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Action against ‘corrupt’ officials eyewash: Oppn
Doda, Kishtwar to get critical care ambulances soon
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Couple stage protest against brick-kiln owner
Teachers urge JU Chancellor to release arrears
Pak-trained militant’s children in police custody
Vigilance books former Municipal Commissioner, others
Oppn to take on govt over graft, bias against Jammu
MLAs expelled from BJP hit out at JKPCC chief
MOS (Home) calls on Governor
Now, Rather summoned by anti-corruption panel
Abdul Rather
Give surplus govt land to farm labourers: NC leader
Walk down memory lane for Omar
LeT militant killed in Sopore encounter
Floriculture Dept workers threaten agitation, burn minister’s effigy
Snowfall in upper reaches; NH closed
Yatri Niyas delegation meets Governor
Sikh body seeks DGPC elections
Court acquits accused in
fraud case
Delhi Police seizes Customs records
Cop dies in accidental fire
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Action against ‘corrupt’ officials eyewash: Oppn
Jammu, February 22 “Instead of targeting senior ministers who are facing corruption charges, the government has given premature retirement to some lower-level officials, including a lineman,” observed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman Rangil Singh. He said action of the government was total eye-wash. “This regime has lost its credibility so people of the state never take any action of the government seriously,” added Singh, a former minister. State secretary of the CPM MY Tarigami dubbed the action as “inadequate” and regretted that time and again the government had promised to take action against the big fish but nothing had been done so far. He said he would vociferously take up the issue in the coming budget session of the Assembly. Panthers Party state president and Udhampur MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, while ridiculing government’s action as “total fraud”, said more than 300 complaints of corruption had been pending but no action had been taken on those reports. “By taking action against lower rank officers, the government was trying to hush up the corruption cases at the higher level”, he said, pointing out that even the credibility of the Chief Minister was under a cloud because an inquiry was already going on against him. State secretary of the BJP Vivodh Gupta has termed the pre-mature retirement of lower level employees as complete eyewash and said the drama was enacted to save the big guns. He demanded sacking of all tainted ministers and termination of the services of deadwood in the bureaucracy to keep a check on corruption in the state. “We don’t expect any action from this government because a majority of the ministers are themselves involved in corruption,” he said. AMMUNITION FOR OPPOSITION The Opposition has reason to ridicule the government because 309 complaints of corruption against ministers, former ministers and bureaucrats have been pending for disposal before the Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission. These complaints pertain to corruption, misuse of power, bribery, misappropriation and illegal appointments. Of these complaints, 221 are pending with the Jammu wing of the Commission and 88 with the Srinagar wing According to official data, cases are also pending against 30 IAS officers, 20 IPS officers, 10 IFS officers, 4 former Chief Engineers and a former DGP |
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Doda, Kishtwar to get critical care ambulances soon
Udhampur, February 22 The announcement was made yesterday by Transport Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon during meetings with senior officials of both the districts. However, no such announcement was made for the neighbouring Ramban, another accident-prone district of the erstwhile Doda district. Meanwhile, no commitment was made regarding the delivery of these ambulances to the district administrations concerned. Stressing close coordination among the district administration, police and traffic officials for avoiding road accidents, the minister announced that the ambulance, which would also serve as rescue vehicles would be fitted with all the emergency medical apparatus, including a cardiac monitor, a ventilator, anaesthsia and ECG machines along with dedicated medical staff. The same would be put at the disposal of the district administration. A recent road accident in Gandoh tehsil of Doda district claimed 19 lives. Several critically injured persons have succumbed to their injuries in the past, in the absence of on the spot and timely medical aid. Sources said the step was likely to cause resentment in Ramban district, where eight persons were killed recently in two separate accidents. About 40 km stretch of the national highway between Ramban town and Banihal tehsil is highly vulnerable to road mishaps. The sources said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had recommended a similar ambulance for the sub-district hospital, Banihal, in Ramban district, during the meeting of the District Development Board held about a year ago. Nothing has been done on the ground so far, they added. |
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Couple stage protest against brick-kiln owner
