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Jagti settlers await ticket to homeland
Amenities go off track at city railway station
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NH blocked as truckers clash
Rajouri, Poonch may get more teeth to battle flames
NC counters PDP charge on panchayats
Woman prisoner’s death sparks row
Employees laud govt order
crime files
PoK refugees meet Div Commissioner
Powergrid hands over kitchen, dining hall to school
8-wicket win for Young Guns XI
Speedball Championship
Zonal sports meet organised
School celebrates
Earth Day
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Jagti settlers await ticket to homeland
Jammu, May 2 “We have struggled so much to go back to our homeland and the creation of the township for the community has only delayed the main demand of the community,” said Shadi Lal Pandita, a resident of the Jagti township. “It is a continuous struggle here as the authorities are not providing us with electricity. They contend that the agreement with the department is void since we cannot sign any such contract being part of a displaced community. They should find a permanent solution and we are willing to pay for everything,” he added. The Jagti township is
set in the lower Trikuta hills providing two-room accommodations for each family. The township has 4,218 two-room flats, a 40-bed hospital, higher secondary and middle schools and two community halls. Built under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan at a revised cost of Rs 385 crore, the project comprised two phases. In the first phase, 1,024 flats were constructed at
Purkhoo, Muthi and Nagrota. In the second phase, the remaining 4,218 two-room units were constructed at Jagti. Though the huge project has provided better hygienic conditions to people who spent over 20 years in shanty accommodations, their demand of permanent settlement in the homeland remains unfulfilled. Sarla Bhan, a Jagti resident, said: “We were thrown out of the Valley 22 years ago and have been dreaming of returning to our homeland ever since. The government should focus on creating conducive environment
for the return of the community.” “Lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits visit Mata Kheer Bhawani for the annual fair. This reflects the deep roots we share with our homeland. We are all willing to go back, provided we get a secure environment there,” she added. |
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Amenities go off track at city railway station
Jammu, May 2 A majority of pilgrims from across the country utilise the railway services during their pilgrimage. A visit to the railway station is enough to reveal the plight of the passengers and neglect of the railway authorities. Countless passengers can be seen squatting or lying on the platforms with scattered luggage. Also, passengers can seen crossing the railway tracks without any check. Unlike other model railway stations in the country, the platforms lack television sets or LCD screens to flash information regarding the arrival and departure of trains. The passengers have to grapple with scattered filth and garbage dumps, usually at the entrance. While passengers have been facing the ordeal for decades, nothing has been done to improve the situation at one of the busiest railway stations in the country. Chetan, who hails from Delhi, said: “I along with my family have been visiting Jammu regularly to pay obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Things have always been chaotic at the railway station here during summer. The railway station lacks adequate seating arrangements or modes of recreation. This station receives heavy rush of pilgrims and the authorities must focus on catering to
their needs.” Mohit, a pilgrim from Kanpur, said: “Lack of maintenance at the railway station mars the ambiance of the area. I wonder why the authorities have failed to focus on such a vital issue. This is the face of Jammu and travellers should arrive and leave the city with pleasant memories.” RN Meena, Divisional Traffic Manager, said projects were under way to develop the railway station into a world-class facility. “The number of pilgrims arriving here each summer has been steadily rising. We have two waiting rooms, including an AC room. The station will be developed into a world-class facility. Things will improve gradually,” he added. On crowd management, he said: “We have enough manpower, including the IRP, the CRPF and the J&K police, to manage
the crowds.” |
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NH blocked as truckers clash
Jammu, May 2 Sources said a leader of the Truck Union, Sakte Chak, Amarjeet Singh, was allegedly thrashed by some members of the Truck Union, Kathua. “Amarjeet Singh had a verbal spat with some members of the Truck Union, Kathua, who allegedly thrashed him in full public view,” a source said, adding that the victim was referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, from the District Hospital, Kathua, after being administered the first aid. Amarjeet’s supporters later staged a protest and blocked the highway for half an hour, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits. The blockade led to a long traffic jam on both sides of the highway, subjecting commuters to inconvenience. A team of senior police officers reached the scene and pacified the protesters. They assured that they would initiate necessary action against the culprits.
