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Bakshi Stadium gets 3-tier security ring
Full dress rehearsal held at Kathua
MNREGA workers in Samba struggling to get wages
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DNA test to ascertain identity of slain youth
Crossed Swords Division gets hi-tech transport model room
Bangladesh national held near LoC
Two-day kissan mela begins
Whistleblowers elated over JKSAC chief’s appointment
‘Charri Mubarak’ reaches cave shrine, Amarnath yatra ends
Power Dept to conduct night raids to check pilferage
Border fence breached
Hideout busted
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Independence Day Preparations
Srinagar, August 13 “There is a three-tier security arrangement in and around the Bakshi Stadium. Sniffer dogs, closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs), high-tech access control equipment and human surveillance are in place to secure the official functions connected with Independence Day,” a senior police officer said. The officer also said teams of intelligence sleuths in plainclothes have been spread in the city and other sensitive towns of the Valley. “We have used modern technology combined with human intelligence to manage security on ground,” the officer said. All high-rise buildings around Bakshi Stadium have been occupied by sharp shooters of the security forces to ensure that these vantage points are not used by the guerrillas to shoot Rifle Propelled Grenades (RPGs) at the parade venue, a practice the guerrillas resorted to during the high points of the separatist violence in Kashmir. Security forces are carrying out surprise checks of vehicles at some places in the city and the outskirts. This is being described as routine drill by the officials. Asked whether there are any specific intelligence inputs about possible guerrilla attacks in the city or elsewhere, a senior intelligence officer said: “No, there is no special input, but we will endeavour to provide foolproof security in connection with the country’s Independence Day functions.” To focus attention towards their demands, the separatist Hurriyat group led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has called for a protest shutdown to coincide with Independence Day on August 15. Tensions have usually mounted in the Valley on the eve of the country’s Republic Day Jan 26 and Independence Day ever since separatist violence started here in early 1990s. Many times in the past, separatist guerrillas have tried to disrupt the official functions here. “It is usual for tensions to rise in Kashmir around January 26 and August 15, but definitely tensions are less in the city this year,” said Nazir Ahmad (35), a businessman here. — IANS
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Full dress rehearsal held at Kathua
Jammu, August 13 District Development Commissioner, Kathua, Zahida Khan took the salute at an impressive march past. About 47 contingents drawn from the police, CRPF, NCC boys and girls and tiny platoons from government and private schools took part in the march past. Speaking on the occasion, Khan congratulated the people on the Independence Day and threw light on sacrifices made by the leaders and the people in general to attain freedom from the British rule. “We should not forget the sacrifices made by great martyrs. We should safeguard the hard fought freedom,” she added. She exhorted upon all to work with dedication and honesty and congratulated the people on the eve of Raksha
Bandhan. |
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MNREGA workers in Samba struggling to get wages
Jammu, August 13 Residents of Tarore village of Samba district, including 24 women, were engaged under the MNREGA scheme to remove sludge from a pond to harvest water in 2010, but no payment had been made to them till date. However, three workers, including two women, died without getting wages in exchange of their work. “Although the work on removing sludge and construction of the pond was started in February 5, 2010, and completed in March 16, 2010, the labourers have not been paid wages till date,” Vinod Sharma, sarpanch of Tarore village, told The Tribune. “In March 2010, we staged a dharna at the tehsil headquarters for payment of wages. It was only after the authorities concerned assured us that we lifted the dharna. However, the promises made to us remained only on papers,” he said. He added that the work was started after an approval of the then Assistant Development Commissioner (ACD), Ashok Kumar Bhagat, who had been now been transferred to some other place. Sharma said during the recent meeting of panches and sarpanches, he had taken up the issue before Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. “Despite bringing the matter to his notice, no action has been taken so far,” he said, adding that denying payment to the labourers negated all the tall claims made by the government. He said three workers, namely Balwant Rai, Koushalya Devi and Taro Devi, who were engaged in the job, died without getting their dues. “The then officials of the Rural Development Department (RDD) had assured us that payment would be made just after completion of the work. Since March 2010, we have been moving from pillar to post to get our wages, but the authorities denied us without any reason,” Darshan Kumar, one of the job card holders engaged in the work, said. Despite repeated attempts, no senior officials of the RDD was ready to speak on the issue. |
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Poonch Fake encounter
Jammu, August 13 “I am not aware of any development today, but till yesterday only one family from Rajouri district had claimed the kinship to the slain youth. The evidences produced by the
family were not convincing,” Poonch Deputy Commissioner, AK Sahu told The Tribune. The description and the photograph did not match with that of the slain youth, so we were left with no option, but to conduct the DNA test, said Sahu. He added that the DNA
samples had already been collected. “The DNA samples will be sent to FSL Delhi or Chandigarh in the next couple of days and the report is expected within a week,” Sahu said. The security forces, particularly the Army had claimed that they had shot dead a “dreaded” Lashkar-e-Toiba commander, Abu Usman alias, Abu Adnan in a 12-hour-long encounter on the night of August 6 in the Surankote area. Talking to The Tribune, Poonch district SSP, Ashkoor Wani, said, “In fact two families have come forward to stake their claim. One family of Issaq Mohammad is from the Thannamandi area of Rajouri district while another family of Mohammad Din is from Jonu village in Udhampur district.” “We are verifying
their claims through the DNA tests to be conducted at FSL Chandigarh,” said the SSP. The SSP informed that the police had arrested one more person in the case taking the total number of arrests to three. “Abdul Haq of Safeda Hadi, who had supplied a rusted pistol to the two accused, Territorial Army Jawan Noor Hussain and SPO Abdul Majeed, was arrested today,” he said. The SIT in-charge, ASP, Yougal Manhas, who has been investigating the case said, “Since both the accused, Noor Hussain and Abdul Majeed have confessed to their crime, we are now trying to link the entire plot. They have already confessed that for promotions and reward they executed the killing of an innocent man.” Meanwhile, sources in the police said the police had been very cautiously investigating the case. “We have to verify and ensure beyond any doubt the kinship of the slain youth with the claimants. We all know that claimants will be entitled to compensation of Rs 1 lakh and
a government job,” said an officer. Mohammad Issaq, a labourer from Saaj village in Thannamandi tehsil of Rajouri district had claimed the victim was his mentally unsound son and even produced his photograph before the police to substantiate his claim,
he added. |
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Crossed Swords Division gets hi-tech transport model room
Jammu, August 13 The event was attended by Maj-Gen Rakesh Sharma, GOC, Crossed Swords Division, and other senior Army officers of the division and officials of Ashok Leyland Limited. The model room has been established in collaboration with Ashok Leyland Limited. The main purpose of creating the model room is to train the drivers of the Crossed Swords Division on various aspects of driving, including technical as well as non-technical subjects, while giving them a three-dimensional overview on the cut models. On the occasion, Balakrishnan, assistant general manager, Ashok Leyland Ltd, briefed the guests on various cut models displayed in the model room. Commanding OfficerCol Ashish Maini emphasised on the importance of training the drivers and enhancing their knowledge.
