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It’s not less than a murder, says Omar
Cong leaders camp in Delhi amid speculation of Cabinet reshuffle
Lift cross-border travel restrictions, says Rather
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‘Bhakh’ glorifies natural beauty, culture of Trikuta hills
Kashmir bandh called against power crisis
Vigil intensified along Kathua border ahead of Punjab poll
Reports of stone throwing being probed: DIG
Cops among 42 fined for smoking at public places
Governor for speedy completion of project
Work on Lambi-Jora road delayed for want of forest clearance
Governor for extending outreach of EDI
Gurdwara panel praises govt depts, devotees
Janta Party protests prescription fee hike
Govt decision hailed
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Student’s Killing in Baramulla Firing
The Chief Minister said justice would be given to the bereaved family at all costs. He described Altaf’s killing as “not less than a murder” and assured his family of severe punishment to the guilty. “The circumstances of his (Altaf) death are tragic, shocking and inexcusable,” Omar tweeted after visiting the bereaved family. “Even if we have to move court or take course to law to punish the CISF personnel behind the killing of Altaf Ahmad, we would do so, positively,” he said while talking to the deceased’s family. Omar held that the loss of a young life was highly unfortunate and it gave deep sorrow to the bereaved family and the public as well. “When a precious life is lost in such circumstances in which Altaf Ahmad was killed, it is all the more pain giving,” he said expressing his heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family. The visit to the remote village was only to console the bereaved family, Omar said and assured the people that Altaf’s killers would not be allowed to go scot-free. “I have not come here for any other purpose but to meet Altaf’s family, which lost its dear one in the firing incident yesterday. I have come to express my deep sorrow to the bereaved family and share their gloom and grief,” he said. The loss of a young person was of great pain not only for the family but also to all, he added. “We stand by the family at this juncture,” he said. Minister for Public Health and Engineering Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani and DGP Kuldeep Khoda accompanied the Chief Minister. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and leaders of various parties also visited Altaf’s house. Mehbooba described Altaf’s killing as part of government terror and said such incidents were aimed at preventing people from protesting even for basic amenities. She was addressing a public gathering at Boniyar. “The use of brute force by the government is to muzzle the voice of people, who are suffering unprecedented problems as a result of mis-governance,” she said. Mehbooba said the coalition government had been using force to scare people from day one with the objective of preventing an uprising against its misrule. The elimination of NC worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf last year was part of the same strategy to ensure that no body dared to talk about corruption in the government or corrupt practices of the Abdullah family, she said. “The killing of 120 youth in 2010 was a message written in blood to a generation not to speak up for their democratic rights under the NC rule,” she added. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz has also condemned Altaf’s killing. He expressed deep anguish and termed the incident as unfortunate and highly deplorable. He asked the state administration to inquire into the incident and punish those responsible for the firing incident. CPM state secretary and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami termed the CISF firing on peaceful demonstrators as unfortunate and uncalled for and sought an immediate end to such killings. “This is an attack on the democratic right of the people to protest peacefully,” Tarigami said in a statement. He demanded an investigation into the incident to punish the culprits. |
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Cong leaders camp in Delhi amid speculation of Cabinet reshuffle
Jammu, January 3 Sources said the reshuffle was likely to be take place in the third week of this month and the Congress was in the process of finalising the names of some new leaders to be inducted into the Cabinet. Soz, who has been camping in Delhi, has held detailed discussions with the party high command as well as All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Mohan Parkash, who is the in-charge of the party affairs in Jammu and Kashmir. As the Congress high command has directed the local leadership not to rake up the issue of rotation of chief ministership before the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the latter was stressing that the party quota of ministerial berths should be filled. The sources said the local leadership wanted that it should be given three berths because one berth of the party quota had been lying vacant since former Roads and Building Minister GM Saroori was sacked. They said Soz had been trying to accommodate his loyalists in the Cabinet while his detractors, who owed allegiance to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, were also trying to make good of the opportunity. Not only MLAs, even some members of the Legislative Council were also trying for ministerial berths. All Congress MLAs from the Doda belt comprising three districts are busy in hectic lobbying for ministerial berths as there is no minister in the Cabinet from the area. Saroori, who was forced to resign in August 2010 after the name of his daughter figured in the MBBS impersonation case, also belongs to the Doda belt. The sources said the Congress leadership was also seriously thinking of changing portfolios of some ministers because the high command was
