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4 top Hizbul militants
surrender
Police claims suicide, family alleges torture
PM should be kept out of Lokpal ambit: Omar |
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Cannabis along highway attracts drug addicts
Third truce violation by Pak
BJP to hold protests against corruption
Police jobs major hope for Valley youth
7 Education Dept officials suspended
Miscreants injure 3 of family
SI sent to Delhi to collect DNA reports
Tourism convention from Sept 12
Army organises sapling plantation drive
Woman killed in mishap
Arrangements in placefor Kailash Kund yatra
2 arrested for forgery
NC has failed to connect to people: Mufti
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4 top Hizbul militants
surrender
Srinagar/Jammu, August 18 The surrendered militants were identified as Mohammad Rafiq Sheikh, alias Basharat, Bashir Ahmad, alias Rashid, Mohammad Maqbool, alias Majid, and Mohammad Shafi, alias Haroon Rashid. “All the four militants hail from Reasi district in the Jammu region and Sheikh was the divisional commander of the group,” the spokesman said. The surrendered militants handed over two AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, one grenade launcher, five under-barrelled grenades, 118 AK rounds, one wireless set, one mobile phone, one battery and three pouches. The spokesman said at least five cases had already been registered against the militant group. “They are also involved in a number of cases in Reasi and Ramban districts. They are being questioned to know about the details of the network in the Pir Panjal range,” he added. In Jammu, IGP, Jammu zone, Dilbagh Singh said 36 militants, including nine foreigners, were still active in the region. The IGP said, “Militancy has been wiped out from Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur and Reasi districts while it has ebbed in Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Khistwar and Ramban districts.” Talking to reporters here this evening, he said “With the surrender of four hardcore militants of Hizbul Mujahideen Pir Panjal Regiment in Kulgam yesterday, Reasi district has also been cleansed of militancy,” he said. Self-styled divisional commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen Mohammed Rafiq Sheikh, alias Basharat, a resident of Neoch in the Gulabgarh area of Reasi district, along with three other militants surrendered before the security forces in Kulgam yesterday. Sheikh had been active since 1997 and was an “A” category militant. Besides Rafiq Sheikh, Basharar Ahmed Sheikh, also a resident of Neoch in Reasi, Mohammed Shafi Sheikh, a resident of Dewal in Mahore, and Mohammed Maqbool Sheikh, a resident of Lar in Mahore, also surrendered before the security forces only after we persuaded them via a mediator to return to the mainstream, said the IGP. They also handed over two AK-47 rifles, one UBGL, five grenades, one wireless set and a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, he added. The IGP informed that five cases in Kulgam and 10 in Reasi alone were registered against Rafiq Sheikh. However, talking to the mediapersons, Rafiq Sheikh claimed that he had neither killed anyone nor had confronted the security forces in any encounter. “After I realised that I am treading a wrong path of death and destruction, I decided to surrender before the security forces,” he said. On the rehabilitation policy of misguided youth, the IGP said the police had so far received 153 applications. “After scrutinising the applications, we have recommended the deserving cases to the government,” he said. |
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Undertrial’s death in custody
Jammu, August 18 While the police said the body of undertrial Sarfu Ram (50), a resident of the Khor block in Akhnoor, was found hanging from a window of the JIC this morning, his relatives alleged he was tortured to death by the police. They staged a protest at the Government Medical College and Hospital here, where the body was brought for a post-mortem. Meanwhile, the administration has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. Sarfu was a narcotics smuggler and had remained in Tihar Jail for almost seven years. One of his brothers and son Sunny Kumar were still lodged in the jail. “He committed suicide by hanging himself from a window of the JIC this morning,” SP, CID, Joginder Singh said. He added that, “He was shifted to hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.” “A case has been registered against Sarfu at Khor police station in Akhnoor. Those who are involved in the smuggling of arms, ammunition, drug trafficking and the transfer of hawala money are brought here for interrogation,” he said. Sarfu was brought to the JIC on April 12, he added. “He was a hawala broker, who would collect money from Pakistan and transfer it to militant groups active in the state,” said SHO, Khor, Ajeet Singh. “We do not know why he was arrested,” said Poli Devi, Srafu’s sister, who is married in Miran Sahib. She added that, “The police raided our house and kept my husband in custody from July 29 to August 4.” “My husband was a reformed man after his release from police custody. He wanted to lead a peaceful life. To step up pressure on us, the police picked up our son, Sanjay Kumar, who is a motorcycle mechanic, on July 26 and tortured him,” said Sarfu’s wife, Preeto Devi. She added that, “ The next day, my husband and I went to the SP’s office at Gandhi Nagar. My husband was detained for questioning there and was not allowed to go home.” “The police was inquiring about money, which according to it, my father got from Pakistan. But none of the family members is aware of it ,” Sanjay said. The undertrial’s daughter, Anjali, said she last saw her father in court on July 27. “My father was not able to either walk or stand. He was not allowed to speak to me. He was suffering from severe pain,” she added. |
