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Anti-graft panel tackles ills sans teeth, full staff
Traders must look after interests of artisans: CM
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3 injured in grenade blast in Anantnag
PDP, BJP trying to create unrest in state: NC
Make interlocutors’ report public: NC to Centre
Panic on KU campus as policeman opens fire
Separatists sending positive signals: Mir
Jhullas residents demand higher secondary school
‘Dowry Death’
22 injured in road mishap in Doda
12 hurt due to electric shock
3 gamblers arrested
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Anti-graft panel tackles ills sans teeth, full staff
Jammu, May 14 A New Delhi NGO, Transparency International, in a survey in 2005, had bracketed Jammu and Kashmir as the second most corrupt state after Bihar in the entire country. While skeletons of corruption and scams keep tumbling out of the cupboard of the state government, at least 19 posts continue to remain vacant in the State Accountability Commission, said official sources. “Since August 2011, when the Commission was reconstituted under the J&K Accountability Act 2002 as well as amended, the post of Principal Secretary to the Chairperson has been lying vacant,” they added. Though the state government filled two posts of Deputy Registrars in January and April this year, one post of Assistant Registrar, out of a total of two, has been vacant since August 2011. Bringing to the fore the sorry state of affairs, sources divulged that two posts of Public Prosecutors, one post of Court Officer, one post of Section Officer, one post of Judgment Writer/Stenographer, two posts of Head Assistants and three posts of Computer Operators have also been vacant since long. Similarly, all three posts of Senior Assistants and one post of Junior Assistant are lying vacant. Out of a total of four posts of Junior Assistants, the government made contractual appointments on three of them but one is still vacant, the sources said, adding that one post of Telephone Operator was also vacant. Though the anti-graft panel doesn’t get big budgetary allocations but one post of Accounts Officer, out of a total of two, is also vacant, they added. Ever since the then coalition government of the PDP and the Congress came up with the anti-graft panel in 2005 to tighten the noose around corruption in the system, the Act has also seen amendments, which confined it to taking cognisance of corrupt practices by politicians, Ministers, MLAs and MLCs. “The government had promised us that an independent investigation agency would be a part of the SAC for felicitating secret and independent investigations but till date nothing of the sort has been provided to us,” said a SAC source. Without an independent investigation agency, the SAC finds it difficult to conduct secret inquiries and as a result the work suffers, said an insider. He disclosed that 19 vacant posts and the absence of an independent investigation agency had severely affected the performance of the anti-graft panel. The existing staff is already overstretched and therefore the present government, which claims to be serious about tackling corruption, should bring its act together and provide “teeth” in the real sense to the anti-graft panel,
he added.
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Traders must look after interests of artisans: CM
Srinagar, April 14 “The traders need to take care of those hands who make these wonderful items,” Omar said while speaking at an international buyer-seller meet at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here. Omar said until the benefit of the trade reached the makers of the handicraft items, the industry would not grow. The Chief Minister also advised the handicraft traders to adopt honest practices to attract customers from the country and other parts of
the world. “Most of the Kashmiri handicraft traders are honest, but there are a few dishonest traders who give a bad name,” he said, adding that the traders should ensure high quality of Kashmir handicrafts to attract more buyers
to Kashmir. The Chief Minister said it was heartening to see a good number of buyers from various countries attending the meet. “It will boost the entire handicraft industry,” he added. Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora, while speaking on the occasion, said the trade was directly linked to the tourism industry. “The handicraft trade will get a boost with a large number of tourists arriving in the Valley. And that is why we are planning to have heritage clusters at various tourist places,” he said. Those who spoke on the occasion included Minister for Industries and Commerce S S Slathia, Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani and J&K Bank chairman Sheikh
Mushtaq. |
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Amarnath yatra arrangements reviewed
