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Former ultras being lured back into militancy
Discrimination against Jammu
BJP members raise slogans before staging a walkout from the state Assembly in Srinagar on Monday. Photo: Amin War
Even minister can’t get this old widow relief
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Omar meets PM, seeks more jobs for youth
BJP demands early panchayat poll
Mendhar firing
‘Streamline transport facility to fruit growers’
Municipal Corporation urged to intensify anti-adulteration drive
15 officers booked for graft this year: CM
Members of the JJSF hold a demonstration in support of their demands in Jammu on Monday. A Tribune photograph
Normalcy returns to Valley
Poppy cultivation on 405 kanals destroyed
A heavy trafffic in Srinagar on Monday after the curfew was lifted. Photo: Amin War
Three-day NSS workshop concludes
Mendhar firing
Man killed in road mishap
Man commits suicide
Man held with illicit liquor
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Former ultras being lured back into militancy
Jammu, October 4 With the efforts of the police and the Army, a large number of militants have been gunned down and the militant outfits are finding it hard to survive in Kishtwar district. Almost all self-styled commanders of these outfits have either been eliminated or they have surrendered before the security forces, said a senior police officer. He said the Hizbul Mujahideen, which had been active here for past several years, had been decimated and that’s why the Hizbul Mujahideen militants had now started luring people, with promise to give them food and money, but the security forces were keeping a round-the-clock vigil in the area to check the nefarious designs of the anti-national elements. The officer added that in yesterday’s incident, in which two youths, including a militant who had earlier surrendered but had been motivated to join militancy, were rescued from the clutches of Hizbul Mujahideen’s district commander in the Palmar area of Patimahal in Kishtwar district. He added that 22-year-old Ghulam Mohammad had surrendered before
the security forces in 2008. However, Wasim, a district commander of the
Hizbul Mujahideen, on September 27 again lured him into militancy. “This incident indicates that the militant outfits were trying to recruit some youngsters, as it has become difficult for them to survive in areas near the Line of Control (LoC),” the officer said. ASP, Kishtwar, Kulbir Singh said over phone, “Such incidents have increased, but alert cops and Army jawans have done a commendable job in the recent past, as a number of militants, who had surrendered but were again lured into militancy, had been rescued.” He added, “In the past 12 months, about 11 militants, who had earlier surrendered but joined militancy again, had been rescued from the militants.” Kulbir said the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were the two major surviving militant outfits in the district. |
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BJP, Panthers Party MLAs stage walkout
Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 4 The issue was raised by senior BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta before the beginning of Question Hour this morning, but was taken up afterwards by Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone. Soon after the Assembly resumed its business, the BJP members, Chaman Lal Gupta and Jugal Kishore, took up the issue. The Speaker assured the members that they would be given time after Question Hour was over. Speaking on the issue later, Gupta pointed out that out of 15 central universities sanctioned by the Central government early last year, only 12 were working properly, while three others, including Central University of Jammu, were not working. He wanted to know why the university had not been made functional in the past about two years even as the land for it had been identified at Samba. He expressed concern over the fact that no decision had been taken over the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the university. The BJP leader said while the turmoil was going on in the Kashmir valley for the past about four months, the Jammu region was being neglected. He said the government ignored the peaceful areas of the state while the trouble was going in some areas of the Kashmir valley. While Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather pleaded that the government was not ready with the details as the issue was raised without any prior notice, the BJP members led by Gupta and Ashok Khajuria and the Panthers Party members led by Harsh Dev Singh walked out of the House. They raised slogans like “Jammu Key Saath Nainsafi Nahi Chalegi Nahin Chalegi”. The Speaker and the Finance Minister observed that the protesting members had no sympathy with the Jammu region and were instead interested in making news. As the BJP and other members walked out of the House, CPM member MY Tarigami expressed concern over the attitude of the members from one region and claimed that “nainsafi” (injustice) was prevalent only in Kashmir. He pleaded that the people in Kashmir were craving for justice.
