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Keep off politicians, J-K cops told
Residents stop dumping of waste at Kangryl
Jammu Municipal Corporation vehicles loaded with garbage stand at the JMC yard near Dogra Chowk
in Jammu on Monday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh |
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Flashback
Fake job offer
Disillusioned panch returns to work at sawmill
Ram Lal, a panch from ward number 3 of the Khandwal panchayat constituency at a sawmill near Jewel Chowk, in Jammu on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh
Hunt on for Jammu varsity’s new VC
Seminar on disaster management
Deweeding continues even as Dal freezes
Artistes perform during a cultural festival in Katra
on Tuesday. Photo by writer
Website to ‘check’ conversion of J-K youth to Christianity
Governor, Omar mourn Khajuria’s death
Panun Kashmir holds a series of meetings
Cases registered
State govt to promote eco-tourism
Two cement factories closed in Valley
RTI activists demand Act in Hindi, Urdu
Budshah Theatre Fest to start on Dec 29
Man found murdered in Katra
Protest against corruption
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Keep off politicians, J-K cops told
Jammu, December 27 Highly placed sources told The Tribune that senior police officers, including SSPs, SPs and deputy SPs have been snubbed by their bosses for leakage of an official document to the media which states that a former Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Domana was allegedly warned of dire consequences by Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma, for helping a woman in securing two kanals of land at Lower Muthi area. “The police officials have been snubbed for leakage of a confidential document to the media. They have been passed on verbal directions not to make any written complaint against politicians in the near future. Their job is to ensure good policing and not to indulge in politics,” sources said. Sources added that the cops have also been asked to stay away from politics. “The cops have categorically been asked to focus on their job and not indulge in any kind of politics. They have been asked to leave politics for politicians and their job should be ensuring security and better policing to the people,” they said. Official sources said that the matter also came under discussion during a high-level meeting of senior police officers in border district Samba yesterday. The meeting was chaired by Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani. The DGP Kuldeep Khoda, ADG law and order, K Rajendra, ADG, Headquarters, SP Vaid and Inspector General, Jammu Zone, Dilbagh Singh were also present at the meeting. “The cops also came under fire for making an ‘absurd report’ and its leakage to media houses, mentioning the name of a Cabinet minister. The cops have been directed in strong words to stay away from politics,” sources added. On October 21, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu Anand Jain had shot off a letter to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Jammu-Kathua range with a copy to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Dilbagh Singh, maintaining that the Minister for Health had directed the former SDPO Domana not to ‘interfere’ in the matter pertaining to the two kanals at Lower Muthi area. The state government has already ordered an inquiry by a panel headed by the Principal Secretary to Government Home Department BR Sharma to look into the circumstances leading to the filing of a report by the SSP Jammu, naming a Cabinet minister. The inquiry would also probe as to how an official communication was leaked to the press.
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Residents stop dumping of waste at Kangryl
Jammu, December 27 After the completion of ultimatum period of seven days on Saturday, the residents of Bhalwal did not allow JMC vehicles to enter their area. The locals showed red signal to about 40 JMC vehicles loaded with municipal waste on Monday, when they tried to enter Bhalwal. Bhalwal Joint Action Committee member Raj Dev Singh said, “They (JMC officials) tried to enter our area again but we foiled the attempt. I talked to the Deputy Chief Minister on phone and asked him to keep his words. We have kept a strict vigil and would never allow dumping at Kangryl again.” On Tuesday, the JMC officials had to face wrath of the locals at Bhagwati Nagar, alongside Tawi river, while the JMC vehicles were being unloaded there. “JMC officials were trying to dump the city waste in the wee hours here. But we were already alert in the wake of apprehensions that after being opposed by Bhalwal people, they would again try to use the space in our vicinity,” said a resident of Bhagwati Nagar. Eyewitnesses told The Tribune that later, in the afternoon, JMC officials again made an attempt to empty their vehicles at Bhagwati Nagar but infuriated residents living in hamlets there, forced them to stop the dumping. As an outcome of the protests, all the vehicles loaded with city waste were seen standing at JMC’s yard at Jewel Chowk. Sources from JMC revealed that the situation had turned quite upsetting for the management, which has been facing immense political pressure to find a suitable place. “There are some suitable spots but JMC could not develop any dumping grounds there as the majority of the land there is possessed by influential people including politicians,” said an insider, preferring anonymity. Experts however claimed that if the situation prevailed, there was probability of breaking out of some epidemic. the JMC officials were ready to comment.