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PM should be kept out of Lokpal ambit: Omar
Jammu, August 18 “Nobody should be given a blank chit and nobody’s activities should be condoned, but the Prime Minister, while in office, should not fall under the purview of the Lokpal...I believe once the Prime Minister demits the office, he should definitely fall under the ambit of the Lokpal,” he told a press conference here. When asked about the ongoing agitation launched by Anna Hazare in favour of the Lokpal Bill, he said, “Corruption is an important matter concerning every citizen in the country and I am equally concerned about
the menace”. He said though the President was to take a decision on the fate of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, he had apprehensions that if Guru was hanged, it could disturb peace in the Valley. Omar said, “It is for the President to decide on the fate of Guru, but as the Chief Minister, my main concern is peace in
the state”. “Having seen the situation as the Chief Minister during the past three years, I have certain apprehensions if Guru is hanged,” he said and added that he had conveyed these apprehensions to the Central government. “My responsibility is to ensure peace in the state and the Union government has to look at the larger picture,” he said. Omar said he was against the hanging of Guru from the beginning, as it could disturb peace in the Valley. Earlier, addressing a meeting of senior citizens of Jammu, Omar said the benchmark of his government was justice to all and a balanced development for every area. He rejected the false conception being circulated by a few elements regarding discrimination between various regions. “This has become a trademark and they use it to raise public emotions for vested interests,” he said, adding that his government was firm and committed to equitable development of the state irrespective of any He said the employment crisis had been flagged as one of the most important issues. “We have initiated various measures to address it and provide opportunities to the youth in the job market,” he said. Omar said under the recommendations of the Rangarajan Committee approved by the Central government, more than 40,000 technically-qualified youth would be trained for jobs in big industrial houses. He said 25,000 youth would be provided scholarships for attaining higher education in reputed institutions of the country. |
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Cannabis along highway attracts drug addicts
Nagrota, August 18 Though the locals say the cannabis is being grown on vast areas due to the recent rain, they allege that the authorities concerned have failed to destroy it. “Though cannabis has grown up to between 5 feet and 6 feet, which takes at least a month, none of the officials concerned has cared to get it destroyed. If the cannabis is not destroyed in the next few days, the drug mafia active in the region will succeed in smuggling it to the other parts of the country,” said Deepak Kumar, a local shopkeeper. A senior police officer said, “Cannabis leaves are mostly plucked during the season because the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in hemp is higher these days and it fetches a better price in the market.” Earlier, the Himachal Pradesh government was facing the problem, as the illegal cultivation of cannabis had brought a bad name to some areas like Kullu and Manali where foreign tourists used it as an intoxicant. SC Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu division, said, “The land along the national highway does not come under our jurisdiction.Hence, I can’t comment on the issue.” BL Naik, Zonal Director, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), said, “I am out of the state and not aware about the issue.” |
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Third truce violation by Pak
Jammu, August 18 A spokesperson of the Nagrota-based 16 Corps said the Pakistan troops opened fire and also launched RPGs on the forward posts in the Durga Battalion Area, a forward area along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, last night. The posts in Poonch were targeted from the Jamila Post and the 556 Post along the LoC in PoK, he said. “Subsequently, we also responded and the exchange of fire lasted for nearly 45 minutes,” the spokesperson said, adding that the Indian troops also used machine-guns and rockets. Sources said the exchange of fire continued for an hour. There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing from the Pakistan side, he said. “The Army authorities lodged a protest with the Pakistan army over the unprovoked and unwarranted firing and the ceasefire violation,” he said. This was the third ceasefire violation along the Indo-Pak border in the state in the last four days. The Pakistan troops had violated the ceasefire and opened fire on the forward belt of the Keri area in Rajouri sector on August 16, in which a jawan was injured, and on August 15, they had violated the ceasefire by firing on the Ballard post in Samba district. Army sources said since August 15, there had been a shift in Pakistan’s strategy and by resorting to such misadventures, they were trying to express solidarity with militants in the state. “Militants are losing ground in the wake of relentless operations by the security forces in the state and by violating the mutually-brokered ceasefire, Pakistan is trying to express solidarity with them (ultras) and in this way telling them to keep fighting,” the sources added. |
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BJP to hold protests against corruption