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Bangladesh national held near LoC
Srinagar, August 13 “Police apprehended a person who was venturing under suspicious circumstances near the LoC in Teetwal area of Karnah sector,” a police spokesman said. The apprehended person revealed his identity as Mohammad Latwan alias Mohammad Amir, a resident of Seemoli-Mehmadpur in Bangladesh, the spokesman said. He said Latwan had come to India via Kolkata.
— PTI |
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Two-day kissan mela begins
Leh, August 13 The GOC of the 14 Corps, Lt-Gen Ravi Dastana, inaugurated the mela. Addressing the inaugural function, Lt-Gen Dastana, urged the local farmers to increase vegetable production by cultivating a variety of vegetables. Stalls displaying products by a number of the government and non-governmental organisations had been installed at the mela.
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Whistleblowers elated over JKSAC chief’s appointment
Jammu, August 13 The Governor yesterday had appointed Justice Nargotra as the chairman of the JKSAC for a period of three years. “We hope that the new chairperson will not only reopen old cases of corruption, but also get the stay vacated on the cases of corruption allegedly involving ministers in the present regime,” said Dr Muzaffar Bhat, convener of the J&K RTI Movement. He said Justice Nargotra would do everything possible to convert the JKSAC into an effective panel of fighting corruption against the public figures (politicians). “A fresh lease of life infused into it by none other than the Governor has also bolstered our hopes to keep exposing corruption in the public life,” Bhat said. “For obvious reasons, the government last year had formed a State Vigilance Commission to fight corruption in the bureaucracy. Now, against this development, we hope to see the new chairperson of the JKSAC contributing his bit in creating awareness among the people about the JKSAC,” he added. “I think time has come for the JKSAC to tell the people about its powers and indispensability in the prevailing system. At a time when our politicians are neck-deep in corruption, the JKSAC certainly has significance,” he said. |
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‘Charri Mubarak’ reaches cave shrine, Amarnath yatra ends
Srinagar, August 13 Governor NN Vohra, who is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), and CEO of the board RK Goyal also took part in the prayers at the cave shrine. The holy mace is scheduled to reach Chandanwari tomorrow and Pahalgam on Monday on its return journey. The “Pujan” and “Visarjan” ceremonies would be performed on the banks of the Lidder in Pahalgam on Monday while the Chhari would return to its abode at the Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar on the same day. As many as 107 pilgrims lost their lives this year during the yatra, while cardiac arrest claimed most of the lives.About 3.40 lakh pilgrims took shorter route to the cave shrine through Baltal in Ganderbal district while 2.84 lakh yatris visited via traditional Pahalgam-Chandanwari track in Anantnag district, officials said.
— PTI
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Power Dept to conduct night raids to check pilferage
Jammu, August 13 Following the directions of the state and the Central government, the PDD has now decided to take this step, as the losses incurred by the state government due to the power theft had been increasing with each passing year. “After the successful trial of two days, we have now decided to conduct raids at night, so that defaulters could be penalised. All the executive engineers have been directed to conduct raids in their respective areas during night and take pictures of the violations,” Shahnaz Goni, chief engineer, PDD told The Tribune. She added that the people made some hue and cry during the trial period. “We have decided to take pictures and also take the help of the police. If anyone tries to make a hue and cry, the police will take action accordingly.” Giving details about the night raids, Goni said the raids would start in a short period and the department was expecting to collect a huge amount as penalty from defaulters. She said, “All the areas would be raided and not even a single establishment would be spared.” The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had suggested to the state government to strictly deal with violators, so that the losses could be minimised. Ironically, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah holds the power portfolio, yet the
state is reeling under huge power cuts.
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Border fence breached
Jammu, August 13 Official sources told The Tribune that last night armed militants succeeded in cutting the barbed fence from two places within a distance of 500m in the Chor Gali area. Sources added that the 7 Rajputana Rifles under the command of 120 BG Brigade guarded the area. However, an Army spokesperson denied the reports saying no infiltration had taken place from the Balakote sector.
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Hideout busted
Srinagar, August 13 “On specific information about the presence of terrorists in the Dhurmuna area, Budgam, a joint operation was launched by the Army and the police yesterday and a cache comprising 43 kg of high explosives was recovered,” a defence spokesman said here today. He said the explosives, which were buried, were detected by the Army’s dog squad. “A bomb disposal team was rushed to the spot and the explosives were destroyed,” he added.
— PTI
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Srinagar, August 13
Jammu, August 13
Jammu, August 13