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Flashback
Jammu, December 27 In 2011, nine students from Jammu and Kashmir cracked the IAS examination. For the first time in the state’s history, a woman topped KAS exams. “Do not simply follow the footsteps of others; always carve out your own path” is the success mantra that Syed Sehrish Asghar, the first-ever woman topper in the Jammu and Kashmir civil services examination shares. Sehrish has created history by being the first woman in the militancy-hit state to top the KAS examination. Having completed her MBBS in 2009, Sehrish feels it was her attitude and self-confidence that led her to feel she was fit for administrative jobs. Thus, she started preparing for the KAS exam during her internship in 2010. “Rather than simply following the footsteps of others, self-actualisation is the process that actually makes success happen. I realised it in my college days that I have the aptitude for an administrative job, so I made up my mind to prepare for KAS examinations,” says Sehrish. Like Sehrish, there is another girl from Jammu, Tanya Gupta, a singer by profession, who has created a niche for herself. With her participation in the closing ceremony of the Asiad 2010 in China, she broke into a new league. Tanya was selected along with singer Ravi Tripathi to perform at the Asian Games closing ceremony on November 27, 2010. She is indeed going places. Having performed at the Asian Business Awards in Abu Dhabi in November and the Navy Ball Awards this month, she is likely to perform alongside Sonu Nigam at a New Year celebrations function in New Delhi. Tanya feels Jammu has a lot of potential, but it needs proper exposure. “We represent our state at the national and international levels. It is now the turn of the state to reciprocate and do something good for the upcoming artists,” says Tanya. IAS officer Aijaz Farazi, an IITian who cracked IAS exams in 2011, feels the youth of Jammu and Kashmir is doing well at both the national and international platforms. Lt Sushil Khajuria Twentysix-year-old Lt Sushil Khajuria of 18 Grenadiers attained martyrdom on September 28 while fighting and killing three dreaded Pakistani militants at Nailauuthkul forest in Kiran sector in Kupwara. The young Army officer from Jammu attained martyrdom and became an icon for youth. Many are demanding an Ashoka Chakra for Lt Sushil, who is now a household name in Jammu. |
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Fake job offer
Jammu, December 27 The girl said that she received an interview proposal through e-mail message on her account maintaining that a company namely Marks & Spencer wanted to interview her for the post of Product/Quality Research and Analyst for Central London Zone. “Upon this inducement, she sent her resume and thereafter she was interviewed eight times by a lady namely Samltha Johnson on hot mail voicechat system. After that, she was called for face-to-face interview to New Delhi, where she was interviewed by two persons namely Mike Houndini and Siyal Dass in Hotel Crown Plaza Lobby, New Delhi on July 20, 2009,” the spokesperson said. On July 30, 2009, she received an e-mail with a soft copy of relevant documents from the Marks and Spencer PLC London for her engagement on contract package as Sales Manager, the spokesperson said, adding, “Accordingly, she signed all the contract documents and sent the scanned copies of the originals to the company on the same e-mail ID. “She made a huge payment in two instalments through SBI. On August 21, 2009, they sent her health and travel insurance clearance form asking her to fill the same and send back to them alongwith payment of Rs 1,32,000. This demand created doubt in her mind regarding the genuineness of the company and on inquiries, she found that she had been cheated,” the spokesperson maintained. |