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Even minister can’t get this old widow relief
Jammu, October 4 As this correspondent was taking stock of the house, Anand Sharma (Tribune’s photographer), whose finger was busy on the shutter button, came in a slight contact with a wooden log supporting the crumbling roof. In a spur of the moment, a heap of rubble came crashing down. Panicked, both of us ran for life out of the house. This 76-year-old widow sleeps under the same roof every night. Besides a structure having crumbling walls and a dilapidated roof, which can cave in any time, she has a kitchen (in which a person can scarcely move) in her home and that too is in a bad shape. Melo, widow of Nank Chank, married off her only daughter some years back and is now living all alone in House number 364 at Nai Basti in the Gandhi Nagar area. Even in the twilight years of her life, the poor woman does not have any social or economic security or state protection except for a nominal widow pension. She washes clothes, rinses utensils, besides doing other menial jobs at many homes to earn a livelihood. Neighbour, however, have been kind enough as whenever she fell ill they looked after her. During this rainy season, many a thing in her house were damaged due to water seepage, but Melo struggled against all odds to preserve a piece of official paper. She considered the document as precious as her life at that point of time, but not any longer. When local MLA Raman Bhalla, who is Relief and Rehabilitation Minister, visited the area for seeking votes during the Assembly elections, Melo got her application for relief marked by him. The minister, endorsing her application, asked the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, to help her under the Indira Awas Yojana. Even after two years and many rounds to the house of the minister as well as to the offices concerned, the poor widow, whose back has bended due to old age, could not invoke any sympathy. Her neighbours alleged that, “On our insistence, the minister visited her home and assured her assistance. But even after two years he has not fulfilled his promise.” “During rains, I shuttled from one door to another. To say the least, I am living at the mercy of some genuine people,” Melo said. She vented her anguish, “Now, I am tired of knocking at the doors of the minister and bureaucrats. Let me die under the roof of my home.”
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Omar meets PM, seeks more jobs for youth
Srinagar, October 4 An official spokesman here said the Chief Minister briefed the Prime Minister about the progress and the impact of the initiatives taken by the state and Central governments for the restoration of peace and normalcy in the Valley. He also discussed measures to be taken to further push the peace initiatives. Highlighting the urgent requirement for more job opportunities for the youth of the state to address the unemployment problem, the Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister for early initiatives for creating job opportunities under the Rangarajan Committee constituted by the latter for the purpose. He pointed out that the state had submitted two position papers to the Rangarajan Committee detailing the areas which needed to be harnessed for expanding the job opportunity orbit in the state. He said the papers among other sectors had identified agriculture, handloom, industries, tourism, etc., to work out the initiatives for job opportunities. Omar presented the details of the rehabilitation programme under execution in Leh for the flood affected families. He said the efforts were on to complete the rehabilitation programme before the onset of winter. The Chief Minister said the Empowered Committee constituted by the state government under the Chief Secretary to oversee and monitor the rehabilitation programme had recently met and reviewed the pace of the rehabilitation process. “The representatives of the National Bamboo Mission (NBM) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have also attended the meeting. The community shelter sheds were being constructed at an accelerated pace and the construction of houses at Solar Colony, Leh, is being given a considerable forward push,” he said.
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BJP demands early panchayat poll
Jammu, October 4 Expressing concern over the inordinate delay in the conduct of the panchayat elections in the state, the BJP today reiterated its demand for holding the panchayat elections early to decentralise powers to the grass-roots level. Sharma said, “It’s unfortunate that Jammu and Kashmir has been facing Rs 229 crore annual loss due to the delay in holding the panchayat elections.” “Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar has admitted that the government was bearing losses of Rs 229 crore every year but still the government was not serious,” he said. He added, “The state government, particularly the minister concerned, should be made accountable and he must explain to people why the panchyat elections had not been held.” Sharma said, “The National Conference government, when it came to power, had made tall claims to decentralise power to the grass-roots level to strengthen democracy. However, an inordinate delay in holding the panchayat elections reflects the double standards of the coalition government.” He said the state government had failed to implement the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Indian Constitution in the state. Sharma added in a democratic set up it should be the prime duty of any government to ensure that the democracy flourished at all levels and every citizen should be in a position to enjoy its democratic rights. “Unlike other states of the country, people in Jammu and Kashmir are deprived of such a fundamental right,” he added.