Jammu, May 14 Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Naveen Choudhary was also present at the meeting. The Divisional Commissioner discussed various matters with the civil administration and the police to ensure timely arrangements for the yatra. He stressed the need for greater synergy and coordination between the civil administration, police, security forces, Shrine Board authorities and other departments concerned to ensure that the required arrangements were put in place in time. To ensure the quality and rates of eatables and other essential commodities during the yatra period, especially along the national highway, the Divisional Commissioner issued directions to officials of various departments to conduct regular inspections of markets to check overcharging by shopkeepers. All the aspects related to the commencement of the yatra, registration, accommodation and transport for sadhus, exemption from entry and toll tax on goods and vehicles carrying provisions for free langars, hoardings and banners, lodging facilities for yatris in Jammu province, boarding facilities, emergency and disaster management, transportation of yatris and security arrangements were discussed in the meeting. Minister for Revenue Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla also reviewed the essential services delivery scenario in Jammu and its peripheries, besides arrangements being made by the administration to ensure the smooth conduct of the Amarnath yatra, at a high level meeting here today. The Minister instructed all the line departments to work in tandem so that tourists and Amarnath yatris do not suffer due to non-availability of facilities. He also asked the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to provide drinking water in sufficient quantity to the people of Jammu city during summer. During the meeting, Chief Engineer, PHE, BR Dogra apprised the Minister about the drinking water supply scenario in the city and its peripheries. He said those areas which were facing shortage of water were being supplied the same through tankers. Vaishno Devi pilgrims restricted to 40,000 per day Katra: In a significant decision, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has decided to restrict the number of pilgrims to the cave shrine to a maximum of 40,000 yatris. The decision is aimed at ensuring that the pilgrims en route the 13-km Katra-Vaishno Devi track don’t face inconvenience due to the heavy rush. |
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3 injured in grenade blast in Anantnag
Srinagar, May 14 The police said the attack took place around 4 pm near Sangam Chowk on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. “Three persons were injured as the grenade missed the target and exploded on the roadside,” a police spokesman said. The injured have been identified as Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Litter, Pulwama; Mohammad Ashraf of Panzgam and Javed Ahmad of Wachi, Shopian. All the injured were shifted to Sub-district Hospital, Bijbehara. “Manzoor Ahmad and Mohammad Ashraf were referred to the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences,” he said. Militant hideout busted in Valley
The Army recovered arms and ammunition after busting a militant hideout at the Dachhigam reserve forest on the outskirts of the city today. “In a major combing operation based on specific intelligence inputs, 7 Rashtriya Rifles busted a hideout in the Dachhigam reserve forest,” a Defence spokesman said. Three AK-56 rifles, one pistol, four grenades, 12 AK-56 magazines, one radio set and a large quantity of ammunition was recovered. |
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PDP surviving on blame game: Omar
Srinagar, May 14 Omar said this while addressing a gathering at Rainawari in Srinagar after inaugurating the extension block of Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital. He also questioned the PDP’s “delivery” on the promises made to people during its tenure. “Those (PDP leader), who raised the slogan of healing touch, used maximum force against the people and converted politics into trade,” he said, adding that “deceit and converting politics into trade has been the trait of the PDP and its leadership since its inception.” Targeting PDP Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Omar said: “The people have not forgotten the massacre let loose on civilians at Gowkadal, Islamia College and other places by the then Governor, Jagmohan, under the orders of the then Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.” “The people are also witness to the fact how he traded the chair of the Home Minister of India to save his daughter at the cost of the nation,” he added in an apparent reference to 1989 kidnapping case of Rubaiya Sayeed. Omar also expressed dismay over the regular protests taken out by government employees. “The government has all along being employee-friendly. We have fulfilled all demands of the employees, including the grant of 6th pay panel commission, its arrears, HRA and DA, except the demand of raising the retirement age by two years, which is under the consideration of the government. The decision on the crucial issue is pending, as we do not want to debar educated youth from the opportunity of getting government jobs for two years. We have not shelved the demand, but we are looking for some via media, which shall satisfy the interests of both the employees and the educated youth,” Omar said. |