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Disillusioned panch returns to work at sawmill
Jammu, December 27 However, Ram Lal resumed work at the same sawmill near Jewel Chowk, where he operates machines, which cut and process logs. The work fetches him Rs 5,000 every month. As the government has not fulfilled its promise to devolve powers to the panchayats, a disenchanted Ram Lal today says the panchayat elections were just an eyewash. According to him the elected representatives and village aspirations were not part of the ongoing development process. Ram Lal was elected as a panch of ward number 3 in Khandwal panchayat constituency, 8 km from Gandhi Nagar. A majority of youths in the Dalit village, which Ram Lal represents, work in factories or as labourers at construction sites or do some other menial jobs, as the villagers have small landholdings. “If I do not work at the sawmill, how will I support my family? The state government does not give any remuneration to panches and sarpanches,” he said. “When I decided to contest the election, I thought I would make people aware of the various government schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Indira Awas Yojana and pension schemes for the aged, widows and disabled,” he said. He added, “A panch has no say in the functioning of the administration. The Rural Development Department is constructing lanes in the village, but I was not taken into confidence by the work executing agencies and the department.” “Last year the Irrigation Department despite many representations by villagers did not remove sand and sludge form the canals. The villagers did it themselves,” he said and added, “The canals need to be repaired, but the authorities concerned are not paying any heed. There are so many issues, which make me feel helpless.” “The road is in a bad shape. The community hall is in a shambles. The local middle school at the village needs to be upgraded….the village has been facing a shortage of drinking water and electricity,” he said. He added, “If these issues get properly addressed only then can we think about creating employment avenues for unemployed youth at the village level.” “The government does not want to part with power,” he added. |
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Hunt on for Jammu varsity’s new VC
Jammu, December 27 Sources said the committee would interact with the shortlisted candidates and other authorities, after which it is likely to submit the names of three or five shortlisted candidates for the final selection to the Governor NN Vohra, who is also Chancellor of JU. The committee has shortlisted 10 candidates, of which six are locals and there is probability of someone else who was never in the race, being selected, sources added. During the visit here, the committee would interact with the shortlisted candidates and other stakeholders, including representatives of Jammu University Teachers Association (JUTA) and Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA). A JU Professor told The Tribune, “They (committee members) will interact with the shortlisted candidates and other stakeholders during their visit in the first week of January. But they have not yet finalised any name. People are spreading rumours only to project the candidates of their lobby.” Asked about probability of any local getting a chance this time, he said that nothing could be stated at the moment as the process was still underway, although it has reached the final stage. “Nobody can assert anything till the proceedings are completed. No doubt the committee has shortlisted 10 candidates, but still, the final component of the selection is ahead,” he added. The outgoing VC Prof Varun Sahni completed his tenure on December 8 and the search committee is already on the job looking for the new vice-chancellor of JU. About 67 applications have been received for the post.
