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Depths of despair along killer curves
Over 100 have died in 84 days
Memorials dot road to Jammu
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Omar-led govt has lost credibility: Mufti
Civil society wants bias against Jammu to go
Water schemes launched in Kupwara
CBI inquiry demanded into temple land encroachments
Azad reviews development works in Bhaderwah
Sikhs stage protest against Rajoana verdict
Poor BSNL services irk Rajouri residents
Educational institutes in Srinagar made tobacco-free
Tarigami re-elected as state secretary of CPM
Meeting held to assess windstorm damage
Magisterial probe ordered into detainee’s death
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Depths of despair along killer curves
Udhampur, March 25 The 50-km stretch of the NH-1A between Ramban and Jawahar Tunnel (JT) has come to be known as the killer stretch. And despite traffic advisories, the circuitous route with sharp curves continues to be a deathbed, especially in the early morning hours. Superintendent of Police Ramban Anil Magotra said 30-45% of FIRs registered in the districts involve road accident cases. The pattern suggests that the chances of accidents are greater during early morning hours. In most cases, there is a question mark on the alertness of the driver, who couldn't have had enough sleep and rushed to reach the destination. Travellers as well as the police allege that private operators force their drivers to make the to-and-from Jammu-Srinagar journey in a day to make a fast buck. The number of accidents has gone up after the opening of Jawahar Tunnel in August 2009 to round-the- clock travel. Before that, the JT was closed for traffic at 8 pm. Today,
about 5,000 vehicles cross JT daily. A senior police officer at Ramban told The Tribune the JT facilitated manifold increase in the traffic because about a decade back when militancy was at its peak, traveling during night was unthinkable. "The situation requires an effective monitoring mechanism involving all the government agencies. The police, however, cannot check who at the steering wheel has had good sleep and or who is in an alert state of mind," he said. "Even a fleeting nap can be deadly, especially on the stretch between Ramban and JT. For the operators, it is difficult to resist the temptation of earning extra money when passengers themselves are in a hurry to reach
their destination," said the officer. Passengers usually prefer a vehicle whose driver assures them a faster travel. Since the drivers are paid as per the number of trips, rash driving has become a norm. It is also alleged that fleecing by traffic cops too forces the operators to prefer night driving. "The authorities should introduce a daily logbook for private operators as in the case of government buses to check the driver burnout," said Udhampur-based tour operator
Rahul Khokher. MAJOR ROAD ACCIDENTS l
March 20 Three army jawans killed near Nagrota in Jammu l
March 23 Five Vaishnodevi pilgrims died on Jammu-Pathankote National highway in Vijaypur area. l
March 24 Nine killed, 78 injured in three road accidents on the highway |
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Over 100 have died in 84 days
Jammu, March 25 Over the last three days, at least 20 people have died and 120 injured in road accidents, putting a big question mark on the transport department's "accident prevention strategy." Official statistics reveal that over 100 persons, including women and children, have fallen prey to killer roads till March 24. In January alone, at least 27 persons were killed and 112 injured in 30 road accidents. As many as 45 persons died and 65 sustained serious injuries in 29 days of last month. And this month, 35 people have so far lost their lives and 116 injured. Sources said the traffic police was more interested in collecting revenue on account of challans and penalising the traffic violators. "Though the number of challans and the amount realised from violators has increased significantly this year, the state continues to witness deaths on the roads. The government has done little to improve road conditions," said a senior transport official. Mahesh Koul, a Jammu University scholar, said: "The government should adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to check road accidents in the state. The road capacity, which has remained the same since Maharaja's time, needs to be increased. Also, the need of the hour is to revamp the entire traffic police department. The nexus between traffic police officials and transporters needs to be broken." Minister for Transport, Qamar Ali Akhoon blamed the drivers for the prevailing chaos on the roads. He said the government was considering stringent action rash and negligent driving. According to the latest survey conducted by the Union Government, 79 per cent accidents in the state take place due to negligence of drivers. "We have formulated a Transport Mobility Plan as long and short term measures to deal with the chaos on roads. Most of the road accidents take place in the Doda area. We have decided to introduce more State Road Transport Corporation buses in Doda, Rajouri and Poonch to check fatal accidents," the minister said. |
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Memorials dot road to Jammu