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PDP, BJP trying to create unrest in state: NC
Jammu, May 14 “Both the PDP and the BJP have reached into an undeclared alliance and they are planning to create 2008 Amarnath agitation like communal divide and unrest in the state. You (people) will have to remain vigilant and cautious against the evil designs of the PDP-BJP,” senior NC leader and MLC Ajay Sadhotra said while addressing a public gathering at Gurah Singhu, a border village in Marh assembly segment today. Sadhotra said the coalition government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had started development activities in all the three regions of the state and the pace of development had frustrated the PDP and the BJP. He expressed his full confidence in people of the state and said he was confident that the people would frustrate the evil designs of the PDP-BJP and would not allow them to create 2008 situation again. “The people know that peace is a major instrument for speedy development of the state and they are feeling the speedy pace of development activities under the leadership of Omar Abdullah,” he said. The NC leader said the Chief Minister was committed to uplift of farmers and he always tried to ensure timely and quality distribution of fertilisers. He, however, asked the government to procure DAP fertiliser, as the paddy sowing season had started and there was a shortage of DAP fertiliser in the market. Meanwhile, some BJP leaders resigned from the party and joined the NC in the presence of
Sadhotra. |
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Make interlocutors’ report public: NC to Centre
Jammu, May 14 “The Centre has yet to provide a copy of the report to the state government. It should take the state government into confidence and make the report public without further delay,” Harmohinder Singh, unit president of the NC Minority Cell, told mediapersons here. He said the three interlocutors, including Dilip Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and MM Ansari, had held parleys with state intelligentsia, civil societies, government machinery and representatives of various amalgams. “They noted down their viewpoints and people have enormous expectations from their report and recommendations. The interlocutors had submitted their report to the Centre on October 12, 2011, and since then nothing has transpired. It is feared that it might meet the fate of Justice Sagheer Ahmed’s report. It was tantamount to hoodwink the people,” the NC leader said. He said the NC was optimistic about the release of interlocutors’ report and after the report is made public, debates and discussions from all sections of society would be solicited for the implementation of recommendations. The NC leader said it was high time to give a fillip to the peaceful atmosphere in the state by initiating more CBMs for the welfare of displaced people, including refugees and other minority communities in the state. He also hailed the achievements of the NC-Congress coalition government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying the ruling dispensation had brought a significant change in the law and order situation of the state. |
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Muslims from Jammu region join BJP
Jammu, May 14 Muslims from the Barmeeni, Bhatindi, Narwal, Talab Tarutta and Chaata areas of the Sunjawan panchayat, falling under Gandhi Nagar Assembly constituency, joined the party in a function held at Sunjawan under the leadership of Mohammed Yousuf and Mohammed Farmaan. BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas, Jammu East MLA Ashok Khajuria, chief party spokesperson Jitendra Singh, general secretary Sat Sharma, Mahila Morcha state president Sakina Bano and other senior leaders welcomed the new entrants into the party fold by garlanding them. Terming this joining as the victory of the pro-people policies and principles of the party, Manhas said the BJP was the only political party which had been agitating on roads and fighting inside Parliament and Assemblies for the cause of the common masses. He said even the Muslims of Jammu were discriminated against by the successive state governments and were treated as second class citizens. Jammu East MLA Ashok Khajuria said a wrong impression had been created by some vested interests that the BJP was a party of Hindus, which was totally misleading and beyond reality. Jitendra Singh said the BJP was the only secular political party in the country and false propaganda against it was spread by pseudo-secularists in the Congress and other regional parties, which practised the politics of religion and divided society. Ghulam Ali Khatana, Vikram Randhawa, Mohammed Farmaan, Pinky Gupta, Mohammed Yousuf and Priya Jral also addressed the function. |
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Panic on KU campus as policeman opens fire
