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Heavy turnout in terror-hit areas
Pandits thank Valley people for love, care
People vote for roads, power in Devsar block
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84% cast vote in Mahore
Polling suspended in three villages
Governor reviews preparations for Amarnath yatra
Governor releases ‘Homeland after Eighteen Years’
Sikhs throng Uri gurdwara for Baisakhi mela
Karmapa visits cloudburst victims
Omar meets Lt-Gen Hasnain
Dogra certificate bid to divide people: PDP
Niyas to begin pilgrimage from June 15
Wi-Fi Internet facility begins at Gulmarg
News in Pahari sought on TV, radio
Brig Kochar takes chargeof 166 Military Hospital
Motorcyclist killed in mishap
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Heavy turnout in terror-hit areas
Jammu, April 25 While there was a heavy turnout in peaceful areas, even militancy-plagued belts witnessed unprecedented voting. Braving militants’ threat, a large number of people turned up to vote in the militancy-plagued blocks of Bani, Lohai Malhar and Dugan of Kathua district and Nowshera and Kalakote blocks of Rajouri district. “We have identified some polling stations at Kalakote as hypersensitive, as these stations were located in the forest hinterland,” Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, GA Khawaja told The Tribune over phone and expressed satisfaction that the polling was peaceful in all militancy-plagued areas. The Deputy Commissioner said the authorities had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the elections. He said keeping in view the prevailing situation, some polling stations had been identified as hypersensitive and special attention was paid for peaceful polling at these stations. Similarly, in the Bani, Dugan and Lohai Malhar blocks of Kathua district, where Hizbul Mujahideen militants had a strong presence till some time back, the response of the people to the elections was unprecedented. “As much as 85.50 per cent of the voters cast their votes in Bani, 80.41 per cent in Lohai Malhar and 78.59 per cent in Dugan blocks,” SDM, Bani, Rajinder Sharma told The Tribune over phone. He added that there was no report of any untoward incident during the polling. For the fourth phase of the panchayat elections, 2,110 candidates were in the fray for 345 posts of sarpanch, while 4,408 candidates were contesting for 2,500 posts of panch. In the Nowshere and Kalakote blocks of hilly Rajouri district, the elections were held for 87 posts of sarpanch and 458 posts of panch. Similarly, in the three blocks of Kathua district, the elections were held for 47 posts of sarpanch and 312 posts of panch.In the Gordhi block of Udhampur district, the elections were held for 27 posts of sarpanch and 132 posts of panch and for the 58 posts of sarpanch and 108 posts of panch in the Mahore block of Reasi district.
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Pandits thank Valley people for love, care
Mattan (Anantnag), April 25 “Four people are made to share a room. It has become very difficult for the people to adjust with each other, which is leading to day-to-day conflicts between them,” said a Kashmiri Pandit, requesting anonymity. He said though the government had taken measures to provide them with proper accommodation, but the sanitation facilities in these camps were not of good standard. “Sometimes the bathroom gets choked due to overuse. No one has been employed to clean them,” said another Kashmiri Pandit. The Kashmiri Pandits here say they are elated by the brotherhood and love shown to them by the members of the majority community. “In Jammu we were told that we may face discrimination in Kashmir and we may not be safe as well. But ever since we arrived here, we have been taken care by the members of the majority community. They not only welcomed us, but also offered all types of help to us so that we could live comfortably here,” said Sunil, a schoolteacher. “When we came here, one Muslim family offered us their house and we are living with them for the last two months. They have given us a room and a kitchen without charging any rent,” said Sanjay Kumar, a Kashmiri Pandit. |
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People vote for roads, power in Devsar block
Devsar (Qazigund), April 25 Today, the people of this village came out in a large number to vote in the fourth phase of the panchayat elections to elect their representatives so that their long-pending demand of potable water could be resolved. “Many in this village have died because of waterborne diseases. Around 10 villages of the block depend on this rain-fed river for their water needs. We came out to vote to elect our representative, who could bring water connections to our homes,” said Mohammed Saleem, a resident of Chowgam village. The people here say they face severe problems when there is no rain and the river dries up. The seasonal river, which is the lifeline of the villages, also brings with it many problems for the villagers. The students from around 20 villages in the area have to cross the river to reach Government Higher Secondary School at Chowgam, even as the river has no bridge over it. However, the people of the nearby villages have made a temporary bridge by installing two wooden planks over it. “We want to elect local people as our representatives, who could help us construct a permanent bridge over the river, as it becomes impossible for the students to reach the school whenever there are floods. Many children get injured after falling from the wooden planks while crossing the river,” said Haji Bashir Ahmed, a voter. The voters in the Devsar block said they wanted to elect locals as their representatives to ensure development of their villages. “Locals as our representatives would know the problems being faced by us. We want roads, drinking water and electricity in our villages. We also want ration from government depots,” said Sajad Ahmed, a villager of Chowgam.
