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Ceasefire Violations
Panchayat Elections
Amandeep Murder Case
Shoe Hurling |
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Dreams light up lives of these girls
Inqlabi’s disclosure leads to another arrest
BJP lends support to protesting doctors
World Disability Day
Five cops, 15 others hurt in fresh clashes
Core Group reviews security
MPs, civil society members meet killed student’s family
Members of a parliamentary and civil society team on Friday meet a member of the family of Tufail Mattoo in Srinagar. The youth was killed allegedly by the security forces on June 11. Photo: Amin War
Teenager’s Killing
Air courier service to Kargil from December
6
BSF jawans rendered disabled while fighting militancy honoured
Physiotherapists’ stir continues
Air courier service to Kargil from Dec 6
Man killed in road mishap
Man held in rape case
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Ceasefire Violations
Jammu, December 3 Pakistan troops had opened heavy firing on at least three forward posts of the Indian Army in the KG sector yesterday, apparently in a bid to push armed militants. “We had demanded a flag meeting to lodge a protest, but they (Pakistan Army) have not yet responded,” Brigadier- General Staff of 16 Corps, Satish Dua, told The Tribune. “Though we lodged a strong protest via the hotline yesterday telling the other side to refrain from such unwarranted acts, the Pakistan Army has not yet confirmed the flag meeting,” he added. Pakistan troops had yesterday opened fire in the Nangi Tekri area when three posts from across the border fired MMG bursts and three rockets on Indian Army posts at 1.50 pm, said an Army spokesperson. He said the Indian response was measured to force the enemy to stop the fire. “The firing stopped from both sides at 2.00 pm. However, at 3.10 pm, more than 10 posts of the Pakistan Army once again opened heavy fire, this time using mortars apart from MMGs and RPGs,” he added. “We had no casualties, but ambulances were noticed at the Pakistan Army posts,” he added. Sources in the Army said after violating the ceasefire with impunity, Pakistan earlier used to remain in a denial mode at flag meetings. But this time, it has not even responded to India’s demand for such a meeting. Under international conventions, countries sharing borders hold flag meetings to sort out various issues, including trans-border crimes and unwarranted firing. “We know it was yet another desperate attempt by them (Pakistan troops) to push armed militants from various launch pads on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC),” they said. The sources added that though the Pakistan Army always remained in a denial mode for obvious reasons, yet flag meetings held significance. It may be stated here that the Army has operational responsibility of the 749-km-long LoC. Yesterday’s violation was the 21st ceasefire violation by Pakistan this year and the 16th in the KG sector.
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Panchayat Elections
Jammu, December 3 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah started the campaign from the Jammu region and addressed six rallies in the Dansal block of the Nagrota Assembly segment to rejuvenate the cadre in the area where the BJP has a stronghold. He addressed rallies at Ragoda, Jagti, Baida, Dhammi, Barsu and Jindrah and highlighted the achievements of his government during its two-year rule. The Dansal block is termed as a citadel of BJP MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma and the NC has specially started its campaign from this belt. As Gujjars are the deciding factor in this area, Omar was accompanied by prominent Gujjar leader and Minister for Forest Mian Altaf Ahmed, besides Davinder Singh Rana, political adviser to the Chief Minister. Though all senior NC leaders accompanied the Chief Minister, former minister Ajat Shatru Singh was conspicuous by his absence. Singh was the NC candidate from this segment in the three successive Assembly elections in 1996, 2002 and 2008. In the first election, Ajat Shatru Singh had won the seat by a narrow margin but lost the next two elections to BJP candidate Jugal Kishore Sharma. The NC has a reason to start the panchayat election campaign from the Nagrota Assembly segment because it has a sizable vote bank in the area that needs to be strengthened to face the challenge of the BJP. Secondly, since the BJP represents this segment, the Congress, which is a coalition partner in the government, has no objection to the NC launching its campaign from here. During the last two years, the NC has been concentrating on this segment to strengthen its base and regain the lost ground. Addressing the rallies, Omar said the panchayats were an effective tool for curbing corruption and bringing transparency in the implementation of works and spending funds. He said the formulation and implementation of the schemes and the monitoring of expenditures at the panchayat level by the elected representatives would not only improve governance but also help restrict malpractices and misappropriation to a greater extent. “Whenpower will be in the hands of people, they will take care of making the best use of the funds,” he said. Though the NC leaders avoided a direct attack on the BJP, they cautioned the people against the divisive forces. Forest Minister Mian Altaf asked the people to be aware of the elements bent upon disturbing the communal amity in the state. He added some forces wanted to divide the people in the name of religion and region.