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Probe to be expedited,
says govt
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 4 He was replying to a calling attention notice by Mohammad Rashid Qureshi regarding the situation that had arisen due to the killing of three youths and injuries to many others. Sagar said around 9.20 a.m on that day, an announcement was made from Jamia Masjid, Mendhar, appealing to the Beopar Mandal, Mendhar, to close business establishments in protest against a report alleging an act of sacrilege in the USA. Subsequently, all business establishments and educational institutions were closed in Mendhar and people assembled in the Jamia Masjid.A procession comprising religious and prominent citizens started from Jamia Masjid for the bus stand in Mendhar, where the congregation was to be addressed by religious leaders and others. The minister said the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, was appointed the inquiry officer and his report was awaited.
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‘Streamline transport facility to fruit growers’
Srinagar, October 4 Intervening during the reply by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather during Zero Hour in the Assembly today, the Speaker called for the proper monitoring of transportation rates fixed by the government for the purpose. The issue was raised by MY Tarigami and seconded by Mohammad Ashraf
Gana. The Finance Minister said in view of the reported limited availability of trucks, higher transportation rates were being charged from the fruit growers. He said an additional fleet of trucks had been requisitioned from the neighbouring state of Punjab to minimise the chances of over charging and overcome the shortage of trucks. Rather said the government had taken various measures, including exemption from toll tax at Lakhanpur to vehicles entering the state for a period of three months from August onwards. This would prove helpful for the smooth transportation of fruits to other cities of the country, he said. |
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Municipal Corporation urged to intensify anti-adulteration drive
Jammu, October 4 The delegation met the commissioner under the leadership of Sunil Dimple, president of the JWAM. Dimple demanded strict implementation of the ban on the sale of polythene carry bags in the city. He also demanded repair and de-silting of a nullah of the west constituency and complete installation of streetlights in the city as most of the lights on the main roads were out of order. Expressing concern over the rampant sale of adulterated food items in the market, particularly during festival season, Dimple appealed to the municipal corporation for intensifying its anti-adulteration drive. Alleging that encroachments of roads by rehariwalas have created traffic problem in the city, he demanded construction of malls and municipal markets by the municipal corporation.
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15 officers booked for graft this year: CM
Srinagar, October 4 In the year 2010, 12 corruption cases were registered against 15 senior officers, including some KAS officers, with the State Vigilance Organisation in Kashmir. Topping the list are former Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitley and former Principal Secretary to the Power Development Department Ajit Kumar against whom a case was registered with the State Vigilance Organisation, Jammu, in 2003. The case pertains to the misuse of official position. “A case for the misuse of official position for transfer of state land at Gulmarg worth crores by misusing the provisions of the Roshni Act was registered in 2009 by the Vigilance Department against Mehboob Iqbal, then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and Baseer Ahmad Khan,the then Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla,” Omar said. He said Additional Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Baramulla, Rafi Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer, Gulmarg Development Authority, Farooq Ahmad Lone and Joint Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Sarmad Hafiz were also booked in the case.
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Student federation activists hold demonstration
Jammu, October 4 The JJSF activists from various government schools held the demonstration at Press Club under the leadership of Abhey Sharma, school’s in-charge of the JJSF. Sharma said the maximum government schools in the rural areas were facing shortage of staff and infrastructure, which indicated false promises of the state government to provide quality education in the rural areas. “The Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Sohal; GHSS, Choki Chora, GHSS, Akhnoor, GHSS, Nardi Wala, GHSS, Jourian, GHSS, Kotwalbal, Government Middle School, Kotwalbal, and Government School, Mathwar
lack adequate facilities,” alleged Sharma. |
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Normalcy returns to Valley
Srinagar, October 4 All shops and business establishments were opened and traffic was plying normally on the roads. Educational institutions recorded a full attendance of students for the first time in urban centres after days of general strikes and curfew restrictions. There were long queues in banks, as most of these in the capital city reopened after several days of bandhs. Long queues of applicants for submitting applications for various posts in Jammu and Kashmir Bank were witnessed at many of its branches in the city and elsewhere. There was usual hustle and bustle in the markets, as most of the consumers came out to make necessary purchases in view of the general strikes as per the protest calendar issued by the hard line APHC led by Syed Ali Geelani.