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84% cast vote in Mahore
Udhampur, April 25 Observers termed this unprecedented poll percentage to the decline in militancy in the district in the last two to three years. During this period, the security forces had launched a massive offensive against the militants and busted several hideouts. A large number of voters came out to cast their votes and the polling remained peaceful and smooth, said PK Pole, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi. A near complete wiping off of militants provided more political freedom to the voters of this rural and economically backward block of the district. A hectic campaigning was witnessed in the entire block for the election of 58 sarpanches and 378 panches in 370 polling stations. It is a measure of the security situation in the block that as compared to 1,110 government employees, 1,500 security personnel of the police and the CRPF were deployed on election duty. But the security concerns failed to deter the voters as well as the candidates, who braved the challenging mountainous terrains to actively participate in the elections in the block. Of the total 636 candidates for 378 posts of panch, 125 were women. In all 202 candidates, including six women, contested the election for 58 posts of sarpanch. The block has a total of 57,769 voters, including 27,489 women voters. Notably, two sarpanches and 101 panches were elected unopposed. The District Election Officer had placed under suspension an Assistant Returning Officer of Sade-44 polling station, Bhajan Singh, for negligence of duty on complaints by voters of the area concerned. He was allegedly found guilty of misleading voters about the exact status of the polling station, ie. whether it was reserved or not, though he did not tamper with the official record sent to the higher authorities.
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Polling suspended in three villages
Jammu, April 25 It also resulted in minor clashes between the rival groups, as the candidates for the posts of sarpanch and panch and their supporters accused each other of indulging in bogus voting. Senior officials of the district administration, including the local SDM, had to rush to these villages to take stock of the situation and get the polling resumed. At Dharamsal village, it was alleged that someone polled the vote of a dead woman. Similarly, at the Batta polling station in the Raipur Kotha area, another woman allegedly polled the vote of Sheila Devi, resulting in the suspension of polling from 11 am to 1 pm. At Loka village also the polling was suspended for a few minutes due to a similar incident. However, the officials concerned claimed that everything was normal and no one was injured in the clashes. Khwaja Ghulam Mohammad, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, said, “Though some minor incidents took place at three polling stations, the entire exercise concluded peacefully”. He added that, “As of now, no one has demanded re-polling and 84 per cent of the total voters exercised their right to franchise”.
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Governor reviews preparations for Amarnath yatra
Jammu, April 25 In this context, the CEO of the SASB, RK Goyal, stated that no pilgrim would be allowed to enter or proceed beyond the base camps unless he or she was in possession of a valid yatra permit for a specified date and route. Goyal appealed to all those who intended to undertake the pilgrimage to complete the necessary formalities for registration and timely obtain a yatra permit to avoid any inconvenience. In a meeting chaired by Governor NN Vohra, who is also the chairman of the SASB, the board took stock of the ongoing preparations for the yatra at Raj Bhawan here today. The meeting reviewed the status of every item of preparation, including the planning and execution of civil works, at various camp locations and en route to the cave shrine, finalisation of the pilgrims’ registration process, management and operation of langars and the telecommunication facilities etc. The Governor stressed the crucial importance of ensuring timely action on all fronts. He observed that he would personally review the camp-wise arrangements in the coming weeks, visit certain camps, as may be feasible, to check whether facilities had been provided for a smooth and comfortable pilgrimage. He desired that the CEO and senior officials of the shrine board should forthwith fix the date, time and venue of all required coordination meetings in the next six weeks with the government agencies concerned and all other stakeholders to ensure timely arrangements. Briefing the Governor, Goyal said all arrangements for providing the accidental insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh for all registered yatris at the cost of the shrine board had been finalised. Under this insurance cover, in addition to the payment of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin, he of she would also be entitled to a one-time relief of Rs 2,500 per child (up to two children). Further, with the support of the state government, the accidental insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh had also been provided to all registered labourers deployed during the yatra. The ponywallas had also been provided a cover to see that in case their horse/pony was killed in an accident its owner would receive a compensation for Rs 25,000 per animal. The aforesaid insurance shall benefit about 20,000 labourers and about 7,000 ponywallas, all of whom belong to the weaker sections of society. In this context, it was recalled that 42 ponywallas had benefited in 2010 when they were paid Rs 20,000 per animal for the loss of a horse/pony in an accident.