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Amandeep Murder Case
Jammu, December 3 Earlier, the police had linked the recent shootout near the Satyam Resorts with the Amandeep murder case. In the shootout, Rakesh Kumar, alias Giri, was killed during the police firing and another gangster Yudhveer, alias Babloo, got injured, while a third one, Sunny Bawa, managed to flee. Then also, the police had claimed that somebody had given contract money to the gangsters to eliminate witnesses of the Amandeep murder case. However, even after 18 days, the police has failed to identify who hired the gangsters. Senior police officers told mediapersons last night that somebody had hired the criminals in these two incidents to eliminate family members of deceased Amandeep, but they have failed to prove their logic so far. In last night’s incident, the police claimed that a criminal, Suresh Kumar, alias Tunda, was arrested and an LML Vespa scooter was seized from his possession while his three associates were absconding. The police said Tunda had taken contract money from one Surinder Singh, alias Chantu, of Gadigarh village to kill some witnesses of the Amandeep murder case, besides some other influential persons, who had helped the family of Deepinder Kaur, mother of the deceased, in getting justice. But, nothing is known about the person handling Chantu. The police added that Chantu had given two weapons to Tunda besides some cash, and then Tunda hired two criminals of Nowshera, one of whom has been identified as Mohammad Akram. They attempted to kill a witness at Preet Nagar recently, but failed, the police added. When asked about the arrest of Tunda, official spokesperson of the police, JS Johar, who is also the SP, Headquarters, said, “A case has been registered at the Bakshi Nagar police station in this regard and they might have started the investigation at their level.” However, sources in the Bakshi Nagar police station said they had not yet registered any case in this regard and were totally unaware about the arrest of any such criminal from their area.
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Shoe Hurling
Jammu, December 3 They added that these specially trained policemen would keep a close watch on suspicious elements during public rallies and other functions of the Chief Minister. The sources said the decision to constitute the task force was taken in the wake of increasing incidents of disruption of Chief Minister’s official functions and public rallies in the state. “A team of trained police officials in civil dress will be deployed at venues of Chief Minister’s official functions to prevent such incidents in future,” they said. As per the reports, these officials would mingle with the gathering to keep a close watch on the troublemakers. It was also learnt that members of the task force would hold regular meetings in the Police Control Room (PCR) here to prepare plans to handle such situations. Some meritorious officials and constables from various police stations, the CID and other wings of the police had been included in the task force and they would also be given special training, the sources said. Though senior police officers said they were not aware of the formation of any task force, insiders said there was talk about such a task force. But they also expressed ignorance whether it had been constituted or not. It may be mentioned here that activists of the Panthers Party had disrupted the Chief Minister’s speech at Abtal village in Vijaypur of Samba district, about 40 km from Jammu in, October. Rajesh Pangotra of the Panthers Party had shown a black flag to express his resentment over Omar’s controversial remarks on the accession of the state to the Indian union. However, the official spokesperson for the police, JS Johar, denied the constitution of any such task force. He said, “I am totally unaware whether we have received any official communiqué in this regard.” |
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Dreams light up lives of these girls
Jammu, December 3
There are 17 visually impaired students enrolled in this school and all of them want to achieve something big in life. Shrasta (10), a resident of Budgar village situated near Akhnoor, is one of the youngest inmates of the school. “I study in Class I and I want to become a teacher. This is my only dream,” said a smiling Shrasta. She is visually impaired by birth. Her father Dalip Kumar is a labourer. “Though I cannot see things around me, I can observe everything,” she added. Shrasta has been staying in this school for the last two years. Besides being good in studies, Shrasta has a melodious voice. “I like to listen to Punjabi and Dogri songs,” she added. Priya Sharma (9), a classmate of Shrasta, wants to live an independent life. Though she has joined the school two months ago, she has mixed up with other inmates comfortably. While narrating her experience, Priya said, “I lost my one eye in an accident when I was six years’ old. My father is a labourer and he could not afford to send me to school. He admitted me here.” Sushma Devi (18), who belongs to Kathua district, is living in the school for the last nine years. Her father is a farmer. Sushma, who too has the disability by birth, took Class X examination recently and was awaiting the results. Expressing willingness to pursue higher education, Sushma said she wanted to pursue the master’s degree in English and music. She said, “I like English language very much and it is my desire that I shall speak English fluently.” Besides the principal, there are two teachers in the school. Bindu Bhagat, a teacher, said, besides teaching English, she answered the queries of the students on other subjects as well. “I also help them whenever they are in need,” she added. The principal of the school, Prof BLVerma, said the school was running with the support of the the National Federation of the Blinds and common people, who voluntarily donate money and things. “Our only objective is that our coming generation should not face the problems which we have been facing being visually impaired,” he said. He appealed to the state government to take over the school and provide all facilities to its students. “The government should appoint one expert also who could comprehend the problems of the students,” he added.