Srinagar, May 14 Eyewitnesses said a policeman guarding the KU Vice-Chancellor’s office entered into a heated argument with a group of youth who were playing a Kashmir Premier League (KPL) match at the university grounds. The argument took place after a player came to fetch a ball that had landed near the VC’s office. Soon after the incident, the policeman along with his colleagues entered the cricket ground where they reportedly clashed with the players. A policeman also fired in the air creating panic on the campus. While eyewitnesses claimed that a few players sustained injuries during the incident, KU spokesman said no student was involved in the scuffle. “The argument took place between players of some private cricket clubs and no student of the university participated in the scuffle and neither was any student injured in the incident. However, a few KU guards suffered injuries in the scuffle,” the spokesman said. The incident also triggered protests on the campus. However, the matter, according to the KU spokesman, was resolved following the constitution of an inquiry committee into the incident and the suspension of the policeman identified as Mehrajuddin, who was found guilty of opening fire. Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the KU shooting incident. In a statement, the PDP chief spokesperson said the shooting incident was “symptomatic of the trigger-happy nature of the government forces which have no respect for human rights.” He said the government and the KU authorities “must come out clean on this shameful incident”. |
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Separatists sending positive signals: Mir
Srinagar, May 14 “Separatist leaders of late have been showing interest in development issues by commenting on roads and other day-to-day matters. It is a welcome step and a positive signal. It (separatist statements) is also the need of the hour for the welfare and prosperity of the state,” said Mir. The Minister for Agriculture said this a day after he had urged “everyone” to welcome the separatists’ statements on development issues. “Statements of separatist groups on development issues through the print media is an encouraging step and everyone should appreciate this gesture whole-heartedly for the welfare of the people,” Mir had said while addressing a public gathering at Chiwdara Beerwah in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. He had made the comments in an apparent reference to moderate Hurriyat faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s recent statement that the conglomerate was not averse to development in the Kashmir valley. Mirwaiz had also demanded compensation from the government for people who were affected by the road-widening projects being undertaken in the city. When asked who besides Mirwaiz had made statements that needed to be welcomed, Mir without naming anyone said a few “smaller rung” separatist leaders too had made “encouraging” statements. |
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Jhullas residents demand higher secondary school
Poonch, May 14 Despite recommendations by the District Development Board, Poonch, Jhullas is yet to get a higher secondary school. Accusing the government of political victimisation, locals alleged that the authorities had deliberately neglected the village not only on basic amenities, but also on educational facilities. They said there was no higher secondary school in the area and students had to walk 9 to 11 km on foot to reach the school. From Higher Secondary School, Poonch, to Higher Secondary School, Ghani, which is in Mendhar tehsil, the distance is 35 km. “The school was upgraded to the High School in 1980, allowing students to study in the school from Class VI to X. The school has a catchment area of 11 villages with a population of nearly 25,000 and 12 feeding middle schools. The proposal for the upgradation of the school was sent to the higher authorities a number of times, but the authorities did nothing to upgrade the school,” said Mohammad Altaf, a local resident, “The upgradation of High School, Bharooti and Jhullas, has been recommended by the District Development Board twice and the school fulfils all requirements to become a higher secondary school. Despite this nothing has been done,” said Kewal Sharma, a local resident. Ravi Sharma, Assistant Director, Planning Department, who is an alumnus of the school said, “We had a good group of students, but due to no higher secondary school in the Krishna Ghati area many girls left their studies. Some students were not able to afford the daily expenditure, as they had to travel to Poonch town daily,” Ravi said. “Our children have to go to Higher Secondary School, Poonch or Ghani, in Mendhar tehsil after passing their Class X and both these schools are more than 15 km from Jhullas with minimum transport facility. Due to these problems many students abandon studies after Class X, especially girls. We do not hesitate to say that the school has been intentionally neglected,” said Ramesh Kumar, another local resident. Under the RMSA scheme, a high school can be upgraded to a higher secondary school provided there is no higher secondary school within a radius of around 7 km. In case of High School, Jhullas, the nearest Higher Secondary School is at Poonch or Mankote or Ghani which are more than 7 to 18 km away. Chief Education Officer, Poonch, Mohammad Ashraf Chouhan said, “The government has not yet decided to upgrade Jhullas High School to higher secondary school under the RMSA. We have only sent a feasibility report to the higher authorities and no final decision has been taken yet.” |