not happy with their performances. They said Soz would arrive in Jammu on January 6 and inform his loyalists about his deliberations with the high command regarding the impending Cabinet reshuffle. |
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Lift cross-border travel restrictions, says Rather
Jammu, January 3 “People living on two sides of the border have a deep yearning for peace and want to remove the man-made barriers,” Rather said after releasing the Urdu and Hindi versions of Pahari film “Lakeer” here today. He requested the governments of both countries to explore the possibility of lifting visa, permit and passport restrictions permanently for free travel across the border. The minister said the people in the two countries were geographically and culturally akin to each other. He added the six decades of Partition could not remove their emotional, cultural and linguistic attachments. “Time has come for rulers of both countries to ponder over the hardships of the people and remove the travel restrictions,” he added. Rather said intentions of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard were clear and he had even constituted a separate group to look into the issue. He added the rulers of Pakistan, too, should reciprocate in a positive manner. The minister said during his visits to Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) to participate in conferences, he had observed that the people there felt the same pain due to Partition as the people in India and Jammu and Kashmir felt. “Many people have died without meeting their families and mothers have lost their eyesight waiting to see their sons,” Rather said. Rather advocated free travel across the border and said the people would get to see various advancements when they visited their families and loved ones on the other side. |
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‘Bhakh’ glorifies natural beauty, culture of Trikuta hills
Katra, January 3 Bhakh is sung in a chorus style by a group of six to seven singers without using any musical instrument. Primarily a narrative, most of the texts sung by singers glorify the natural beauty of the hills and the cultural lifestyle of its residents. They also narrate some parts of the mythology of Mata Vaishno Devi. The important feature of the form is that all singers use different musical notes while singing. They shut their ears with fingers to avoid following each other. For researchers and scholars, this unique singing tradition, which is found only in the Trikuta hills, is a matter of great research, articulation and finding. Today’s style of Bhakh singing came from Bakkal village of Reasi District, which was performed by the artistes of the Hari Saran Cultural Centre, Bakkal. The Bhakh singers, who kept the audience spellbound included Baldev Raj Sharma, Shaftan Singh, Balwant Singh, Dhani Ram, Balwan Singh and Balwant Raj. |
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Kashmir bandh called against power crisis
Srinagar, January 3
Not just the common man but the business community too has been hit hard because of the power crisis,” KEA chairman Mohammad Yasin Khan said while addressing a press conference here today.
Incidentally, the last bandh call of the KEA against the new Value Added Tax (VAT) return forms on August 9 last year had paralysed normal life in the Valley. Khan contested the government claim that the Valley was being supplied 950 MW this winter and said, “The claim is wrong as we (Kashmir) are only getting 350 MW due to transmission and distribution (T&D) losses.” KEA general secretary Siraj Ahmad demanded a White Paper on the “misuse” of water resources of the state. “The government has to come out with a White Paper as the power resources are being misused. We have a capacity of generating 25,000 MW, but due to the wrong policies of the government we have not been able to make a proper use of our resources,” he said. Siraj also demanded the rollback of hike in power tariffs and the review of the power cut schedule that was announced by the Power Development Department (PDD) recently. The KEA condemned the killing of a youth by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel during protests against power shortage at Boniyar in Uri in Baramulla district yesterday. Incidentally, the government has already come under fire from various quarters, including the PDP, moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference and the civil society, over the erratic power supply this winter. |
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Move to check drug smuggling