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Inqlabi’s disclosure leads to another arrest
Jammu, December 3 In a joint operation with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, troops of Counter-Insurgency Force (Uniform) apprehended the hardcore overground worker, Pervez Bakkarwal, 30, based on Inqlabi’s disclosure during the ongoing interrogation at Rajouri police station. He is a sympathiser of the Hizbul Mujahideen Pir Panjal Range (HMPPR) outfit and had been providing food, shelter and guidance to terrorists operating in the area. He also provided them information regarding the movement of the security forces to terrorists. The police has registered cases under Sections 55, 109, 212 and 216 of the RPC against him. He is presently in police custody at Kalakote police station. Recent arrests made on the basis of information provided by Inqlabi have caused panic amongst overground workers supporting the Hizbul Mujahideen and the HMPPR in Rajouri and Reasi districts. Inqlabi, it may be stated here, had been recently arrested from New Delhi after a brief encounter.
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BJP lends support to protesting doctors
Jammu, December 3 In a statement issued here today, state BJP spokesperson Nirmal Kamal extended support to the agitating physiotherapists and asked the government to accept their demands. The protesters have been demanding the absorption of unemployed physiotherapists as medical officers in the government medical faculties, a separate State Physiotherapists Council, reopening of Government Physiotherapists College for professional BPT course, physiotherapy departments and physiotherapy students’ training. Nirmal said the unemployed physiotherapists were demanding these facilities, which, if provided, would not only upgrade the health institutions in the state but also create employment avenues, which was Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s main worry. She said the Chief Minister, Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma and Minister for Medical Education RS Chib had assured the protesting physiotherapists of fulfilling their demands, but nothing had been done so far. In the past, veteran Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma, who was then Health Minister, had also given a verbal assurance to fill 206 vacancies but nothing of the sort happened. The present government was following the same course. Meanwhile, the Jammu Province People’s Forum (JPPF) has also expressed solidarity with the agitating physiotherapists. A meeting of the forum held here today under the chairmanship of its president, Pavitar Singh, flayed the state government for ignoring the unemployed educated youth. he meeting observed that while anti-national elements and militants, who had waged a war against the country, were being offered jobs and monetary help for their rehabilitation, residents of the state, who protest peacefully, were being ignored. Sunil Sethi, president of the Bar Association, Jammu; Narayan Singh, president of the Rajput Sabha; Inderjeet Khajuria; Yog Pal Gupta; Gajan Singh, president of the Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, and others were also present in the meeting.