They (committee members) will interact with the shortlisted candidates and other stakeholders during their visit in the first week of January. But they have not yet finalised any name. People are spreading rumours only to project the candidates of their lobby. — A University of Jammu Professor |
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Seminar on disaster management
Srinagar, December 27 While taking cognizance of recent media reports about earthquake all the participants said that instead of panic reaction, it is always better that we prepare ourselves for any natural calamity in an organized manner. Senior officers of the civil and police administration including Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir attended the seminar. Speaking on the occasion, the Divisional Commission said that there has been a paradigm shift in disaster management from rescue, relief and rehabilitation to planning, preparedness and mitigation. He said that the disaster management training should not be made an occasional ritual but needs to be mainstreamed. He said that the subject should be taught from primary to post-graduate level. He said that a full-fledged disaster management department and an Institute for Disaster Management needs to be put in place for which we need a legislation which is under the active consideration of the government. Samoon said that the government was considering training panches and sarpanch in disaster management too. Samoon said that a must for better and organized disaster management is coordination among the line departments. |
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Deweeding continues even as Dal freezes
Srinagar, December 27 In order to restore its pristine glory, the authorities this year removed 1,15,000 cum of wet weed from the Dal Lake. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand toured the interiors of the lake to review the developmental projects yesterday, where he said 1,15,000 cum of wet weed had been removed
from the lake. He said the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority under the conservation programme of the Dal Lake had procured two water-master classic lake cleaning machines, two weed harvesters, one sewer cleaning machine, one tractor with six trolleys and three tippers. Tara Chand instructed the officers concerned to take samples of water from different spots and get it tested at various testing laboratories so that the pollution level in different parts of the water body could be properly assessed. He said the work on two sewage treatment plants at Brari-Numbal and Nullah Amir Khan would be completed soon. Regarding the rehabilitation of Dal dwellers, the minister said 500 plots located in the Rakh-i-Arth area here were ready
for allotment. Meanwhile, the peripheries of the Dal Lake have partially frozen in view of the cold wave conditions in the Valley. The Deputy Chief Minister also instructed the
officials concerned for early completion of pavements and parapet walls around the lake. |
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Cultural fest to showcase heritage of Trikuta Hills
Katra, December 27 Organised by Natrang, Jammu, under the direction of Balwant
Thakur, the show features the rare performing heritage of the hills of the Shri Mata Vaishno
Devi. In his inaugural address, Dr Mandeep Bhandari spoke about the Spiritual Growth
Centre, which was inaugurated by the President of India on November 26, 2011. The cultural show of the Trikuta Hills of the Shri Mata Vaishno
Devi, which was inaugurated here today would be presented four times everyday and would continue till January 5, 2012. The objective of the show is to portray the rich cultural traditions of the hills of the Mata Vaishno Devi to the visiting pilgrims. The SMVDSB has taken an initiative to document the dying traditional performing heritage of these hills. The effort would not only preserve and document it, but help promote the heritage in a big way. We are about to touch the one crore mark of pilgrims at the year end and this will be yet another attraction for the pilgrims. Today’s programme featured seven different items, which included
Bhakh, Karkan, Kud, Jagrana and Gojri performances. Deputy CEO Rishpal Singh, Director of the Spiritual Growth Centre SM Sahani and members of the Hotel and Travel Associations,
Katra, were also present on the occasion.
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Website to ‘check’ conversion of J-K youth to Christianity
Srinagar, Decémber 27 The website, www.tahafuzeiman.org, was launched by the Mirwaiz in his capacity as the president of Muttaheda Majlis Ulema (United Council of Scholars). Addressing the gathering of Islamic scholars and preachers, the Mirwaiz stressed the need to use technology and modern equipment for "countering conversion attempts". Last month, a pastor was arrested on charges of converting seven Kashmiri youths to Christianity after its video clip went viral on social networking sites. Following an outcry, Muslim leaders got together under the banner of MMU and launched a campaign against conversions in Kashmir. Mirwaiz also said that while the Islamic system of Baitul Maal (community fund) needed to be strengthened, serious efforts have to be made for introduction of Islamic banking in Kashmir. — PTI
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Governor, Omar mourn Khajuria’s death
Jammu, December 27 In his condolence message, the Governor expressed sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul. The Chief Minister also conveyed his condolences to Khajuria’s family. Cabinet ministers, legislators and leaders of various political parties, including Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin
Jora, Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmed Khan, Minister for Revenue Raman
Bhalla, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Qamar Ali
Akhoon, Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo, political adviser to the Chief Minister Devender Singh
Rana, CPM general secretary MY Tarigami, MLCs Bashir Ahmad Veeri and Naresh Kumar Gupta, former minister and Congress in-charge in Punjab Gulchain Singh Charak and JKNPP chairman Bhim Singh have also condoled the demise of
Khajuria.