Jammu, August 18 This was disclosed by BJP spokesperson Nirmal Kamal while releasing the details of the high command’s directives, regarding the scheduled programmes. Kamal said under the slogan, “Brashtachar Mitao, Loktantra Bachao”, each and every district unit of the BJP throughout the country would organise protests, silent marches, conch blowing (shank naad) and Thali naad against the dictatorial and fascist tendencies of the Centre, perpetuating corruption and suppressing the patriotic voices of the nation. Emphasising the BJP’s exemplary role in mobilising public opinion on issues of 2G spectrum,the Commonwealth Games scandal, the Adarsh Society scam and various other scandals, Kamal strongly condemned the UPA government’s undemocratic method to suppress the voice of the people, whenever they protested and particularly the UPA government’s efforts to suppress a strong Jan Lok Pal. Strongly opposing the unwarranted and undemocratic method to arrest Anna Hazare and his team, who were to protest in a peaceful manner, she added that the party’s national president had given guidelines to the state unit to organise
suitable programmes and the same were being carried out. |
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Police jobs major hope for Valley youth
Several thousands youth lined up to test their luck at an on-the-spot recruitment rally for the post of constables at the Jawahar Nagar locality here today. Though the minimum qualification was matriculation, there were many with degrees and specialised postgraduate degrees. Nisar Ahmad from the Abi Guzar locality of Srinagar, who has a postgraduate degree in English literature, said he worked for four years in New Delhi with the American Express as a senior associate. “I came back because there was no one to look after my family,” Nisar said in fluent English, adding the job in the police was an opportunity for him. Hilah Ahmad Shiekh, another aspirant with a postgraduate degree in Education, hailed the police recruitment drive. “There are no government jobs and the private sector does not pay much. We have no other option,” he said. Nisar and Hilal were among nearly 100 youth who were recruited. There were several others who refused to come on record, saying it would create problems for them back home. Among them was a young woman,Nighat,having a degree in commerce and pursuing MBA, whose presence at the recruitment rally came as a surprise even to the policemen. She was dejected as she fell short of the height required for a woman constable. Most of the youth, who came to participate in the rally belonged to neighbourhoods which witnessed massive protests last year. More than 100 protesters were killed in police firing and thousands were injured. This year, the police took the challenge of venturing into those areas of the Valley, which are infamous for stone throwing, to recruit the youth. "This is the third rally this year. So far, we have recruited 400 youth from the rallies," Director-General of Police Kuldeep Khoda told reporters at the venue. He said the aim of the rallies was to cater to the areas which were not adequately represented in the police. —
PTI |
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7 Education Dept officials suspended
Srinagar, August 18 The officials, including a deputy registrar, were suspended after Minister for Technical Education RS Chib paid a surprise visit to the board’s office yesterday, he said. The suspended officials were identified as deputy registrar Talat Noor, section officer KA Dewani, head assistants Daleep Kumar and AR Wani, accountant Vijay Kumar, senior assistant Nilofar Jan and computer operator MY Najar, he said. The minister also ordered action against head assistant Ali Mohammad, who had written leave applications on behalf of head assistant AR Wani and computer operator MY Najar without any intimation or communique from these officials.- PTI |
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Miscreants injure 3 of family
Srinagar, August 18 The police said the two masked men armed with sharp-edged weapons barged into the house of Ghulam Mohammad Mir at Markipora and attacked his son, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, an auto driver. Meanwhile, his sisters, Shamima and Kulsuma, were also injured while trying to save him, it added. All the injured were shifted to SKIMS Hospital, where the condition of Aijaz was said to be critical. — TNS
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SI sent to Delhi to collect DNA reports
Jammu, August 18 It may be stated that the police had sent the samples of Shubam’s mother, his paternal aunt and of the femur bone that was recovered in Vijaypur to the CFSL, New Delhi, on July 4. “Sub-inspector Anil Sharma has been sent to New Delhi to collect the DNA reports,” SSP, Samba, Israr Khan told The Tribune. The police sent the DNA samples to the CFSL as it suspected that nine-year-old Shubam, a resident of Swankha Morh in Vijaypur, who had been missing since March 30, was murdered. |
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Tourism convention from Sept 12
Srinagar, August 18 The theme of the convention is “India Adventure-Creating Opportunities” and is being organised with an objective to harness all the available resources and promote adventure tourism in the state through marketing network and capacity building. This was given out at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora and Minister of State for Tourism, Culture and Home Nasir Aslam Wani here today to review the arrangements made by the government for the participants coming from different parts of the country and abroad, an official spokesman said. It is expected that 50 to 70 participants from different countries, besides domestic tour operators will take part in the convention. The meeting discussed and reviewed the arrangements regarding the transportation and accommodation facilities to be provided to the participants in Srinagar. The officers concerned assured the minister of all the necessary arrangements to make the event successful. Jora said the government’s endeavour was to explore the full tourism potential of the state for global marketing. He added that the organising of the convention was a step in that direction. |