Jammu, February 22 In a press release issued by the activist, it was claimed that 70 persons, including aged and infirm, hailing from Chhattisgarh had been forced to work at OMS Brick Kiln in Sunderbani. However, Dharamsal SHO Varinder Gupta denied the allegations and said prima facie the case did not seem to involve bonded labourers. “Of the total 44 families working there, only 12 have complained against the owner’s attitude. When we investigated the matter, six of the 12 families denied that they had complained against the owner.” “These people take money in advance. They are apparently blackmailing the owner of the brick kiln,” he added. Pyare Lal Diwakar, an activist from Chhattisgarh, came to know about the workers’ condition after they complained about the matter. He then approached the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, New Delhi. “Sitaram and Sohdrabai got out of the brick kiln feigning illness. The owner let them leave but he still has their children. He rarely lets anyone leave the place,” he claimed. “These 70 individuals are living under miserable conditions in the brick kiln and are paid just Rs 500-700 per month. The owner claims that these labourers owe him Rs 15 lakh in debt. All of them belong to the below poverty line category. Why would someone lend them such a big amount?” he added. |
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Teachers urge JU Chancellor to release arrears
Jammu, February 22 According to a handout, the appeal was made during the first general body meeting of the JUTA, which was held today in Brigadier Rajinder Singh Auditorium, JU. “We request the Pro-Chancellor to get the pay arrears of the teachers released at the earliest, before the closing of the financial year,” the press release stated. The meeting was lead by president Prof Dalip Singh Jamwal and attended by a number of university teachers, including vice-president of the JUTA Kavita Suri, general secretary Lalitsen Sharma, joint secretary Jaspal Singh Warwal and treasurer Madhulika
Bhagat.
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Pak-trained militant’s children in police custody
Jammu, February 22 The Commission observed that the three minor children should have been kept in a juvenile home instead of keeping them in police custody. “We came to know about the detention of the three minors through the media. We have sought details from the DGP, the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, and the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, on the detention of three minors,” member of the SHRC Javed Ahmed Kawoos told The Tribune. He said the police should have shifted them to juvenile home instead of keeping them in a police station. “We have asked the Police Department and the administration to explain how the minors were kept in a police station,” Kawoos said. On February 11, the police had claimed that it had arrested six persons, including two militants and three minors from a local hotel in the old Jammu city. The police had said the arrested persons were staying there (in old city) and had come from Pakistan via Nepal. The police added that the two militants were identified as Saleem Bhat and Nazir Ahmed, both residents of Budgam district, and had crossed over to Pakistan from the Line of Control (LoC) in 1995 for arms training. Bhat had got married to Ashma from Karachi in Pakistan. They have three children namely Shafwan Ahmed Bhat (7), Shoma Fayaz Bhat (6) and Hamza Ahmed Bhat (3). Sources said while Bhat and his wife were shifted to the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC), the minor children were kept in Women Cell, Canal road. “The police shift Ashma to the JIC for questioning during the morning hours and take her back to the Women Cell in the evening. The children wait for their mother till evening,” the sources added. “These minors were suffering in the police station for the last eight days. If their father has done some wrong, why are they paying for it?” a source said. The Supreme Court has directed all the states and Union Territories to set up juvenile homes to deal with children in conflict under the law. It has also said the police officers should produce the child before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) within 24 hours, if they (children) are caught doing any illegal act. |
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Illegal Grant of building permission
Jammu, February 22 On May 31, 2004, Mohan Lal Gupta had applied before the Chairman, Building Operation Controlling Authority, Municipal Corporation, Jammu, requesting permission to construct a commercial building on a piece of land bearing khasra No. 325 on the Maharaja Gulab Singh Marg. On August 4, 2005, Kailash Gupta sought permission to construct a commercial building on a piece of land bearing the same khasra number. However, the building permission in favour of the two was found illegally approved on December, 2009 by the Building Operations Controlling Authority. The order in this regard was issued by the Jammu Municipal Corporation on February 4, 2010 in Kailash Gupta and Mohan Lal Gupta’s favour in violation of the Master Plan. A revised plan was also found illegally approved in favour of the two by the Building Operations Controlling Authority on April 21, 2010 for raising construction on a joint application furnished by both applicants. A case under the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 and the RPC has been registered against Mubarak Singh, former Municipal Commissioner, Jammu, and others, including beneficiaries, in this regard. |
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Budget Session Begins Today