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Rajouri, Poonch may get more teeth to battle flames
Rajouri, May 2 AK Wangoo, Assistant Director, Fire Service Department, Rajouri-Poonch range, said a project to set up four new fire stations was under the consideration of the government. Wangoo said Rajouri had three fire stations having three fire tenders and two pumps, while Poonch had four fire stations with four tenders and two water pumps to cover the entire area. “It has been observed that certain areas have been deprived of this essential service, as the fire tenders cannot cover these areas in time due to the distance and terrain,” he said. “We have submitted a proposal to the government to set up four new fire service stations at far-flung areas of Kotranka, Sundarbani, Manjakote and Thanamandi,” Wangoo said. Rajouri town is quite congested and its streets are wide enough to accommodate small fire tenders alone. The fire department currently has just one small fire tender, which can barely meet the needs of the area, especially in summer when chances of fire-related incidents are high. He said the department had also demanded two small fire tenders — one each for Rajouri and Poonch, keeping in view the needs of the two towns, which are quite congested. |
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Career in tourism fails to inspire local youth
Jammu, May 2 For a state that has a great tourism potential in all three regions — Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh — the lukewarm response of the Jammu youth is contrary to the keenness shown by those living in the other two regions of the state to revive the ecology and tourism related industry in their areas. While the youth of Ladakh and Kashmir are returning to their native places to revive the tourism industry there, the trend is opposite in Jammu, where conventional degrees and conventional careers are seen as the symbol of an
affluent life. “Recently, a group of tourists wanted to see the house where scenes from Hindi movie ‘Rockstar’ were shot. It was challenging to locate the house but once we did, the tourists enjoyed their visit and decided to extend their trip so that they could see other lesser known places around Kashmir,” said Ajaz Khan, a 27-year-old tour manager who takes his groups to diverse ecological areas, thereby helping them discover the place for themselves. “Since money is not
an issue with most affluent groups who come to the region every year, it is a challenge to keep them hooked to this region if new things are not added to their itinerary every year. We have to challenge ourselves to sell our region in new ways and it gives us a feeling of satisfaction when the tourists feel at home. They experience the local culture without damaging the ecological balance,” said Dorji on the need for finding creative ideas to engage tourists and keep them coming to Ladakh every year. This approach is currently non-existent in Jammu, where youngsters look at the tourism industry as their final option. With places like Reasi (popular for adventure sports), Bhaderwah (a scenic destination), Amarnath and Vaishno Devi (popular pilgrimages) offering vast potential to expand the scope of tourism, no
new ideas are being explored in Jammu. While the veterans of the industry in Jammu wish to play it safe and cash in on guided Vaishno Devi and Patnitop tours, others are just not keen on pursuing a career in this industry. This has led to a rather abysmal state of tourism related infrastructure in places surrounding Jammu, since outsiders do not know much about these places and the tour operators do not want to go the extra mile. The Jammu University has been planning to start short vocational courses but it has not yet started these in any department as there are few takers
for tourism-related vocational courses. Dismal outlook While the youth of Ladakh and Kashmir are returning to their native places to revive tourism there, the trend is opposite in Jammu
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NC counters PDP charge on panchayats
Jammu, May 2 A day after PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed charged the NC with denying powers to panchayats, the latter today launched a counter-offensive and reminded the PDP of the “undemocratic” action taken by the then Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, of imposing nominated committees on elected panchayats. Addressing a meeting in the Trilokpur area of the Marh Assembly segment, senior NC leader Ajay Sadhotra said the PDP was shedding “crocodile tears” to exploit the elected sarpanches and panches in the state. “The PDP leadership has perhaps forgotten that in order to stifle the Panchayati Raj institutions in the state, the Mufti-led government in 2004-05 had passed a Bill in the Assembly to curtail the life of the panchayats and nominate committees in place of elected panchayats,” he reminded the PDP leadership. It was the NC leadership under the leadership of Omar Abdullah that had made a representation to the then Governor for his intervention to come to the rescue of the Panchayati Raj institutions. In a bid to save democracy, the Governor did not give his assent to the Bill and panchayats completed their full tenure, he asserted. Sadhotra said the PDP had been trying to mislead the panchayats out of frustration to grab power. He said the Omar-led coalition government had given powers of 14 departments to the panchayats and panchayat members had been trained to use those powers. The NC leader said the Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 was the best Act in the country and the NC was committed to strengthening the Panchayati Raj system. Meanwhile, hundreds of workers left the BJP and joined the NC. Prominent among them were Subash Ram, Kaku Ram, Jagdish Raj, Jai Kumar, Suresh Kumar, Jorawar Singh, Vikram Singh, Suresh Kumar, Romesh Lal, Sanjay Verma.
