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Omar seeks Central funds for electronic industry
High-security
registration plates
Poonch Fake Encounter |
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Defence Land Scam
Silver jubilee of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine board
Special squads to remove encroachments on govt land
Governor, Omar greet people
Kashmir literary festival postponed
Funds for panchayats a joke: Chaman Lal
Langer is general secy of Mahajan sabha
Forum extends support to evacuee tenants
CMO suspends five Doda officials
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Omar seeks Central funds for electronic industry
“Jammu and Kashmir is full of promises in this sector and the state government has already started the establishment of an electronic industrial estate at Rengrath in Srinagar and the setting up of a software technology park over 20 acres at Ompora in Budgam is in the process,” he said, adding that a similar facility was being developed in the Ghatti industrial area in Kathua. Speaking at a meeting to discuss major initiatives for the development of the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) industry in the country in New Delhi yesterday, the Chief Minister sought the assistance for the development of the computer software and hardware industry. He added that the highly conducive climate and the existing complexes in the state would provide a base to start new ventures. “The industrial activities in the field of consumer electronics, industrial electronics, instrumentation, medical electronics, electronic components, telecommunication, solar photovoltaics, consumer-oriented multi-use software, advertising, films, etc., have a very good potential in the state,” Omar said. The state government offered fiscal incentives in the form of VAT remission, toll tax exemption on the import of raw material and the export of finished products, Central Sales Tax exemption, duty exemption and income tax exemption to the entrepreneurs to encourage them to invest in the state, he added. The meeting organised by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, Communications and Information Technology discussed measures expected to transform the landscape of the ESDM sector and ensure a multi-fold increase in domestic production from $20 bn to $400 bn and investments to the tune of $100 bn, generating employment for about 28 million people. |
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High-security
registration plates
Jammu, August 30 The apex court today sought the response of the three states on why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for their failure to implement its order on HSRPs and licences for vehicles. Talking to The Tribune, Transport Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon said his ministry had already initiated the process and an undertaking had also been given in the Supreme Court in
this regard. “Whatever is required to be done is being done by Transport Commissioner Syed Mohammed Fazlullah and his team. We have already entered the final stage of implementing the court order,” said Akhoon. Sources in the Transport Department said it had issued a countrywide tender for the HSRPs for nearly nine lakh vehicles in
the state. The new HSRPs help the police and the security agencies trace stolen vehicles or vehicles used for subversive activities. The Jammu region had 4,75,000 vehicles while the Kashmir region, including Ladakh, had 4,25,00 vehicles. The sources said 40,000 new vehicles were bought in the state every year. The HSRP has a chromium-based hologram, a self-destructive sticker with engine and chassis numbers, a unique serial code carved with laser and “India” imprinted with a hot-stamping foil and a non-removable and non-reusable snap lock. |
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Poonch Fake Encounter
Jammu, August 30 A team of doctors took the samples on the spot and later the body was buried again, it said. The samples would be sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Hyderabad, for a DNA test to ascertain the identity of the victim, it added. Fresh samples were taken as the earlier ones were rejected by the FSL, Hyderabad. Earlier, the samples of the youth’s body and three members of two families, who claimed the youth was their relative, were sent for DNA tests. They were sent to the FSL, Chandigarh, which did not carry out the DNA test due to a shortage of staff. “The FSL, Hyderabad, has asked us to collect the fresh samples for the DNA tests in a saline solution,” the police said, adding that it was being done accordingly. The ASP also informed that the two claimants to the body were also present to witness the exhumation and collection of the DNA samples A team of doctors in Surankote had taken the blood samples of Mohammad Isaq and her daughter, a resident of the Thanamandi area in Rajouri district, and that of Mohammad Din, a resident of the Jaganu area in Udhampur district, who claimed that the victim was their relative. Isaq, a resident of Saj village in the Thanamandi belt of Rajouri district, had claimed that the slain youth was his son Mohammad Aslam and had even presented a photograph to the authorities concerned. Similarly, Mohammad Din, a resident of Jaganu village in Udhampur district, had also claimed that the victim was his son. The police and the Army had claimed that they had killed a Divisional Commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Abu Usman, in the Marhote area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district on August 7. However, later it turned out to be a fake encounter and the police arrested Special Police Officer (SPO) Noor Hussain and a jawan of the Territorial Army (TA) Abdul Majeed. The district authorities had ordered a magisterial probe into the fake encounter, while the Army had also instituted an independent inquiry into the incident. |
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Defence Land Scam