“Though the Punjab elections don’t have a direct bearing on the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir, we have intensified vigil along the Kathua-Punjab border, as there are inputs that smugglers could transport a huge quantity of narcotics during the Assembly elections in the neighbouring state,” the IGP told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. He said the areas bordering Punjab had always remained vulnerable to smuggling of narcotics and intoxicants. “Last year was a perfect example of narcotic smuggling when the state police had affected a record recovery of narcotics and intoxicants from Kathua district, particularly along areas bordering Punjab,” he said. The IGP, however, didn’t spell out the figures relating to the recovery of narcotics and intoxicants in 2011. Asked about the possible terror threat in the Jammu region, he said two accused of the Delhi High Court blast and 30 other most-wanted militants were still active across the region. “Normalcy has been restored to a great extent in almost every mountainous district of the region. Reports suggest that 32 militants belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Toiba, including two Delhi blast accused Junaid and Jahangir, are still active in the region,” the IGP said. He, however, added the security agencies had achieved a great success in eliminating top commanders of militants last year. “In the beginning of 2011, there were 80 militants active in Jammu. Forty-eight militants, including 11 top commanders of the LeT and the Hizbul Mujahideen, were eliminated in major operations last year, while 32 were still active in the region. This number could differ with different security agencies,” he said. “Mountainous Ramban and Reasi districts have already been declared militancy-free zones, but a few militants still exist in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar districts,” the IGP said. He added, “The police and other security agencies are working in synergy and full coordination to locate the hideouts of these militants.” He also claimed that 2011 also turned out to be great as far as the law and order situation was concerned. “There was no major law and order problem in 2011 and we got an overwhelming support from the people in maintaining normalcy and peace in the region. We are hopeful of restoring peace completely by the end of 2012,” he maintained. The IGP said an additional deployment of security personnel would be made in the region ahead of the ensuing Republic Day celebrations. |
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Reports of stone throwing being probed: DIG
Srinagar, January 3 The police is also looking into reports about stone throwing at CISF jawans, which led to the firing on the protesters, DIG, North Kashmir Range, Munir Khan told The Tribune. He said it was being alleged that a group of youth pelted stones at the CISF personnel guarding the gate of the NHPC-run power project. “We are also looking into these allegations,” Khan said. He added the reports suggested that two CISF jawans came out of the project premises and opened fire on the protesters. “That is why we have arrested five CISF personnel and further investigations are going on,” he said. Khan said a “splinter group” of protesters demonstrated outside the NHPC project and firing by the CISF jawans followed. Protests had taken place before the firing incident and the SDM concerned had called the representatives of the protesters for a meeting at his office to resolve the issue. Though the meeting was going on, the splinter group protested outside the NHPC project, provoking firing by the CISF jawans, the DIG said. He added all aspects of the incident were being investigated. |
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Cops among 42 fined for smoking at public places
Srinagar, January 3 The fine was realised after the anti-tobacco squad raided the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital, Chest Diseases, Lal Ded and GB Panth hospitals and the Engineering Complex at Rajbagh here. A total of Rs 3,040 was collected as fine. Another squad caught 17 persons smoking at public places at Magam in Budgam district and recovered a fine of Rs 1,370. Two traffic constables and one assistant sub-inspector were also fined for smoking publicly during a traffic awareness rally here. Deputy Controller, Drug and Food Control Organisation, Nazir Ahmed has urged the general public, particularly the drivers and conductors of passenger vehicles, to desist from smoking at public places as it has been banned by the court. He said the drive against tobacco would continue till all public places were got rid of the menace. |
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Udhampur-Baramulla Rail Link
Jammu, January 3 The Governor stressed the importance of completing the vital project within envisaged time frame, as the rail link would have a huge impact on the economy of the state. Garg briefed the Governor about the status of the construction of various components of the project, measures being taken to speed up the work on the project and its likely completion, thereof. The Governor discussed with Garg the downstream implications of 75 to 80 lakh Vaishno Devi pilgrims, de-boarding at the Katra railway station from March 2013 onwards. He stressed the importance of effective cooperation between the Railways and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Garg agreed to an early consultative meeting involving officials concerned from both
sides. |
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Work on Lambi-Jora road delayed for want of forest clearance