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Woman prisoner’s death sparks row
Poonch, May 2 The district administration has ordered a magisterial inquiry, to be conducted by Assistant Commissioner Muneer Hussain, into the woman’s death. A woman’s relative claimed that Zareena, a resident of Salwa Mendher, was lodged in the District Jail and was brought to the hospital following complications arising out of pregnancy on Monday morning. She was, however, sent back to the jail and advised to come back the next day. She was taken the District Hospital yesterday and was examined by a lady doctor, who admitted her to the hospital. The woman, however, died after delivering a stillborn baby. “She was in severe pain when she was taken to the hospital. Instead of admitting her on April 30, the doctors sent her back to the jail and asked her to visit again the next day. On Tuesday, the doctors did not attend the patient properly, which resulted in her death along with that of her baby. The authorities should have started the treatment on the first visit itself. This is sheer negligence on part of the hospital authorities,” alleged a relative. Dr Niaz Choudhary, Superintendent of the hospital, said: “After admitting her to the hospital on Tuesday, she was given proper treatment by the doctor and sent to the labour room for delivery. At 8.45 pm, she delivered a stillborn female baby and was subsequently sent to the gynea ward for further treatment. She died there at 10.30 pm following internal bleeding. We have conducted a postmortem and submitted a report to the higher authorities.” Bushan Lal Bali, Jail Superintendent, said: “We had sent her to the District Hospital on April 30 on doctor’s advice. However, the authorities sent her back to jail after giving her the requisite treatment. The patient was sent back to the hospital the next day as per the doctor’s advice.” Ajeet Kumar Sahu, District Development Commissioner, has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death. The woman’s body was later handed over to the family after a post-mortem. The woman was facing trial for her alleged involvement in the murder of two-and-half-year old boy under the Mendher police station. She was brought to the District Jail on November 25. Her husband and brother-in-law were also arrested in
the case. |
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Employees laud govt order
Jammu, May 2 Shakti Sharma, chairman of the union, urged the government to clear the DPC of all technicians and regularise all daily-wage employees of the Power Development Department who have completed 7 years in the department.