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Army organises sapling plantation drive
Udhampur, August 18 The drive was conducted to revive the ecology in the areas of Mahore and Gul, which otherwise had been depleted due to the uncontrolled felling of trees. It was also aimed at involving the locals in a noble task of planting
kikar, bana, beesa and safeda trees, which in future would be beneficial to them, said an Army spokesperson. As many as 750 Army personnel and 4,500 civilians participated in the drive. The civil administration, the police and the Forest Department also extended their cooperation in making the drive successful. |
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Woman killed in mishap
Udhampur, August 18 SHO, Kishtwar, Mohammad Arif said the Matador was coming from Paddar to Kishtwar when the driver lost control over it while negotiating a sharp turn and it skidded off the road near Dardi
Padyarna. The injured were rushed to the District Hospital, Kishtwar. However, all of them were discharged after first aid. — TNS
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Arrangements in placefor Kailash Kund yatra
Udhampur, August 18 At a meeting chaired by Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Baseer Ahmed Khan here today, issues related to the supply of essential commodities, installation of drinking water points at various locations from Dudu, which is the base camp for the yatra, and availability of medicare and transport facilities were discussed. Amit Sharma, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Dudu-Basantgrah, was appointed as the nodal officer to supervise the over all arrangements from Dudu to the Kailash Kund. The tehsildar concerned was also directed to camp at the Seoj Dhar base camp on August 26 and 27 to ensure comfortable stay of the pilgrims. The meeting decided that the Civil Defence Organisation, Udhampur, and the Nehru Yuva Kendra would keep 10 volunteers each at the disposal of the nodal officer of the yatra. The ARTO, Udhampur, was asked to deploy additional buses from different routes leading to Dudu for the convenience of the pilgrims. Those who were present on the occasion included SSP Shakeel Ahmed Beig, Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) Gurvinderjeet Singh; CMOs, executive engineers and tehsildars. |
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2 arrested for forgery
Jammu, August 18 The police said the two were involved in the issuance and renewal of fake driving licences, Registration Certificates (RCs) of vehicles, permits and other documents. Incriminating material like fake rubber stamps of gazetted officers, driving licences, RCs and bundles of paper carrying the letterhead of the Regional Transport Office , Jammu,were recovered from their possession. The accused were identified as Amarjeet Singh, alias Dimple, son of Harnam Singh of Malikpur, RS Pura, and Vikas Jandial, son of Ved Parkash of Nanak Nagar. Meanwhile,the police said it was conducting raids to nab the third accused, Daleep Kumar Gupta, proprietor of Print Art, Nai
Basti. |
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NC has failed to connect to people: Mufti
Jammu, August 18 Addressing a one-day political convention of the youth wing of the PDP, Mufti highlighted the achievements of the previous PDP-Congress regime and regretted that the present dispensation had failed to carry forward the agenda of peace and development which was pursued by its predecessor. In an obvious reference to the recent statement of veteran Congress leader ML Fotedar, who had termed the three-year tenure of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as the golden period in the history of the state, Mufti said, “I don’t want to praise myself, but everything is visible on the ground. With the same infrastructure at our command, we not only accelerated development activities but also established peace in the state”. Mufti added, “What to say about further accelerating our agenda of development in the state, the present regime has even failed to complete the works started by the previous PDP-Congress regime”. He said besides accelerating development activities, the previous government had restored dignity and honour of the people of the state. “Not even a single person was in jail during the PDP-Congress regime,” he said, adding that the present government had been using strong-arm tactics to suppress the aspirations and wishes of the people. “Hundreds of innocent youth are languishing in jails due to the oppressive policy of the present government,” he said. He added that wrong policies of the NC-led coalition had been fuelling alienation and creating desperation among the youth of the state. He said instead of formulating a comprehensive youth policy, the present dispensation was brazenly trying to befool the youth by making false promises. He mentioned the Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Policy announced by the state government. “Where is that policy which was announced with much publicity?” he asked, adding, “The policy announced by the government was eyewash and a cruel joke on the unemployed youth of the state”. “Instead of announcing such half-baked employment policy, the government should formulate a policy to ensure social security as well as employment,” Mufti added.
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Four top militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen, including a divisional commander, surrendered to the police in Kulgam district today.
The death of an undertrial in police custody at the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC), Miran Sahib, this morning led to a controversy with the police claiming that he committed suicide, while his family alleging that he died due to brutal torture in custody.
He said the militants surrendered following joint operations by the police, the Army and the CRPF in Kulgam and Reasi districts on either side of the Pir Panjal range.
Srinagar, August 18