Udhampur, January 3 These roads are being constructed under the Centrally-sponsored Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) scheme and the state Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department. Besides giving a boost to socio-economic development, the road connectivity in these hilly and mountainous areas will also help the people to get medical facilities on time. The work on the 4.6-km Parna-Bunda road under the PMGSY, in the high altitude Chatroo area of Kishtwar district, affecting about 500 people has also been stalled. “We have been pursuing the case with the Forest Department since last year and work was held up, as 300 m of forest land came in the way,” said an official, requesting anonymity. Another official in Ramban district said for a year now they had been waiting for the sanction to start work on five important PMGSY roads of 53 km length. These included Batote-Chakwa, Dalwas-Sauni-Karma, Shampa-Dhaino, Dhaino-Papriah and Ukhral-Dingara roads. Widening of the 8.5 km Bhala-Malothi road, affecting about 5,000 people in the Bhadarwah area was also held up and awaiting forest clearance for the past six months. Minister for Forest and Environment Mian Altaf Ahmad had said the forest authorities had been given directions at a high-level meeting held in Jammu to accord expeditious clearance to road projects in the remote and inaccessible areas, without compromising on environmental concerns for the benefit of the people. Any unnecessary delay amounted to injustice to people of these areas, he had added. |
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Governor for extending outreach of EDI
Jammu, January 3 The Governor said this after discussing the implementation of various schemes by the EDI with Director, EDI, MI Parray to build capacities and enable the trained youth to set up their own ventures. He suggested to Parray to explore the possibility of unemployed engineering graduates of the state setting up a construction company. The EDI could mentor the construction works of various government departments taken up by the company. Other matters that came up for discussion during the meeting included the implementation of the schemes under the Seed Capital Fund, the National Minorities Development, the Finance Corporation and other activities undertaken by the EDI. Parray also briefed the Governor about the pace of construction work on a hostel building and other development infrastructure of the institute.
— TNS |
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Play stresses socio-political dilemma in Kashmir
Jammu, January 3 Masoom Ramzan had scripted and directed the play. It was based on two mythological characters Soda and Boda. They set on a journey, but on the way meet a rat (a symbolic character of a corrupt politician), who due to his greedy nature befriends them to achieve his goal. The rat manages to motivate both of them to vote for him and make him the ruler of the human race. After achieving his goal, the rat plans to get rid of both Soda and Boda, fearing that they could expose his real identity to the people. Finally, both Soda and Boda manage to expose the rat by their wit and wisdom and also escape their death sentences. The cast of the play successfully highlighted the turbulence in the socio-political atmosphere in Kashmir. A sense of insecurity prevalent among the people of Kashmir was articulated through the act. Main actors of the play included Mushtaq Ahmad, Mohammad Shafi, Ghulam Hassan Lone, Abdus Samad Mir, Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, Mohammad Ramzan Lone, Ashiq Hussain, Nisar Ahmad, Ghulam Mohammad Wani and Masoom Ramzan. Ramzan told The Tribune, “The play is basically a symbolic satirical exposition of the socio-political dilemma prevailing in Kashmir. It shows when greed crosses all limits, it meets its logical end. Soda and Boda represent innocence, selflessness, goodwill, betterment and public welfare. The rat represents selfishness, greed, evil and curse, which ultimately has to perish.” |
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Army holds New Year charity
Udhampur, January 3 Brigade Commander Brig V Rajamani D and his wife presented gifts, prizes and sports kits to 28 girls and 54 boys. They extended New Year greetings to all of them. Brig Rajamani educated them about imbibing good habits and maintaining health. All officers and their wives of the Brigade were present at the function and they interacted with the staff and inmates of both social welfare institutions. |
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Parkash Utsav celebrations
Jammu, January 3 Mohinder Singh, president of the DGPC, told mediapersons that, “We thank the Sikh sangat for their huge participation in the functions. We also thank the Municipality, the Public Health Engineering Department, the police and the state administration for providing services during the functions.” |
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Janta Party protests prescription fee hike
Jammu, January 3 The state government has hiked the prescription fee of the OPD from Rs 2 to Rs 5 and the admission file charges from Rs 5 to Rs 10. Dabgotra said, “The government has issued orders to hike the fee on the recommendation of the Medical Department. The Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, lacks all basic facilities. The only CT scan machine is not functional.”
— TNS |
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Govt decision hailed
Jammu, January 3 He also demanded the implementation of the running pattern as per SRO 225 and upgrade of Higher Secondary Schools to Intermediate Colleges. Others present on the occasion included Charan Dass, Manmeet Bali, Ashwani Sharma and Narinder Sharma. |
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Srinagar, January 3
Jammu, January 3