Jammu, March 25 Most of these are small brick structures with a picture of the dead at the tragic spot. Victims' family members visit these places on their kin's birth and death anniversaries and perform rituals. No one damages these structures. Passersby often nod in reverence and pray for their safe journey. Ram Shastri, a local priest, said apart from serving as memorials, these also act as warning signals for the commuters. "People perform special pooja here. They believe if memorials are not erected, the soul of the dead would wander around. Of course, there are many ghost stories about the victims whose memorials were not built. At many places, the memorials make drivers slow down - a difficult curve is thus easily negotiated. Even defence forces and police have erected memorials of jawans killed in road accidents. The state has many communities such as Dogras, Pandits, Muslims, Sikhs, Gujjars, Bakarwals, Rajputs, but Pandits and Dogras have the most elaborate system of mourning the dead. The rituals go up to 10 days or more. Such memorials can be spotted easily along narrow and old roads like Jammu-Rajouri, Jammu -Srinagar and Jammu-Reasi stretches. |
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Omar-led govt has lost credibility: Mufti
“I do not want to bring down this regime by manipulations,” Mufti said while addressing a public meeting in the border town of RS Pura. He, however, said he had been mobilising and channelising the energy of people to change the present corrupt system. “With the support of the people I want to change the present government because this regime has lost credibility and its alienation among masses has been increasing with each passing day,” he observed and said the PDP, as the main opposition group, would expose, oppose and depose this regime with the support of the people. Highlighting the achievements of the PDP, Mufti said his party had scripted a new chapter in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir by challenging the hegemony of the National Conference (NC) and had provided an alternative to the people of the state. “NC leadership has never allowed democracy to flourish in Jammu and Kashmir because the NC has brazenly used undemocratic means to remain in power,” Mufti said. “Formation of the PDP in 1999 was the turning point in the history of Jammu and Kashmir because in a short span of time the PDP has earned credibility of the people of the state,” he said. He added, “I don’t want to praise the party, but it a historical fact that it was the PDP that had revived the confidence of the people of the state in democratic institutions.” “From 1947 to 2002, the NC had never allowed strengthening of democratic institutions in the state because instability in the system suits this party,” he observed and asserted that the PDP has challenged the domination of the NC and changed the political discourse of the state through its visionary and pro-peace policies. “Although we had just 16 members in the Assembly, our party had convinced successive governments at Delhi to take some bold peace initiatives,” he recalled, adding, “The PDP had entered into an alliance with the Congress by formulating a Common Minimum Programme, in which wishes of all the people were incorporated and a pro-peace agenda was given the first priority.” |
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Civil society wants bias against Jammu to go
Jammu, March 25 During a seminar organised by the Public Opinion Forum on “challenges before the Jammu region and the way out in the present political scenario”, speakers highlighted discrimination meted out to people of the Jammu region since 1947 and regretted that except lip service nothing had been done to give justice to them. Interestingly, representatives of all political parties except the BJP were present in the seminar despite the fact that the BJP has been claiming to be the only party, which has been projecting the interests of the people of the Jammu region. President of the Bar Association, Jammu, BS Slathia; eminent writer Prof Hari Om; lawyer Sheikh Shakil; Sohail Kazmi; Prof Varinder Gupta; MLA Ashwani Kumar; MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia and state president of the BSP Tulsi Dass Langeh were among the panelists. The speakers observed that the Jammu region had been neglected in all the matters, including development, allocation of funds, government jobs and selections of candidates in professional institutions by the state and Central government. Prof Hari Om, former Dean, Social Sciences, University of Jammu, observed that the successive regimes at Delhi never took the problem of the people of Jammu seriously. He said without political empowerment the solution to discrimination was not possible. While emphasising on maintaining brotherhood and communal harmony, the panelists said Kashmiri leadership had always tried to divide the Jammu region on communal lines. “Dividing Jammu on communal lines is a great challenge to the geographical and cultural identity of the Jammu region,” they cautioned. “There is a view that the Jammu region is facing a leadership crisis. Political parties representing the Jammu region are mostly national political parties. Instead of watching the interests of the people of Jammu, these parties are serving their own interests,” panelists observed and added that there was a need for a regional political party for the Jammu region. |
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Water schemes launched in Kupwara
Srinagar, March 25 The two water supply schemes have come up at a total cost of Rs 4.75 crore and would supply 1,80,000 gallons to around 41,000 local residents of the two areas, an official said here. While addressing a gathering on the occasion, Wani said the government was committed to providing safe drinking water to the people of the state. He said the water supply schemes would benefit the people of Lolab Gund Macher and Bungam Hihama and added that the government was also taking steps to ensure the development of tourist infrastructure in the areas.