Jammu, August 30 The other members of the delegation include Jitendra Singh, who is also the state coordinator of the BJP Scams Committee, and Chander Prakash Ganga, state vice-president of the party. The delegation will give a firsthand account of the country’s biggest-ever defence land (200 acres) scam to the Defence
Minister. At a press conference held here on August 10, Somaiya had released the details of the land belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) that had been clandestinely transferred to revenue records in connivance with the state administration authorities and then to private parties. According to the BJP, this is the biggest defence land scam in which private individuals in connivance with defence and state government officials have grabbed 200 acres near the IAF station in Budgam district. It is further alleged that private players connived with the defence and revenue officials in transferring plots to 61 persons. “This is a serious issue as there is every apprehension that this land might have been transferred to anti-national elements and militants. The land being near
the IAF station,it can put the national security at a grave risk,’ a BJP spokesman said. The BJP alleged that the state government was not cooperating in investigating the matter and the revenue officials could have never transferred the land without the backing of the higher authorities. Besides Budgam, defence land scams had surfaced in
two other districts of Kashmir division. |
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Silver jubilee of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine board
Jammu, August 30 The Governor, who is the Chairman of the Shrine Board, performed “puran ahuti”, paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum and prayed for peace and prosperity of the state. Dr Sudhir S Bloeria, member of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; BR Sharma, Principal Home Secretary; BB Vyas, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister; Sudhanshu Panday, Commissioner/Secretary, Finance; RK Goyal, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the SMVDSB, Mandeep Bhandari, Additional Chief Executive Officer of the board, and other officials, who were present on the occasion, participated in the special puja. The Chairman had discussions with all of them,including the CEO and the Additional CEO, to obtain their views and suggestions about several projects, which were being taken up during the silver jubilee year. The Governor laid the foundation stones of a pony stand and the new locker complex in the Bhawan area to augment the facilities for the visiting pilgrims and the ponywallahs. The four-storeyed pony stand to be constructed at a cost of Rs 2.57 crore would provide space for about 350 ponies. Similarly, the four-storeyed new locker complex, estimated to cost Rs 2.40 crore, would provide about 3,000 lockers. Vohra issued instructions to the engineering wing to ensure the completion of both the projects within 15 months. While going from Sanjichhat to the holy cave, the Governor reviewed the progress of the ongoing plantation drive. He emphasised the need for planting additional flowering saplings to further beautify the area. He also enquired about the camps being organised for generating awareness among the local residents about fire control measures. He also interacted with the yatris and enquired about their views and impressions about the facilities available for the pilgrimage. He issued instructions to the CEO of the Shrine Board to take all the required measures for the continuous repair, improvement and beautification of the track. The Governor enquired about the progress on the establishment of the upcoming mule dung-based biogas plant and was informed that the project would be completed in two months. He was also informed that for ensuring effective solid waste management and water and waste-water management, the Shrine Board was finalising time-bound projects, which were based on studies by TERI. He also reviewed the status of the ongoing work on a major scheme, costing about Rs 14 crore, for augmenting the water supply to the Bhawan area, which was in an advanced stage of completion. |
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Special squads to remove encroachments on govt land
Minister of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla told The Tribune that hundreds of kanals of government land in different areas had already been got cleared of encroachments. Bhalla claimed the Revenue Department had put up boards on government land, warning trespassers. “We installed boards on government land at Sujawan and behind the airport,warning the encroachers,” he said. Earlier, addressing a gathering at New Bahu Fort, Bhalla warned the land encroachers of strict action. He told them to either vacate the land voluntarily or face action. The minister announced that offices, tubewells, roads, schools, parks, cremation grounds and parking slots would be constructed on the land got vacated from the
encroachers. He pointed out that the campaign launched to plant saplings on open land was aimed at protecting it from the encroachers. He said the government was planning to develop all the open spaces as parks on modern lines. |
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Ahead of Eid, vigil on motorcyclists
Srinagar, August 30 “We are only seizing the motorcycles, which do not have documents,” the SSP, Srinagar, Aashiq Bukhari, said. Motorcyclists entering the city from neighbouring Ganderbal, Budgam and Pulwama districts were also being checked, the police said. It said the drive had been launched as certain incidents of violence were reported on Eid last year. A large number of people had marched from the Eidgah to the Lal Chowk area on a call given by chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq last year. Soon after the rally was over, three government buildings were set on fire by miscreants. Police sources said there were indications that militants might try to disrupt peace in the state. Meanwhile, 73 youths were arrested and 10 motorcycles were seized in connection with the attack on Nowhatta police station here on August 27. The incident had occurred on Shab-e-Qadr.