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Governor releases ‘Homeland after Eighteen Years’
Jammu, April 25 Referring to Partition of 1947 and uprooting of millions of people from their homes, the Governor said when societies lost balance and gave up tolerance, it led to disastrous consequences. He stressed the need for pondering over such events in history. He added that whatever be the ideologies and objectives of any political organisation, society should not allow the evolution of an environment, which destroyed the civilisational moorings of the people. The Governor described Chowdhury’s book of poems as an excellent piece of literature and hoped that he would continue to write and receive awards and honours for his writings. He added that if Chowdhury had produced such an excellent volume based on a two-day visit to Srinagar in 2008, to receive a state award for one of his earlier books, he would want him to visit Kashmir for a longer period to bring out more creative works. Recalling Chowdhury’s reference to Theodor Adorno, the Governor reiterated the quotation for the latter’s work: “For a man who no longer has a homeland, writing becomes a place to live”. He said the theme of Chowdhury’s poems originated from his sad homecoming. He observed that the outpourings of his spontaneous reactions had a deep-seated internal symphony, the “Still sad music” of humanity. Prof RL Shant, who presided over the function, spoke about the creative genius of Chowdhury and threw light on his earlier three volumes of poetry. Chowdhury dwelt on the theme of the volume and recalled his childhood days in Srinagar. In the papers presented on the occasion, Prof HL Misri and Prof Deepshikha Kotwal presented their critical appreciations of the substance and quality of Chowdhury’s poems. A large number of writers, academicians, intellectuals, political and social activists, and prominent persons were present at the function.
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Sikhs throng Uri gurdwara for Baisakhi mela
Srinagar, April 25 “Since there has been a ceasefire along the LoC, the number of pilgrims have increased here,” said Gurmukh Singh, a Sikh leader of Uri district. Build in the memory of the Sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Singh, the gurdwara was damaged in the earthquake of October 8, 2005. The construction work on the new building is going on at the place. “Every year the Baisakhi mela is organised in the gurdwara on the following first Sunday of the Baisakhi and a large number of members of the community visit the place from across the Valley to take part in the celebrations,” said Avtar Singh, a Sikh pilgrim. However, the people here said prior to 2003, when cross-border shelling from the Pakistan side was rampant, people were afraid to come to the gurdwara. But ever since the ceasefire had been imposed by both sides, the number of pilgrims visiting the gurdwara had increased manifold, they added. “The gurdwara is an epitome of secularism and brotherhood. It shares one of its walls with the shrine of a Muslim saint and the two communities revere each other’s place of worship,” said Keerat Singh, another Sikh pilgrim. Special prayers were held on the occasion that marked the end of the Akhand Path in the gurdwara.
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Karmapa visits cloudburst victims
Leh, April 25 The cloudburst badly affected villages adjoining Leh town and residential colonies of the town. The Karmapa visited several villages, including Taru, Saboo, Phyang, Ganglass and Gompa, Maneytselding and Zanakyimaney, and performed special prayers there for peace for those who died in the disaster. Talking to the cloudburst victims, the Karmapa exhorted them to take the disaster in their stride and be happy and peaceful. Expressing solidarity with those who lost their near and dear ones, the Karmapa said such disasters may occur in future as well and hence people should be mentally prepared to face them. |
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Omar meets Lt-Gen Hasnain
Srinagar, April 25 The Chief Minister, who was earlier received by Lt-Gen Hasnain, met senior officers of the Chinar Corps. Later, the GOC briefed the Chief Minister on numerous issues, including the prevailing security environment, a defence spokesman said. The political adviser to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, DGP Kuldip Khoda, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Special DG, CRPF, IG, Kashmir Zone, Joint Director, IB, and senior Army officers were present during the meeting with Omar.