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Poppy cultivation on 405 kanals destroyed
Srinagar, October 4 Locals alleged that while the police destroyed the poppy cultivation on the land of the common people, the cultivation on the land of influential people were spared. “The police destroyed the cultivation of the common people, who had no contacts, but they spared the cultivation of people with contacts, ” alleged a local resident. However, the police said the cultivation that was destroyed was on abandoned land. “Poppy plants that we destroyed today were the crop that had grown in the wild. We wanted to make sure that nobody should misuse it, so we destroyed it,” said area SHO Showkat Ahmed
Parray. |
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Schools, banks reopen in Srinagar
Srinagar, October 4 All shops and business establishments were opened and traffic was plying normally on the roads. Educational institutions recorded full attendance of students for the first time in urban centres after days of general strikes and curfew. There were long queues in banks, as most of these in the capital city reopened after several days of bandhs. Long queues of applicants for submitting applications for various posts in Jammu and Kashmir Bank were witnessed at many of its branches in the city and elsewhere. There was usual hustle and bustle in the markets, as most of the consumers came out to make necessary purchases in view of the general strikes as per the protest calendar issued by the hard line APHC led by Syed Ali Geelani. Earlier a near normal working day was observed on Saturday last, though the banks and the educational institutions remained closed due to a holiday on account of Gandhi Jayanti. Geelani had revised the protest calendar by calling for a normal working day on Saturday in place of Friday, when the entire Valley was brought under strict curfew restrictions in the wake of the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi case verdict. As per the protest calendar of the APHC-Geelani, there is a call for march to Kupwara tomorrow to pay tributes to those killed in the police action in the district recently.
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Three-day NSS workshop concludes
Jammu, October 4 According to a statement, on the first day of the workshop, a prabhat pheri was taken out that was flagged off by Prof MS Baloria, principal of the college. Later, a group discussion on “Gandhian philosophy in the present scenario” was conducted. On the second day, a poster-making competition on the life of Mahatma Gandhi was organised. On the concluding day, a seminar and a lecture was conducted by a senior journalist.
— TNS |
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Mendhar firing
Srinagar, October 4 He was replying to a calling attention notice by Mohammad Rashid Qureshi regarding the situation that had arisen due to the killing of three youths and injuries to many others. Sagar said around 9.20 a.m on that day, an announcement was made from Jamia Masjid, Mendhar, appealing to the Beopar Mandal, Mendhar, to close business establishments in protest against a report alleging an act of sacrilege in the USA. Subsequently, all business establishments and educational institutions were closed in Mendhar and people assembled in the Jamia Masjid.A procession comprising religious and prominent citizens started from Jamia Masjid for the bus stand in Mendhar, where the congregation was to be addressed by religious leaders and others. The minister said the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, was appointed the inquiry officer and his report was awaited.
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Man killed in road mishap
Jammu, October 4 Lal Chand, a resident of Gura Pandita, was crossing the road when the truck crushed
him, the police added. It further said the man was rushed to hospital where the doctors declared him dead. The Kathua police registered a case and was trying to nab the truck driver, who managed to flee from the spot. However, the truck has been seized. The body of deceased has been kept in the local hospital to conduct the
post-mortem. |
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Man commits suicide
Jammu, October 4 Sources added that Kuldeep Raj, son of Ramesh Chander, a resident of Bishnah, had consumed some poisonous substance at his house in Bishnah yesterday. “He was taken to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, last evening, where he died,” the police said. It added that the body was handed over to the family members after conducting the post-mortem. |
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Man held with illicit liquor
Jammu, October 4 The police said Kishan Chand, son of Banarasi Dass, a resident of Chak Darab Khan village, was arrested while carrying illicit liquor. A case has been registered against him. |
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Twelve members of the BJP, the Panthers Party and others staged a walkout from the state Assembly in protest against the alleged discrimination against the Jammu region and inaction of the government in making Central University of Jammu functional.