Jammu, February 22 The recent decisions of the “pro-active” Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission have also provided ammunition to the Opposition to take the government to task on the corruption issue. While the principal opposition party PDP is likely to create a ruckus in the Assembly over the mysterious death of National Conference (NC) worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf Shah, Jammu-based parties have been devising a strategy to jointly take on the Congress for its failure to check discrimination against the Jammu region. The budget session is going to start tomorrow and will conclude on March 30. Sensing trouble in the budget session, NC president Farooq Abdullah after attending the legislature party meeting, today appealed to the opposition parties not to disrupt the proceedings. “There should be a proper discussion on all issues. Nothing can be achieved by creating pandemonium in the Assembly,” he said. During the legislature party meeting, the ruling NC discussed the strategy to counter the Opposition in the Assembly. A meeting of the PDP legislature party was also held this evening in which the party decided to vociferously take up the issue of corruption in the Assembly. As recommendations of various commissions and committees, constituted by both state and Central governments from time to time, have been gathering dust, the opposition parties have also decided to exert pressure on the government to table these reports on the floor of the Assembly. Giving a hint that the issue of discrimination against Jammu would be vociferously taken up in the coming session, Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh said the discriminatory policies being propagated by the coalition have crossed all limits. “Various committees and commissions were constituted to inquire into the discrimination against the Jammu region but recommendations of these committees have yet to be implemented,” Singh said. Opposition parties will exert pressure on the government to table recommendations of Justice Sagheer Ahmed Committee reports, report of the Finance Commission as well as recommendations of the three interlocutors appointed by the Union Government. “The issue of discrimination is likely to dominate the coming session of the Assembly,” said BJP Legislature Party leader Jugal Kishore. He asserted that all pro-Jammu parties would jointly take on the government on the issue of regional imbalance in the state. “We will especially corner the Congress for remaining a mute spectator on the discriminatory policies being propagated by the coalition,” he added. Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA Ashwani Kumar disclosed that failure of the government to implement recommendations of the Wadhawa Commission report would also be highlighted in the Assembly. The party would also take up the issue of “step-motherly treatment with Jammu region”. Besides highlighting the discrimination issue, opposition parties are also devising a strategy to corner the government on the corruption issue. “It is obvious that corruption would be a major issue in the budget session,” said Harsh Dev Singh. Taing to be Dy Chairman of Legislative Council The National Conference on Wednesday said senior party leader and MLC M Y Taing would be the new Deputy Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council. The post of chairman has been allotted to the Congress. Elections of both chairman and deputy chairman are scheduled to be held on February 24. |
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MLAs expelled from BJP hit out at JKPCC chief
Jammu, February 22 Addressing a joint press conference, these MLAs pointed out that the recent statements of Congress leaders had lent credence to their allegations that some elements in the BJP were hand in glove with the Congress to weaken the pro-Jammu forces. The MLAs expelled from BJP took exception to Soz’s statement in which he has charged them with accepting money for cross-voting. “Soz has made this statement to defame our image and harm our reputation in the eyes of the public,” they said and challenged Soz to furnish a copy of the inquiry conducted by the BJP leadership in which it was established that they had accepted the money. |
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MOS (Home) calls on Governor
Jammu, February 22 Also, former Member of Parliament Janak Raj Gupta called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here this evening. The two discussed issues relating to less privileged communities in Jammu district. He also offered suggestions regarding improvement in the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage. Meanwhile, Javaid Ahmad Kawoos, member of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), met Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today. The Governor discussed with Kawoos various matters relating to the functioning of the SHRC. Kawoos offered several suggestions regarding the strengthening of the Commission’s functioning. |
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Now, Rather summoned by anti-corruption panel