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World Disability Day
Jammu, December 3 According to an official statement issued here, the minister said there were tentatively three lakh physically challenged persons in the state and the government was
providing pension to 1.22 lakh such persons under the Integrated Social Security and the Indira Gandhi National Disability schemes in
the state. “A proposal has been moved to enhance the pension of physically challenged persons to Rs 500,” said the minister while speaking at a function organised to observe International Day of Persons with Disability here today. The function was organised by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department. The minister said all residents were under moral obligation to
help such persons even as she directed anganwari workers and helpers to identify such persons in their respective areas for bringing them under social security and other welfare schemes of the government. Stressing the need to sharpen the talent of the physically challenged, especially the visually impaired, Sakina said the visually impaired were usually had a sharp wit and a sharp mind. She announced a six-month vocational training programme in Jammu for the visually impaired to make them economically self-reliant. Referring to employment opportunities in the government departments for such persons, the minister said recruiting agencies like the SSRB and the PSC had already been asked to have a quota for physically challenged persons as per reservation policy. Sakina said the government would provide low interest loans to those who wanted to go for higher studies in and outside the state. |
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Five cops, 15 others hurt in fresh clashes
Srinagar, December 3 Demonstrations were held at different places in protest against the continued house arrest of senior separatist leaders,including the hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, moderate faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Shabir Ahmad Shah, who was released recently. Demonstrations were held after the Friday prayers in the Jamia Masjid area which resulted in the clashes between stone-throwing youths and the police. The protests spread to the adjoining areas where shops and business establishments remained closed for several hours after the Friday prayers. Protests were also reported from Hyderpora area on the city outskirts, where the residence of Geelani is located. He continues to be under house arrest for more than two months now. Demonstrations were also reported from Sopore in north Kashmir, Kakapora and Anantnag towns of south Kashmir. The police lobbed tear gas shells and opened fire in Anantnag town to disperse the protesters. The police said the situation was now under control. A senior member of the Bar Association, addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid, expressed concern over the continued house arrest of the Mirwaiz saying it was intolerable. He blamed the Central government and political parties for branding Kashmiris’ “struggle” as terrorism and held that the people were “fighting for their cause”. He said the government and political parties were misleading the people, which resulted in the recent attacks on separatist leaders outside the state.
Core Group reviews security
Srinagar, December 3 The meeting, presided over by Lt-Gen NC Marwah, GOC of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, who is also the Security Adviser to the state government, was attended by Lt-Gen SA Hasnain, GOC (designate) of the Chinar Corps, and DGP Kuldeep Khoda. Meanwhile, Lt-Gen NC Marwah, GOC, 15 Corps, briefed Governor NN Vohra about the security situation in the Kashmir valley here today. In the discussions, issues relating to infiltration from across the LoC, number of the terrorist network operating in the Kashmir division, among other things, were discussed, an official spokesman said.
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MPs, civil society members meet killed student’s family
Srinagar, December 3 The delegation visited the house of Tufail Ahmad Mattoo, a student, who died after being hit by a tear gas shell in the Rajouri Kadal area of Srinagar on June 11, triggering the five-month-long agitation in Kashmir. They also had a meeting with JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and are scheduled to other separatist leaders tomorrow. The delegation will also meet representatives of the youth, women, media and Kashmiri Pandits in the valley. The delegation includes Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, MLA, Nama Nageswara Rao, MP, Telugu Desam Party, D. Raja, MP, CPI, Maheshwar Hazari, MP, JD(U), Bansa Gopal Chowdhury, MP, CPM, Shahid Siddiqui of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, Kunwar Danish Ali, general secretary, JD(S), Shoaib Iqbal, LJP, MLA, Delhi, Mahesh Bhatt, filmmaker, Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Professor, JNU, and Seema Mustafa, journalist.
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Teenager’s Killing
Srinagar, December 3 Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir stayed the GFSC proceedings against BSF Commandant RK Birdhi and constable Lakhvinder Kumar in the Zahid Farooq killing case after the state government challenged the order of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, Yashpaul Bourney, transferring the case to the BSF court. The state government yesterday filed a criminal revision petition in the High Court against the order passed by the CJM on November 25. Justice Mir stayed the GSFC proceedings till the next date of hearing, which has been fixed on December 14. The court directed the DIG, BSF, who had taken over the case from the civil court along with the custody of the accused, to file objections by the next date of hearing. Justice Mir also directed the DIG to ensure the appearance of the duo in person or through their counsels before the court on December 14. —
PTI
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Air courier service to Kargil from December
6
Jammu, December 3 “The IAF will start an AN-32 air courier service from Jammu and Srinagar airports to Kargil from December 6,” Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal told The Tribune. During the winter, the Srinagar-Kargil Highway, the only surface link in the state that connects the cold desert with the rest of the country, remains closed due to heavy snowfall. “At a meeting chaired by Transport and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon and attended by officers from the IAF and civil administration here yesterday, the state government decided to start the service from December 6,” said Kotwal. A fare of Rs 1,000 will be charged from each passenger for availing the service from Srinagar to Kargil, while Rs 1,300 per passenger will be charged for travel from Jammu to Kargil. The Divisional Commissioner said the service would operate on Tuesdays from Jammu while on every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, it would operate from Srinagar to Kargil. In case of bad weather, passengers flying to Kargil would be dropped at Leh and additional flights would be operated next day.
