest
Udhampur, September 16 Sharon Public School, Udhampur, and Little Flower School, Udhampur, stood second and third, respectively. Consolation prizes were also given to Army AOC School, Udhampur, and Army Public School, Dhar Road, Udhampur. In all 14 teams from different government and private educational institutions of Udhampur and its adjoining areas participated in the competition. The contest was designed for students of Class VI to X. Gulzar Singh Salathia, DIG, Udhampur-Reasi Range, who was the chief guest, appreciated the participating teams for their awareness of global and national trends. Rajeshwar Sharma was the quiz master while Swantanter Dev Kotwal conducted the proceedings of the programme. Deputy Controller, Civil Defence, Udhampur, Bodh Raj, presented the vote of thanks. SSP, Udhampur, Surinder Gupta, chairman of Shivalik College of Education, Udhampur, Dr Vikram Gulati, wardens of civil defence, teachers and students were among those who were present. |
|
|
College celebrates World Ozone Day
Jammu, September 16 held an intra-college symposium on “Ozone Depletion and its Impact on Environment”, on its premises today. The programme was a jointly organised by the departments of geography, botany and chemistry. The chief guest and key speaker on the occasion was Om Parkash Sharma, Joint Director, State Forest Research Institute, Jammu and Kashmir. In his key note address, Sharma urged upon everyone to become conscious of the threats to the ozone layer due to anthropogenic activities and advocated various measures to conserve and protect it. Prof Nalini Kohli, principal of the college, presided over the function. Students from various departments of the college participated in the symposium and put forth their views on the topic with enthusiasm. Kokila Kohli, Zinat-Ul-Nisa and Asma Bukhari won the first, second and third prizes, respectively. Consolation prizes were awarded to Sonam Khajuria, Yogita and Neha Chaudhary. The programme ended with a pledge by the staff and the students to conserve the ozone layer and save the earth from environmental hazards.
|
|
|
5 CRPF men among 10 hurt in Valley clashes
Srinagar, September 16 Four persons were injured when the police opened fire to disperse protesters in Sopore town of Baramulla district this evening. The injured were admitted to a hospital where the condition of one of them was stated to be serious. Five CRPF men were injured when their vehicle overturned after protesters pelted it with stones at Bemina on the outskirts of Srinagar city this afternoon. The protesters were chased away by the police and the CRPF and there were no reports of injuries to any civilian in the retaliatory action. A policeman was injured when the protesters threw stones at a police vehicle at Khanpora in Baramulla town, about 60 km from here. The stone throwing on a camp of the security forces was also reported from Bomai village near Sopore in Baramulla district. The police and the CRPF maintained a strict vigil in the central Lal Chowk area since early morning today following the death of a relative of JKLF chairman Yasin Malik in a hospital in New Delhi last night. Yasir Hameed Sheikh, cousin of Malik, was injured in the police firing at Maisuma on August 30 and admitted to the SKIMS Hospital here. He was later shifted to a New Delhi hospital. Barring Baramulla town, the curfew restrictions continued in Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Kupwara and Bandipore. Other areas where the restrictions were in force included Choon, the Mirgund-Budgam road, Shiekh Pora, Humhama, the IG road, Nadir Gund, Chadoora, Wathoora, Mochua, Kralpora, Galwanpora, Narkara, Ompora, Kangan, Bijbehara, Qoimoh, Awantipora, Lethpora, Pampore, Tangmarg, Sopore, Kralpora, Trehgam and Sumbal. There were no reports of violence last night from any part of the Valley, the police here said. Meanwhile, two gunmen riding on a motorcycle, fired indiscriminately at Khankah Ghat in the Hajan area of Bandipore district. The police said no loss of life or property was reported.
|
|
|
Flights from Srinagar airport resume today
Srinagar, September 16 The Airport had been temporarily closed for the civil flights due to the imminent requirement of the resurfacing of a portion of the runway. Since the task had been accomplished, the normal flight operations would start from tomorrow. The spokesman added that the air tickets of the passengers would be treated as curfew passes to facilitate their hassle-free movement to and from the airport. |
|
|
Undeclared gag on media in Srinagar
Srinagar, September 16 Most of editions of the local dailies from Srinagar city failed to hit the stands for the third consecutive day today, as the reporting and other technical staff of the newspapers were unable to reach their offices. The reporters working for various local, national and international news organisations said they were not being allowed to discharge their professional duty and were not allowed to move out of their houses to reach offices. “I have been confined to my house for the past three days because of the strict curfew imposed by the security agencies. They even don’t honour the curfew passes issued by the District Magistrate,” said a journalist in Srinagar. A senior journalist working for a national daily was today not allowed to move out to discharge professional duty. After coming out of his house, he was not allowed to return and had to spend several hours in someone else’s house. “I went out to perform my duty. First, the police did not allow me to move out. However, when somehow I moved ahead after persuading it, I was stopped by the CRPF men. They tried to tear the curfew pass, but when I objected they told me to go to a place where we could get freedom,” said the senior journalist. He said when he called up the District Magistrate, who had issued the curfew pass, he was told that the strict curfew had been enforced for a few days and it was difficult for him to ask the security personnel to honour the curfew pass. “When the security personnel did not pay any heed to my request, I had to take shelter at a nearby house for sometime. And it was only after I called up a senior CRPF officer, who sent some of his men to accompany me back home,” said the journalist. “The photojournalists working with different media organisations are also being stopped from performing their duty,” said a photojournalist.
|
|
|
7 militants killed in encounters
Srinagar, September 16 As per sources, two militants were gunned down in the ongoing encounter in the Gurez sector along the Line of Control (LoC) where the encounter between the Army and the militant had been going on for the past 10 days. So far 13 militants had been gunned down. The security forces also killed five militants in a gunfight in the Tral forest area in southern Pulwama district. The sources said the security forces launched a search operation in the Sajan-Dudkulan forest area in Tral this morning following information about the presence of some Hizbul Mujahideen militants. They said the security forces confronted the militants and asked them to surrender, but the latter started firing, resulting in an encounter. The identity of the five slain militants could not be ascertained as the operation in the area was still on when the last reports came in, the sources added.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
What the residents of lower Laxmi Nagar behind the office of the Director School, Education, have been demanding for several years, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma manoeuvred to get it within no time, though for personnel use only.
Describing the all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Kashmir as a futile exercise, separatist leaders have said such meetings will not lead to any conclusion on the Kashmir issue.
The hard line APHC chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, rejected the proposal to enter into a dialogue with the all-party delegation that would be visiting Kashmir to resolve the crisis, saying the outcome of the meeting was disappointing. He said the APHC had already put forth its five-point conditions for any talks. “Unless there is a positive response on our five-point conditions, there is no hope of improvement in the situation,” Geelani said and asked the Centre to adopt a “realistic approach” to resolve the Kashmir issue. 
Activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) today held a protest demonstration against commercialisation of education.
Army Public School (APS), Udhampur, bagged the first position in the inter-school quiz contest on general studies organised by the Udhampur-Reasi police range in collaboration with the Civil Defence
Organisation, Udhampur, at Shivalik College of Education here today.