— PTI |
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Governor, Omar greet people
Srinagar, August 30 In a message,the Governor expressed the hope that the festival would be the harbinger of sustained peace, progress, prosperity and happiness and would further strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood and amity, which were the hallmark of the state’s glorious pluralistic traditions. Omar reminded the people of the essence of Eid. He added that “we remember the poor and the needy and share happiness with them”. Omar said the spirit behind Eid mandated all to “express gratitude to Allah for giving us courage to observe fast in the month of Ramzan and rededicate ourselves to truthfulness, sincerity, self-control, patience and human dignity in complete obedience to Allah. He expressed the hope that Eid would bring peace and, prosperity to the state. The Deputy Chief Minister said, “Eid reminds us of our responsibility to help the poor and inculcates the spirit of sharing happiness and joy with everyone.” Others who extended warm greetings included CPM state secretary and Kulgam MLA MY Tarigami. |
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Kashmir literary festival postponed
Srinagar, August 30 The three-day festival was to be organised at different venues, including the University of Kashmir and Delhi Public School in Srinagar, from September 24 to 26, to showcase the works of emerging and established writers of Kashmir. “It is with sadness that we announce the postponement of the Harud Literary Festival,” a spokesman for the organisers said.He added that a section of the people had started a movement for the boycott of the festival, thereby denying an opportunity to allow other voices, including writers, poets and theatre people, from the Valley and other parts of India to exercise the right to express themselves at Harud (autumn in Kashmiri). “With many authors voicing concern about possible violence during the festival due to the heightened nature of the debate and a call for protests at the venues, we neither have the desire to be responsible for more unrest in the Valley nor to propagate mindless violence in the name of free speech. We, therefore, are left with little choice, but to cancel the festival for now,” he said. “Expression through arts is at risk across the world and more so in India. Literature is one of the ways to transcend these barriers and provide a platform for inclusive ideas. This unfortunately will be the biggest loss, not only for Srinagar, but also for all artists who believe in the right to express themselves,” the spokesman said. Nearly 30 authors from the state and 20 from other parts of the country had been invited to the festival. |
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Funds for panchayats a joke: Chaman Lal
Jammu, August 30 Commenting upon the statements of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the eve of Eid, Gupta said sermons were good on such religious occasions but these needed to be translated into practice. “It sounds strange that there is much talk about the empowerment of panchayats but the political will seems to be guided by separation, which, of course, is infected by communal thinking,” he said. |
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Langer is general secy of Mahajan sabha
Jammu, August 30 On his election, Langer thanked all the participants of the conference and assured them that he would work with dedication for the development of the community. Langer has been the secretary and general secretary of the Jammu Central Mahajan Sabha. He has also worked as the zonal president (J&K) of the
ABMSS. — TNS |
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Students hold rally against Ashutosh Maharaj’s visit
Jammu, August 30 The protesting students alleged that the “god-man” now wanted to hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikhs and the Hindus and, therefore, his entry into the state should be banned. Meanwhile, a representative of Ashutosh Maharaj, Sadhvi Tripda of the Divya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan, started a satsang at the Hari Temple at Rehari this evening. It may be stated here that Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma had told The Tribune that none would be allowed to disturb peace in the temple city. |
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Forum extends support to evacuee tenants
Jammu, August 30 A meeting of the forum held here today under the chairmanship of its chairman, Inderjeet Khajuria, to prepare a plan to press their demands for conferring ownership rights on long-time tenants, on the property under their occupation for the last five decades. They further demanded that their cases should be solved under the Roshni Act, under which ownership rights were being granted to the leaseholders of Nazool and other government lands. |
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CMO suspends five Doda officials
Kishtwar, August 30 The CMO inspected the health centres at Pranoo, Bhalla, Dradu, Gatha and Bhaderwah and found medical officer Suhail Anjum, senior pharmacist Girdhari Lal and other officials, Parveen Begum, Mumta Devi and Indra Devi, absent from duty. Taking a serious note, the CMO placed the absentee officials under suspension and issued show-cause notices to them. The CMO also ordered that pending the enquiry, the salary dues of all the absentee staff should be
withheld. Directions were also issued to all the doctors and paramedics to be punctual at their respective places of posting. |
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Srinagar, August 30
Jammu, August 30