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BSF jawans rendered disabled while fighting militancy honoured
Jammu, December 3 “We have assembled here to felicitate wives of our martyrs, who while caring least about their safety, laid down their lives in the line of duty,” BSF’s Jammu Frontier DIG/PSO Jagat Singh said in his speech at the Paloura headquarters of the BSF here. Singh paid homage to jawans who made supreme sacrifices for the country and also expressed gratitude to the troopers, who were rendered physically challenged while fighting militants in the state. On the occasion, Singh’s wife Pritpal Kour distributed gifts among 34 wives of the martyrs and six physically challenged jawans. Secretary of the Jammu Red Cross Society, S Sharma, who was also present on the occasion, avowed to provide every possible help to BSF jawans.
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Physiotherapists’ stir continues
Jammu, December 3 The protesters under the banner of the Jammu and Kashmir Physiotherapists Association (JKPA) continued with their agitation on the 11th consecutive day. They termed the minister’s remarks regarding no jobs for them in the state as irresponsible. “We ask the Health Minister that if physiotherapy were not a course, why did the government open physiotherapy colleges and why is the selection for physiotherapy doctors done by the BOPEE,” said Sonaber Bashir, a protesting student. They also continued with a signature campaign that they started-off yesterday and claimed that a numbers of people, doctors, civil and government servicemen signed in support of induction of physiotherapy doctors in the health stream. “This is strange that the state government has a professional educational policy but no employment policy for our absorption,” said another protesting student, Gagan Charak. The organisation later staged a protest sit-in in front of the the Divisional Commissioner’s office and threatened to intensify the agitation if the government did not clear its stand on their career.
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Air courier service to Kargil from Dec 6
Jammu, December 3 “The IAF will start an AN-32 air courier service from Jammu and Srinagar airports to Kargil from December 6,” Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal told The Tribune. During the winter, the Srinagar-Kargil Highway, the only surface link in the state that connects the cold desert with the rest of the country, remains closed due to heavy snowfall. “At a meeting chaired by Transport and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon and attended by officers from the IAF and civil administration here yesterday, the state government decided to start the service from December 6,” said Kotwal. A fare of ` 1,000 will be charged from each passenger for availing the service from Srinagar to Kargil, while Rs 1,300 per passenger will be charged from those boarding the flight from Jammu to Kargil. The Divisional Commissioner said the service would operate on Tuesdays from Jammu while on every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, it would operate from Srinagar to Kargil. |
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Man killed in road mishap
Jammu, December 3 The deceased, identified as Gagan Deep, son of Gurcharan Singh, was taken to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here. However, he was declared as brought dead, the police added. However, till the filing of this report, the address of the deceased could not be ascertained. One dies due to excessive drinking A 38-year-old man, who was brought to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here on Thursday, died in the wee hours today. Rakesh Kumar, a resident of the New Plot area, was admitted to the hospital under critical condition after he had consumed excessive alcohol, the police said. It added that after completing legal formalities the body of the deceased was handed over to his family. |
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Jammu, December 3 The police said the woman had yesterday filed a compliant alleging that Mohammad Riyaz, a resident of Inayatpur village, had raped her after forcibly entering into her house, when she was alone there. It added that acting on the complaint, a case under Section 376 of the RPC was registered and the accused was arrested. Shouqat, SHO, Nowshera police station, said, “The victim’s family first consulted on whether to disclose this incident or not and finally approached us yesterday.” He added that the victim’s husband was a labourer. — TNS
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Srinagar, December 3
LBM School for Sightless Girls is the only school for visually impaired girls in the state and is run by the National Federation of the Blinds, an NGO. Besides giving primary education, the school also provides residential facility to the inmates. After having primary education in the school, the inmates pursue higher education alongside normal students.