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‘Dowry
Death’
Rajouri, May 14 Reports said relatives of the dead woman were not satisfied with the investigations by the local police and had approached the DGP with all the facts
and details of the case few days back and pleaded for a fair probe. However, taking a serious note of the incident and inaction by the police, the DGP vide order No 1667 of 2012 dated 10-5-2012 has transferred the case to the Crime Branch for further investigation with the directions to the Rajouri police to hand over all the records concerned and the CD file to the Crime Branch with immediate effect. Sources said, on March 19 Mehnaz Fatima (30) was seen burning in Lah village of Thanamandi tehsil in Rajouri district. Hearing her scream, the villagers came for help and poured water over her, but by then she had received 95 per cent burn injuries. She was shifted to District Hospital, Rajouri, and later referred to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, due to her critical condition. She struggled with her life for 15 days and died on April 5. After a postmortem, her body was handed over
to her parental family for last rites. The police was forced to register an FIR despite a complaint being filed on the first day of the incident. Though the police has registered a case under Section 306/109 and arrested Fatima’s husband Ali Mohammed, but it has given a clean chit to all those who were a part of the conspiracy. The reports said Mehnaz Fatima was an employee of the Education Department and was posted at Government High School, Rajdhani, as a lab assistant. The family members of Fatima said her in-laws were demanding dowry from her. “We have paid about Rs 5 lakh in cash, besides other items during the six years of her marriage. She had no reason to commit suicide. She was a government employee and had two sons,” said Fatima’s brother Manzoor Ahmed Dar. “We don’t think she set herself on fire. In fact she was burnt by her in-laws,” Manzoor said. The matter has also been raised with the National Women Commission, said Manzoor. He said people who tied to hush up the case would also be exposed. SP Mubassir Latifi said, “We have submitted all the case-related documents to the Crime Branch and now it will investigate the case.” |
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22 injured in road mishap in Doda
Batote, May 14 Three seriously injured persons, who were airlifted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, were identified as Pawan Kumar of Charota, Shamlal of Baggar and Abdul Hamid of Jathi. Two injured persons, who were taken to GMCH in an ambulance, were identified as Ranjeet Singh and Janak Singh, both residents of Jathar, while two more injured persons referred to Doda Hospital were identified as Irshad Ahmed and Mohammad Hanief, both residents of Budhi.
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12 hurt due to electric shock
Katra, May 14 The condition of seven persons, including four women, was said to be serious. These people received an electric shock after a high voltage current got into the domestic power lines in the village. The current flowing into household items left over a dozen people injured. Women received burn injuries. The injured were rushed to various health centres. Doctors said persons with serious injuries would have to be referred to District Hospital, Reasi. Sub Divisional Magistrate, Mahore, Sher Singh rushed to the spot along with senior officials. He met the injured in the hospital and took stock of the treatment being given to them. He also ordered an inquiry into the incident. Local residents said due to high velocity winds and rain, the high tension wires got entangled with low tension cables, which supply power for domestic use.
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3 gamblers arrested
Katra, May 14 Giving details about the raid, Station House Officer (SHO), Reasi, Jatinder Singh Sambyal said on receiving specific inputs, a police team raided a vehicle parked on the Vijaypur road and caught three gamblers with bet money worth Rs 4,500. The SHO said the raid was part of a police crackdown on social evils in the area. “We have been asking people to cooperate with the police to eradicate the social evils,” the SHO said. He added that the residents should immediately report such incidents to the police station concerned. “We will act tough against those involved in any crime in the area,” Sambyal said. He said it was an endeavour of the police to make Reasi crime free. A case under Section 13 of the Gambling Act was registered in the Reasi police station and the investigations are on. |
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Srinagar, April 14