Jammu, February 22 Taking cognisance of a complaint filed by the Yuva Shakti Vikas Mission, the JKSAC, an autonomous anti-graft panel, felt that serious allegations levelled against the Finance Minister deserved a regular inquiry under Section 9 of the Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission Act, 2002. “Against Rather it has been alleged in the complaint that he gave a contract worth Rs 2 crore to his son in respect of preparing smart cards for the Secretariat employees in gross violation of codal formalities to shower huge and illegal benefits upon him... even when he is not qualified to run such a project,” reads a portion of the six-page observation of the panel. Subsequently, the government in its response submitted that the project for the preparation of bio-matrix-based attendance monitoring system through smart cards was allotted to J&K Bank, which after a due process finalised three vendors, namely Venture Infotech, Infotek Software and Systems Private Ltd and Eaten Power Quality Private Ltd, for implementing the project. Accordingly, J&K Bank is implementing the project and an MoU has to be signed between the government and the bank for installation and post-warranty annual maintenance for a period of three years. An amount of Rs 24,82,061 has already been released to J&K Bank for the purpose, which is the full cost of the project, stated the government. According to the bank, third party agencies, namely Infotek Software and Systems Private Ltd, Highway Enterprises, Munix Electricals, Dask Power for UPS and Lotus Technologies, were assigned the job of executing various activities of the project. The bank further stated that it had also finalised and signed an MoU with the Information Technology Department of the state government. However, the signed copy of the same was still awaited from the IT Department, observed the JKSAC. After going through the responses of the government and J&K Bank, the JKSAC observed that the MoU between the bank and the government was still to be finalised and the contract had not yet been executed by the government. “It is also apparent from the stand of J&K Bank that the selection of vendors for execution of the project was not made by inviting open bids. At this stage without going into the question of whether there is any connection between any or all of the vendors and Rather, one thing is apparent that the government’s action in outsourcing the project to the bank, which is neither an expert in handling such projects nor is an instrumentality of the state, prima facie appears to be not justified,” observed the JKSAC. Raising serious questions over the way the project was handed over to the bank in gross violation of codal formalities, the JKSAC registered a complaint for regular inquiry in terms of Section 13 of the JKSAC Act, 2002. The COMPLAINT The Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission has taken cognisance of a complaint filed by the Yuva Shakti Vikas Mission The complaint states that Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather gave a contract worth Rs 2 crore to his son for preparing smart cards for Secretariat employees in gross violation of codal formalities It is alleged that the son was not qualified to run such a project |
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Give surplus govt land to farm labourers: NC leader
Jammu, February 22 He, however, said this Section was not strictly followed by the authorities so he had decided to move a resolution. He claimed economic conditions of the landless agricultural labourers would be improved if surplus land was distributed to them as per provision of the Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976. This Act has provisions of transferring land to the tillers but subject to certain conditions and for better utilisation of land in the state. There is also a provision in this Act that ownership rights be given to the tillers. This Act has imposed a ceiling of 100 kanals per family and says surplus land should be declared as the state land. According to official data, since implementation of this Act 4.5 lakh acres of surplus land have been vested in the state government. Of this, about 2.3 lakh acres have been settled with tenants who were already in possession of surplus land. Still a huge chunk of land is in possession of the state government. “The surplus land in possession of the state government should be handed over to the landless agricultural labourers because it will help in their socio-economic growth,” Sadhotra told The Tribune while elaborating on the resolution which he had submitted to the Upper House. |
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Walk down memory lane for Omar
Jammu, February 22 “I am beholding a picture in the book. This is probably me. Although I cannot see my face in this picture, the child there is holding my grandfather’s (Sheikh Abdullah) hand,” said Omar after releasing the book. “This is a very old picture and brings back memories of the good old days of my childhood. Taing sahib was amongst those who were quite close to my grandfather,” he added. Omar also appreciated Taing’s role in bringing out Sheikh Abdullah’s biography “Aatish-e-Chinar” in Urdu. He said Taing performed equally well in the field of politics and contributed to the development of the National Conference. “He successfully balanced his two roles and it is not everyone’s cup of tea to strike a balance between two different roles - one as politician and the other as a litterateur,” he said. Omar regretted the fact that Taing had not received due recognition at the national and international fora. Efforts to achieve the same should be made in his lifetime, he added. “It is regretful that his writings and works have not yet received the recognition that he deserves at the national level. We still have enough time and a lot can be done to project his work in the field of Urdu literature on the international platform. It should be done during his era.” |
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LeT militant killed in Sopore encounter
Srinagar, February 22 According to a Defence spokesman, the operation was jointly launched by the 22 Rashtriya Rifles and the police in the Mominabad Bypass area of Sopore on Tuesday afternoon. The militant was found hiding around 1.45 pm yesterday and was eliminated.