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Panun Kashmir holds a series of meetings
Jammu, December 27 Addressing a public meeting today at Muthi, Dr Agnishekhar convener Panun Kashmir emphasized on the fact that establishment of a separate homeland for 7 lakh Kashmiri Pandits is the only way of addressing the core issue of genocide and exodus. Panun Kashmir is holding programmes over the fortnight all over the globe in 2012 to commemorate the Margh-Darshan divas. In this connection, the first International Kashmiri Pandit Youth Conference is going to be organised at Pune on January 7 and 8, 2012.
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Cases registered
Srinagar, December 27 The cases were registered against Walayat Wazir, then General Manager of the JKPCC; Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, then Deputy General Manager of the JKPCC Unit VI, Srinagar; Ishfaq Ahmad Zarger, Deputy General Manager of the JKPCC Unit XI, Kulgam; Sunil Kumar Wanchoo, then Deputy General Manager of the JKPPC Unit II, Srinagar; Ab Rashid Mir, Accounts Officer; Mohammad Amin Dar, Jr Assistant of the JKPCC Unit, Kulgam and brick supplier Ab Rahim Rather. Further investigations into the case are on.
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State govt to promote eco-tourism
Jammu, December 27 "We are currently
working on several projects to promote eco-tourism in the state," minister for forest and environment Mian Altaf Ahmad said after a meeting with officials of his department today. "We have wildlife sanctuaries, spread over 16,000 square km and a forest cover of 20,230 km, all of which needs to be exploited optimally," he said. Kashmir, Jammu, Kargil and Leh have been identified as potential regions to promote eco-tourism, Ahmad said. Eco-tourism would also help generate employment for youth in various districts, he said.
— PTI
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Two cement factories closed in Valley
Srinagar, December 27 The on-the-spot orders were passed by the State Pollution Control Board Regional Director, Kashmir, Ali Mohammad Dar, during an inspection when the units were found without adequate pollution control devices, an official spokesman said. The factories, which were ordered to be closed are JK Cements and Ittefaq Cements. Both the factories were asked to immediately stop work. The Regional Director also asked several stone crusher units to install pollution control devices to minimise pollution.
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RTI activists demand Act in Hindi, Urdu
Jammu, December
27 In a joint press statement issued here today, Sangarsh RTI Group and Kshitij Foundation activists expressed serious reservations against the state government for not fulfilling its assurance made on the floor of the state Assembly during the Budget 2010-11 sessions in response to the queries of four
MLAs. However, the activists congratulated the State Information Commission for taking several steps to promote transparency laws.
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Budshah Theatre Fest to start on Dec 29
Jammu, December 27 Addressing a press conference, Bhawani said the festival was aimed at building an indigenous national theatre movement in the state, besides encourage theatre dialogue among all the regions of the state so that theatre experiences could be shared. He said nine plays in Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi would be showcased in the festival, which would conclude on January 7, 2012.
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Man found murdered in Katra
Katra, December 27 Bodh Raj, lambardar of the village, said there was a rumour among the villagers that Talib (20), younger brother of
the Gulam Rasool was having an illicit relationship with the wife of his elder brother for the past 3 to 4 years. The injury marks on the body of the man indicated that someone has stabbed him on the throat, the police said. The police has registered a case and arrested some suspected persons in this connection.
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Protest against corruption
Jammu, December 27 The protest has been organised in collaboration with anti-corruption crusader Anna
Hazare, who has started a fast in Mumbai. “We urge upon parliamentarians in general to support the Jan Lokpal Bill proposed by the Team Anna and make a strong Bill possible in Parliament. They should support the Lokpal Bill and not come under any pressure,” a resolution passed by the organisation said.
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Worker dies in Kulgam
Srinagar, December 27 A case has been registered in this regard. |
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BSF jawan run over by train
Jammu, December 27 |
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There seems no end to the biggest trouble of Jammu Municipal Corporation as again, its vehicles loaded with city waste have been seen moving on roads in search of a dumping ground.
Despite promises govt did not devolve powers to the panchayats