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Anti-personnel mine defused
Tribune News Service
Jammu, May 2 He brought it to the notice of the jawans of the 68 Battalion of the BSF, who called the Army jawans engineering wing, Pathankot, for assisting them in defusing the mine. The Army jawans successfully defused the mine. Van catches fire
Jammu:A man today had a narrow escape after a Maruti van caught fire in the Gangu Chack area of Hiranagar tehsil. Eyewitnesses said Subash Kumar, a mechanic, took out a Maruti van from his workshop for trial run when it suddenly caught fire. The mechanic, however, managed to come out from the burning vehicle. A fire tender was rushed to the spot. LPG cylinder catches fire
Jammu: An LPG cylinder blast today reduced property worth lakhs of rupees to ashes at Satura village in Hiranagar tehsil. The police said the LPG cylinder caught fire after a woman went to her kitchen for preparing tea. Though she raised an alarm after she found gas leakage, the cylinder caught fire leading to a blast. Woman commits suicide
Jammu: A woman today allegedly ended her life by consuming poison at her Channi residence in the city. The deceased was identified as Geeta Devi, 30, wife of Soni Kumar. The police said the family members shifted the woman to Government Medical College and Hospital after she allegedly consumed poison. The woman died in the hospital, the police added. |
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PoK refugees meet Div Commissioner
Jammu, May 2 The deputation stressed upon the need for the Divisional Commissioner’s visit to their camps to access the problems of the inmates. They said on-the-spot inspection was needed because of the constant neglect of these camps since long. The delegation told the Divisional Commissioner that former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad constituted a committee headed by GD Wadhwa. The committee had the Divisional Commissioner as member and SOS International Chairman Rajiv Chuni as non-official member. The delegation said the committee had already submitted its recommendation, which needed to be implemented in letter and in spirit. The SOS international delegation also raised the demand for the rehabilitation of former spy Vinod Sawhney, who has been sitting on a dharna outside the Press Club of Jammu. The Divisional Commissioner assured them that he was keen to do justice to PoK refugees. He said in due course of time, a meeting would be called in his office involving government officers concerned and representatives from the PoK refugees to discuss the problems.
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Powergrid hands over kitchen, dining hall to school
Jammu, May 2 It was handed over by SC Singh, executive director, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, Northern Region-II. Powergrid was approached by the office-bearers of the school for helping in constructing a dining hall and a kitchen in addition to facelifting of the entire building. Powergrid constructed a kitchen and dining hall and also undertook the work of facelifting of the entire building. SC Singh assured the management committee of the association of continued support from Powergrid in their yeoman service to the needy and deprived children. He also distributed snacks and candies among the children. SC Singh was accompanied by SD Joshi, AGM (C&M), Stanley Mathews, chief manager (HR), and other senior officials of Powergrid. Among others, Ravi Dubey, president, Rajinder Kapoor, secretary and MN Prabhakar from Rotary Inner Wheel were present on the occasion.
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8-wicket win for Young Guns XI
Jammu, May 2 Stadium XI were bundled out for a paltry total of 52 runs in 15.2 overs after batting first. Sannat wreaked havoc with his fiery spell to complete a brilliant five-wicket haul by conceding just 12 runs in his quota of overs. Shivam took three important wickets, while Pavit Singh and Rattandeep Singh snared one wicket each. In reply, Young Guns XI reached the target in just 9.2 overs, losing two wickets in the process. Rattandeep Sharma was the top scorer with 29 runs, hitting four boundaries. — TNS
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KCC storm into T20 final
Jammu, May 2 KCCC bowlers did well to restrict KCC to a meagre total of 98 runs after the former won the toss and decided to bat first in the semifinal. Shahbaz played a fine knock of 33 runs studded with some delectable hits to the fence. Amritpal and Mudassar also chipped in with 10 and 8 runs, respectively. For KCCC, Raman Dutta was the main destroyer with three wickets, while Bandeep Singh scalped two wickets. Manik, Akash and Sahil shared a wicket apiece. Chasing a modest target to reach the final, KCCC batsmen made mess of a target and the whole team was skittled out for 85 runs in 18.2 overs. Pardeep Bali was the only batsman who shown some resistance. He made 34 runs. For KCC, Satish did the maximum damage by picking wickets at crucial junctures. Pankaj, Kuldeep and Aman snared a wicket apiece. Earlier, KCCC toppled JKP XI Team by 45 runs to enter into the semifinals. Batting first, KCCC accumulated 147 runs in the stipulated 20 overs. In form batsman Bandeep Singh was the top scorer with 24 runs, while all-rounder Manik Gupta contributed 23 runs. Glovesman Raman Thaploo scored quick 22 runs off just 15 balls, including two boundaries. Ashok, Pardeep Bali and Sahil Sharma chipped in with 14, 13 and 10 runs, respectively. For JKP XI, Naresh and Naushad scalped two wickets each while Saqib, Shamsher and Naresh claimed one wicket each. In reply, JKP XI bundled out for 102 runs in 19.5 overs. Naushad was the top scorer with 26 runs, while Naresh, Farooq and Rajesh Gill contributed 22, 20 and 13 runs. Speedster Sahil Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for KCCC, who scalped three important wickets in his spell of 3.5 overs by conceding just 12 runs. Akash Choudhary took two wickets, while Raman Dutta, Manik Gupta and Bandeep Singh claimed one wicket each. Sahil Sharma of KCCC was adjudged the man of the match. The match was officiated by Shashi Pal, Vijay and Sohail. The tournament is being organised by Young Star Cricket Club under the supervision of its president Ankush Abrol, vice-president Rajesh Dhar, general secretary Vikram Singh and chairman Shashi Pal, the organising secretary of the tournament.