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CBI inquiry demanded into temple land encroachments
Jammu, March 25 The core group members of the APHCC met today to take stock of the situation regarding temples of the state and the indifferent attitude of the government towards the Hindu shrines, particularly after the 10-day long hunger strike of the APHCC. Demanding an immediate CBI probe into the alleged illegal selling and encroachments upon temple land here, members of the APHCC said the organisation was in favour of a CBI probe against anybody, who had encroached upon the temple land or sold it illegally anywhere in the state, irrespective of the section he belonged to. Vinod Pandit, chairman of the APHCC, said the temples of Jammu and Kashmir needed protection from land mafia, which had usurped the temple and shrine land for personal gains. He, however, regretted that the government had failed to implement the six point agenda of the coordination committee, saying that Minister for Youth Services and Sports RS Chib, who had promised to take up the matter with the government while requesting the APHCC to call off its hunger strike, had backtracked from his promise. The chairman of the APHCC added that the six point agenda if implemented would be the best Confidence Building Measure to restore faith of the people in democracy. — TNS |
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Azad reviews development works in Bhaderwah
Udhampur, March 25 MLA Bhaderwah Mohammad Sharief Niaz, MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta and District Development Commissioner, Doda, accompanied the Minister. Inspecting the under-construction 100-bed Sub-district Hospital, Azad directed the executing agency to expedite the work to ensure its timely completion. He was told that the In Patients Department, Out Patients Department, Emergency, Diagnostics and other blocks of the building would be completed by August 2012. The Minister also visited the existing Sub-district Hospital and interacted with patients and medical staff. The Minister also took stock of the renovation work being carried out in the historic Bhaderwah Fort. He directed the agencies concerned to complete the remaining work at a faster pace. |
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Sikhs stage protest against Rajoana verdict
Jammu, March 25 Protesters under the banner of the United Sikh Council, J&K, assembled outside Digiana Ashram and expressed their resentment against the decision. Extending full support to Rajoana, they said while the Government of India had been pleading clemency for Sarabjit Singh in the Pakistan Supreme Court for long, the same government was showing no concern for the Sikh community in its own country. They urged the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to take up the matter with the President. Kuldeep Singh, convener of the United Sikh Council, warned that unrest was bound to erupt in case of Rajoana’s execution. |
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Poor BSNL services irk Rajouri residents
Rajouri, March 25 Despite being aware of the problem, the BSNL has not been doing much to provide quality services to its clientele. Rohit Kumar, a local youth, said, “Speed and signal of the broadband service of the BSNL is not up to the mark in Rajouri, compared to what is being offered by private companies in other parts of the state and that too at economical tariffs.” “I have to rush to the rooftop or balcony to receive incoming calls, but they abruptly get dropped. I had lodged a complaint with the BSNL helpline, but there has been no improvement in their services,” said a senior citizen. The Internet and cellular phone services of the BSNL have been deteriorating in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, said a journalist from a vernacular daily. There was some problem in the network, but now every thing is fine, said RD Parmar, Telecom, District Engineer (Rajouri and Poonch). He said 77 BSNL towers had been installed in Rajouri district and added that they had plans to install 15 more towers this year and 30 more in 2013. “We are trying our best to provide better services to our customers,” Parmar said. |
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Educational institutes in Srinagar made tobacco-free
Srinagar, March 25 During a sensitisation programme on “Tobacco Control Laws and Measures” that was organised by the J&K Voluntary Health Association (JKVHA) here yesterday, the Chief Education Officer, Srinagar, banned the sale and consumption of tobacco products within 100 yards of any educational institution that fell under the jurisdiction of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC). Welcoming the move, JKVHA Executive Director A M Mir urged the authorities to display signs that would read “Tobacco Free School” or “Tobacco Free Institution” in and around the educational institutes of the city. “These hoardings should be displayed at prominent places along with the name, designation and contact phone number of the authorised officer to whom a report can be made in case of any violation,” he added. Srinagar is the second district after Budgam in central Kashmir where such a step has been taken. Srinagar district is likely to be declared “smoke-free” by the end of May this year, said the official. “By making Srinagar smoke-free, people, particularly passive smokers, will be able to enjoy a smoke-free and pollution-free atmosphere at all public places, work places and educational institutions,” the official added. |
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Tarigami re-elected as state secretary of CPM