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Floriculture Dept workers threaten agitation, burn minister’s effigy
Srinagar, February 22 “We will organise a rally here on February 28 to lend support to the nationwide strike called by the central trade unions and other government employee federations. If the state government fails to fulfil the demands of casual workers by that time, we will start a mass agitation from March 1,” said Mohammad Maqbool, president of the union, while addressing activists of the J&K Floriculture Employees and Workers Association at the Press Enclave here. “The government has to change its policy regarding casual workers and implement the labour laws. Over 500 casual workers of the Floriculture Department have been denied the rights and we will extend our full support to their agitation,” he added. Earlier, members of the J&K Floriculture Employees and Workers Association burnt Horticulture and Floriculture Minister Sham Lal Sharma’s effigy while holding a protest at the Press Enclave. “We have been on strike for two months but our demands remain unfulfilled. The Floriculture Minister had assured us of looking into our demands but we are still awaiting regularisation,” said Muneer Ahmad Khan, president of the association. “The casual workers have been working in the Floriculture Department for over 10 years now but the government has failed to address our concerns,” he added. The demands of the Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee of Traders Union include grant of pension to temporary workers, minimum wages of Rs 10,000, filling of vacant posts on a regular basis, halt to outsourcing of government jobs, implementation of the labour laws and regularisation of contract, casual, ASHA and Anganwari workers. |
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Snowfall in upper reaches; NH closed
Srinagar, February 22 However, the highway was reopened to stranded vehicles in the afternoon. “The highway was cleared to allow the to and fro movement of stranded vehicles at 3.30 pm, but no fresh traffic was allowed to ply,” the police official added. Meanwhile, most parts of the Kashmir valley received rainfall for the third consecutive day today while the upper reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall. The border town of Kupwara received 25.3 mm of snow and rain from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm today, an official of the Meteorological Department said. Srinagar received 3.4 mm of rain while Qazigund received 8.8 mm of rain. Similarly, the tourist resort of Pahalgam in Anantnag district received 8.8 mm of rainfall. Fresh snowfall was also recorded in the upper reaches of north Kashmir. The maximum temperatures recorded at Srinagar, Qazigund, Kupwara and Pahalgam were 9.3°C, 10.5°C, 2.1°C and 3.8 °C, respectively. The medium danger avalanche warning that was issued by the Divisional Disaster Management Authority here on Monday for the higher reaches of Chowkibal, Tangdhar, Keran, Machhil and Gurez areas located close to the Line of Control (LoC) has been extended for the next 24 hours. People living in these areas, at a height of 8,000 feet, have been advised to take precautionary measures. The Met office has forecast inclement weather conditions in the Valley till February 24. |
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Yatri Niyas delegation meets Governor
Jammu, February 22 The delegation discussed with the Governor the approach being considered for the yatra this year. The Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, RK Goyal, informed the meeting about the several rounds of discussions undertaken by the sub-committee of the board set up last year under the chairmanship of Sri Sri Ravishankar, following an agreement with the Baba Yatri Niyas. The Governor said the board would consider the recommendations of the sub-committee during its meeting in Delhi on February 24. He observed that the board would continue to make efforts for the early commencement of the yatra, while keeping all aspects in view. Referring to the suggestions of the delegation, the Governor, who is the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, said a number of initiatives had been taken to bring about improvements in facilitating the pilgrims visiting the shrine. Besides convening regular meetings with various departments and agencies of the government, he had undertaken aerial recces of the yatra area during April-June. He had also visited the base camps and the camps en route to observe the clearance of both the yatra tracks and progress of all arrangements, he said.