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Zia Noor, Manmohit claim gold
Jammu, May 2 The gold medal winners in the championship included Zia Noor, Manmohit Singh, Zoya Khan, Harshveer Singh, Prajwal Singh, Uditi Verma, Sanya Gupta, Supriya Uttam, Jaimeet Kour, Heena Bali, Afsha Akhtar, Amit Kour, Aryan Sharma, Sarthak Gupta, Aahwann Gupta, Dhruv Sharma, Ritik Sharma, Parth Gadoo and Lakshmi Kumara. The silver medals were bagged by Alisha Raj, Manthan Pandoo, Arushi Rai, Prabhat Gupta, Zaheer Abbas, Arshia Salathia, Navya Sharma, Garima Bhat, Tajinder Kour, Lakshimi Kumari, Ifrah Noor, Rhea Tikku, Rochak Chopra, Santveer Singh, Kartik Kannan, Sarthak Luthra, Manpreet Singh, Gurmehar Singh, Rajvansh Sharma and Aishaan Dutt. Bronze medals were fetched by Amanpreet Singh, Shine Kour, Archit Bhola, Anshuman Gupta, Palki Kumar, Spandana Fotedar, Anish Kundal, Hannan Tariq, Sameer Bral, Yuvraj Singh, Rashi Vaid, Lavanya Vaid, Nandini Sharma, Janvi Gupta, Sugandh Mehta, Mannat Gupta, Rasneet Kour, Samridhi Puri, Simran Rally, Sanchi Gupta, Sakshi Vaid, Sukanya Choudhary, Prajwala Singh, Ishrat Jan, Animesh Gupta, Karan Bhardwaj, Neel Bhan, Pranay Gupta, Sudhanshu Saraf, Simranjot Singh, Chetanjeet, Aryan Mehra, Suryansh, Swaranshu Kapoor, Aishaan, Ankit Sharma, Sanskriti Nanda, Ansh Dhar, Himanshu Bhat and Aditya Pratap. — TNS
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Zonal sports meet organised
Jammu, May 2 The meet was inaugurated by the principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Tikri. Government Girls Middle School, Tikri, spanked Government Girls Middle School, Chiryai, in kho-kho. Mushtaq Mohd of Government Middle School, Salara, fetched the gold medal and also qualified for the district-level competition. The meet was conducted by Ashok Kumar Tharmatt, Kuldeep Singh and Arun Kumar. |
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School celebrates
Earth Day
Jammu, May 2 The school organised a series of activities such as the earth fair, earth quiz, special assembly and the Earth Day rally, which started from Mubarak Mandi and culminated at Parade ground. The students painted Earth Day messages on Westside bags aiming at spreading the
message of saving the earth from pollution and deforestation. |
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Nation | Opinions | |
While the government spends crores of rupees on the development of the Jagti township, the Kashmiri Pandits feel their major demand of return to the Valley is being overshadowed.
With just one and half months to go for the annual Amarnath Yatra to begin, the authorities concerned have not yet taken any measures to improve the infrastructure and
other facilities.
While some point towards the lack of industry-specific vocational training courses, others consider it their last option if they fail to get government jobs or more lucrative jobs post their MBA degrees.