Jammu, March 25 “The US designs are also evident in South Asia, where they have been intervening in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The US has also been intervening in our domestic affairs and we have to organise people to restrict the Central government in entering into a strategic alliance with the US, which could be harmful to the interests of the country,” Karat said while addressing the 9th state conference of the state unit of the CPM here today. “Regarding Jammu and Kashmir, our party has published a special document in the shape of a resolution in November 2010, in which we urged the Centre to take concrete measures for achieving a long-lasting settlement to the Kashmir issue, which has consumed thousands of human lives and continues to threaten peace in the subcontinent,” he said, adding, “Our party is for the restoration of maximum autonomy based on the special status and regional autonomies to three regions of the state.” Besides security forces should be made accountable and the AFSPA should be revoked, as a result of the changed security scenario in the state. “Our main task is to expand the influence of the CPM and strengthen the Left and democratic alliance to provide a non-Cong and non-BJP alternative to pursue the pro-people, anti-imperialistic and anti-corporate policies, which have broken the back of the common man,” he said. Mohammad Saleem, member, Central Committee, greeted the delegates and assured full support of the committee to safeguard the interests of the people. During the concluding session of the two-day conference, 17 members of the State Committee of the CPM were elected with Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami as secretary. |
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Meeting held to assess windstorm damage
Srinagar, March 25 The meeting was chaired by Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather yesterday where he was informed that about 3,015 structures were fully or partially damaged in Budgam during the windstorm in Kashmir last week. The minister was also informed that Beerwah tehsil was the worst hit in the district as 1,527 structures had been damaged there. Besides, 140 electric poles were also damaged across Budgam. Later, the minister asked the officials concerned to submit a detailed report regarding the ongoing development works in the district. Around 15,000 structures were damaged and three persons lost their lives in the recent windstorm. — OC
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Magisterial probe ordered into detainee’s death
Srinagar, March 25 The deceased was lodged in District Jail in Kupwara under the PSA and had died in a Srinagar-based hospital where had been referred to for treatment. Sajad had died on the intervening night of March 21 and 22. The Additional District Magistrate has been asked to submit his report within the next 15 days. Sopore had observed a shutdown against Sajad’s death last week while his family has alleged that he had been denied medical care during his detention. — OC
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DATELINE KASHMIR
The state government intends to plant 33.70 lakh saplings across the Valley in the coming months and in an effort to add to Kashmir’s greenery, the government will also make available 14,000 chinar trees free of cost to the general public. However, it is hoped that the plantation drive is not confined to mere issuance of press releases and that proper care is taken of the saplings planted. Agitation threat Last year in September, the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), an amalgam of various employees’ bodies of the state, had called off their strike after the government promised them that their demands would be looked into by March-end. In fact, for the last two years, the employees have been observing strikes and taking out protests regularly. And whenever they observe a strike, the authorities promise them that their demands would be met in the “near future”. Now, after many promises that have not been fulfilled so far, the employees’ leaders have threatened another round of agitation from next month. The government must take some steps to resolve the long-pending demands as the public is subjected to a lot of inconvenience whenever the employees go on a strike. The employees’ demands include release of arrears recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission, enhancement of retirement age and regularisation of daily wagers and casual workers working in various departments. — Contributed byM Aamir Khan
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The death of five persons in a road accident near Nashri, about 60 km from Udhampur, on Saturday came as a grim warning to those using and managing the Ramban stretch of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The 50-km stretch of the NH-1A between Ramban and Jawahar Tunnel (JT) has come to be known as the killer stretch. 
Killer roads continue to take a heavy toll in J&K: over 100 people have died and 300 injured in road accidents in the first 84 days of the year.
Lamenting the continued discrimination with the Jammu region, the civil society of Jammu today emphasised on devising a strategy to jointly fight the “discriminatory” policies being propagated by the successive regimes in the state.
Jammu, March 25
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February 10 22 persons, including four women and three children, were killed in Gandoh area of Doda district
Jammu, March 25
With the onset of the spring season in the Kashmir valley, the authorities have found a “green” way of staying in news. Every day press releases are issued from different departments about their respective plantation drives. The first such drive was kick-started by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon, in Srinagar last week and after that many others like the police, Army and even J&K Bank followed with their plantation programmes.