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Dogra certificate bid to divide people: PDP
Srinagar, April 25 Talking to mediapersons here today, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said it was astonishing that the government had issued the order and it was taken up by the Union Home Ministry. “We did not do it (during the PDP government) and we are not in favour of this,” she said in reply to questions. Mehbooba held that senior party leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh had already expressed the party’s viewpoint over the Dogra certificate issue. She added that the Army had also commented that it was wrong. “Our institutions have been devalued,” Mehbooba commented and expressed concern over rampant corruption. She added that the state had become a centre of crime and corruption due to mis-goverance and misdeeds of the present government headed by the National Conference. There was no transparency and accountability in the administration because the government was not interested in strengthening such institutions that could help in curbing corruption, she said. Mehbooba pointed out that the State Accountability Commission had become defunct as the government was not interested in making it functional. Furthermore, the claims of the government to set up the State Vigilance Commission also remained only on papers, she added. She observed that the cross-voting scandal in which the NC managed the votes of seven BJP legislators in the Legislative Council elections was a glaring example of the legitimisation of corruption in the state. “There must be some deal between the NC and the BJP MLAs as the latter had not cast votes in favour of the candidates of the coalition partners without any consideration,” she said.
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Niyas to begin pilgrimage from June 15
Jammu, April 25 Citing the security and safety of Amarnath pilgrims as its prime concern, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) had reduced the duration of the yatra from 60 to 46 days and announced that the pilgrimage would start from June 29. Addressing mediapersons here today, niyas president Surinder Mohan Aggarwal said the niyas had decided to start the pilgrimage from June 15 after it was disappointed over a lukewarm response of the SASB authorities. In this context, block-level committees would be constituted till April 30. From May 1, the niyas would start the process of registration at the tehsil headquarters, he added. After affording adequate time to the SASB authorities the niyas and its associate member organisations held a meeting at the Dogra Brahmin Pratinidhi Sabha, where about 30 organisations passed a resolution to start the yatra from June 15, Aggarwal said. From May 1 to 15 the niyas would also organise havans at various places to convince those at the helm of affairs, said Aggarwal. On the Nitish Sen Gupta committee report, which had suggested 30 days’ duration for the pilgrimage against the backdrop of a natural calamity in 1996 when 243 pilgrims lost their lives, Aggarwal said if the SASB was so concerned about the safety and security of the pilgrims, it should provide a copy of the report to the niyas or make it public through Internet or any other medium. He, however, added that after 15 years of the filling of the report it had little relevance today. The niyas, with the support of its associate member organisations, would shoulder the responsibility and make all necessary arrangements for starting the pilgrimage from June 15, he added.
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Wi-Fi Internet facility begins at Gulmarg
Srinagar, April 25 The project was completed in a record time of four months by the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) and the Gulmarg Development Authority in collaboration with the Directorate of Information Technology and Support System (IT&SS), University of Kashmir, and the state Department of Tourism. The project that spreads over more than 5 sq km covers the whole area of the Gulmarg bowl, including Kongdoori and Apharwat hilltops. It was conceived, designed and implemented by the Network Design Team from the Directorate of Information Technology and Support System (IT&SS), University of Kashmir, with bandwidth being provided by the Software Technology Park of India (STPI), an official spokesman said. The devices have been designed with protection against lightening and can withstand temperatures as low as minus 40°C and heavy snowstorms. — TNS |
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News in Pahari sought on TV, radio
Jammu, April 25 The members of the union held a meeting under the leadership of Abdul Qadar Khan today. They said though they had appealed to the higher authorities in this regard many times but nothing had been done. Abdul said, “This is discrimination against Pahari people as the Gojri news bulletin and programmes were already being broadcast on Doordarshan and Radio Kashmir”. — TNS
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Brig Kochar takes chargeof 166 Military Hospital
Jammu, April 25 Various specialist doctors briefed him about the present condition of the hospital. Brig Kochar is an alumnus of the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. He has a graduate and postgraduate degree in Gynaecology and Oncology from the Armed Forces Medical College and has done his fellowship training from the Guha Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. He was posted at the Command Hospital (Central Command) Lucknow, before coming to Jammu. On assuming the charge, Brig Kochar said his main focus would be on the state-of-art patient care and the modernisation of the hospital.
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Motorcyclist killed in mishap
Jammu, April 25 The police has impounded the bus though its driver is absconding. A case has been registered at Sidhra police post and investigation has begun. — TNS |
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Over 80 per cent polling was recorded during the fourth phase of the panchayat elections held in 12 blocks comprising seven blocks of the Jammu province and five blocks of the Kashmir division in the state today.