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Sikh body seeks DGPC elections
Jammu, February 22 “Aimed at garnering the Sikh vote for furthering political clout, a Cabinet minister belonging to the Congress is resorting to unprecedented interference in the affairs of the committee through his workers,” said JS Mangal, president of the circle. He also demanded adequate security and basic amenities for all Sikhs living in the Valley. — TNS
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Court acquits accused in
fraud case
Jammu, February 22 The Special Judge, while passing the acquittal order, took serious note of the conduct of the Crime Branch and observed: “A preliminary inquiry and then regular inquiry were conducted by Kalu Ram Tak but the investigating agency neither seize the inquiry report nor cite Kalu Ram as a witness. The factum of the inquiry conducted by Kalu Ram has been suppressed by the investigating agency. To explain this lapse, the examination of the investigating officer was essential but he has been withheld by the prosecution.... There are serious lapses in the investigation, which are required to be explained by the investigating officer and therefore, non-examination of the investigating officer has caused prejudice to the accused.” The court observed that the prosecution had failed to establish charges against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, the benefit of the doubt is given to the accused and is acquitted of charges levelled against him.
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Fake Currency
Jammu, February 22 Official sources said a three-member team of the SIT headed by Inspector Vidhya Dhar Singh arrived in Poonch town yesterday and rushed to Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing - a point that connects Poonch with Rawalakot of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) - on the Line of Control in connection with the fake currency racket. The SIT officials also scrutinised the records of the Custodian Department, Poonch, and seized some documents, the sources added. “The team visited the Customs Office at Chakan-Da-Bagh and scrutinised the documents. The Delhi Police had arrested cross-LoC trader Ghulam Ahmed Khawaja of Surankote in Poonch at Delhi Railway Station with fake currency notes with face value of Rs 2.24 crore last month. The SIT’s visit was part of that investigation,” a senior police official accompanying the team said. Cloth merchant Ghulam Ahmed Khawaja had wrapped the fake currency in his clothes and smuggled the notes to New Delhi. The Delhi Police had also arrested a person from Narwal, Jammu, who too was allegedly involved in the racket. “The team has gone back to New Delhi after scrutinising the official documents at the Customs and Custodian Department,” the police official said. |
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Cop dies in accidental fire
Srinagar, February 22 |
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Sitaram and his wife Sohdrabai of Hardi village in Chhattisgarh along with a social activist, Pyare Lal Diwakar, staged a dharna outside Press Club here, alleging that they along with 70 other workers had been working as bonded labourers at a brick kiln in Sunderbani for the past 25 years.
With some ministers in the coalition facing charges of corruption and nepotism, opposition parties are gearing up to corner the government in the budget session of the Legislative Assembly.
taking a serious note of the statement of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz in which he had demanded their ouster from the Assembly, today alleged a nexus between the Congress and some BJP leaders to “sell out” the aspirations of people of the Jammu region.
The Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission (JKSAC), continuing with its crackdown on corruption, today issued a notice to Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather asking him to appear personally or through a counsel before the joint sitting of the panel on March 6.
Taking cognisance of a complaint filed by the Yuva Shakti Vikas Mission, the
JKSAC, an autonomous anti-graft panel, felt that serious allegations levelled against the Finance Minister deserved a regular inquiry under Section 9 of the Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission Act, 2002.
It was a walk down memory lane for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, whose childhood picture with his grandfather Sheikh Abdullah, appeared in the special edition of Urdu magazine “Sheeraza”, which was released today. The magazine reflects on noted writer and critic Mohammad Yousuf Taing’s life and achievements.
The Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee of Traders Union today threatened to go on strike from March 1 if the demands of casual workers of the Floriculture Department were not fulfilled.
The movement of fresh vehicular traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended today. A traffic police official said the national highway was closed due to landslides triggered by heavy rain in the area.
