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Cong high command upset about
anti-NHPC campaign
Employees’ bid to gherao secretariat foiled again
Protesting government employees being restrained by the police in Srinagar on Thursday. Photo: Amin War
5 LeT men held over car bomb plot
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CM tells cops to focus on public service, sincerity
Army jawan held for stabbing colleague
HC stays NHRC proceedings on Tricolour issue
Amarnath Yatra
Army Chief to arrive in J-K today
Chief Information Commissioner GR Sufi during his meeting with
Governor NN Vohra in Srinagar. A Tribune photograph
CRPF constable commits suicide
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Cong high command upset about
anti-NHPC campaign
Jammu, June 14 Senior Congress leader and Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Irrigation Taj Mohiuddin, who has launched the campaign against the NHPC, has even equated the corporation with the East India Company and alleged that the NHPC was looting natural resources
of the state. NHPC likened to East India
Company Although the propaganda against the NHPC was launched two years ago for allegedly exploiting natural resources of the state, the campaign gained momentum recently when senior ministers began projecting the NHPC as a company which was “looting” the state. Sources said earlier the Congress high command was not taking this slur campaign seriously but after some recent developments, especially the way some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were exerting pressure on the government to “throw” the NHPC out of the state, the party leadership has expressed concern
over the matter. Some local Congress leaders have also cautioned the high command that such a campaign would prove disastrous for the state. “Just for petty political gains, the Central government-owned companies are being targeted and projected as the exploiter,” a senior Congress leader told The Tribune on condition of anonymity. “The unfortunate part of this whole development is that one of the senior Congress ministers is leading the campaign against the NHPC,” he added. Sources said Taj’s detractors in the Congress had been exploiting the situation and had cautioned the high command against him. They alleged that Taj had crossed all limits while trying to appease the ruling National Conference. “Earlier the campaign against the NHPC was launched by regional parties like the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as it suits their political interests but now one of our ministers has jumped into the controversy,” a senior Congress minister said, adding that the issue would emerge as a big controversy in the days to come. The sources said the Congress high command had decided to summon the minister to give him an opportunity to clear his stand on the controversy. Taj has launched a campaign for taking back three hydro electric projects, namely Salal, Uri and Dul Hasti, from the NHPC. It was all due to the efforts of the Congress minister that the State government has collected Rs 543 crore from the NHPC for exploiting water resources
in the state. The estimated hydel potential in the state is about 20,000 MW, while the present generation capacity of all power projects stands at 759 MW. The NHPC-owned power projects include Salal (I&II) with 690 MW generation capacity, 480- MW Uri-I, 390-MW Dulhasti and 120-MW
Sewa-II project. The state is getting 12 per cent (210 MW) energy as royalty (free power) from the NHPC for the exploitation of its water resources. The NHPC provides 12 per cent free power as a contribution under corporate social responsibility
to the state. |
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Employees’ bid to gherao secretariat foiled again
Srinagar, June 14 While JCC leader and Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC-K) president Khurshid Alam along with his supporters had attempted to gherao the civil secretariat yesterday, scores of employees led by EJAC-Q president Abdul Qayoom Wani tried to take out a procession from the Exhibition Ground here today. However, the police resorted to cane charge and sprayed dyed water from a water cannon to disperse protesters as they tried to march towards the secretariat. A large number of employees, including Wani, were taken into preventive custody. “We condemn the police action as some of the protesters were manhandled by the police,” JCC leader Nisar Ahmad told The Tribune. The employees had earlier called for secretariat gherao programmes from June 13 to 15 that would be followed by a strike and ‘Raj Bhawan chalo’ on June 16. Another JCC leader Mohammad Gafoor Dar is scheduled to attempt yet another secretariat gherao programme tomorrow. The JCC demands include release of arrears recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission, enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years and regularisation of daily wagers and casual workers working in various departments. The government had signed an agreement with the JCC leaders last year in September according to which a decision regarding the employees’ demands was to be announced by March 31, 2012. The JCC decided to resume the protests after the government “failed” to honour the agreement made with it.
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5 LeT men held over car bomb plot
Srinagar, June 14 The mastermind of the plan, a Pakistani militant, Qasim Bhai, who is based in the Tral area of south Kashmir, is still at large. Those arrested were identified as Ayaz Ahmed Malik, Bilal Ahmed Malik, Khursheed Ahmed Bhat and Mohammad Yousuf Lone, all residents of Pulwama, and Muzafar Ahmed Bhat from Zewan. On May 17, the J&K police had averted a major tragedy when it detected a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) fitted in a car at Chanapora. It weighed more than 70 kg. The Deputy Inspector General, Kashmir, Afhad-ul-Mujtaba, said the IED was targeted at a law-enforcement agency in Srinagar. “Their (militants) aim was to strike terror in the minds of the general public,” Mujtaba said while interacting with reporters in Srinagar. The police said the conspiracy was hatched in south Kashmir by LeT militants operating in Tral and adjoining areas. The car fitted with the IED was brought from Pulwama to Srinagar on May 17, the same day, when it was noticed by a local resident who informed the police. “The mastermind of the failed plan, Qasim was instrumental in supplying the ignition gadgets besides imparting training to other members of the module,” the DIG said.
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Passing-out parade
Udhampur, June 14 Addressing the DSPs during a passing out parade at the Sher-i-Kashmir Police Academy here today, the Chief Minister told them to be true to the commitment and oath they had taken on the culmination of their training and entering into the police service. The Chief Minister presented the all-round best award to DSP Mohan Lal for his performance during the training period while the indoor best award went to Pranab Mahajan and outdoor best award to Mohammad Muzaffar Jan. Mir Murtaza Hussain received the best rider award. Omar observed that the state police was passing through a period of transition from militancy to peace restoration. He said the police has to deal with a peculiar situation, needing more professional dealing and public-friendly approach. He said transparency was the need of the hour and his government had enacted various legislations, including the Public Service Guarantee Act and the Right to Information Act to empower people. The Chief Minister advised the probationary officers to be clear in their performance and delivery. “You are being closely watched by people, media and the social media. Whenever you have to take a decision, take it as per your conscience, commitment to your oath and in accordance with the Constitution,” he told them while assuring the full support of his government to the state police in making it a stronger and highly professional police force in the country. DGP K Rajendra said the inculcation of professional policing, best aptitude and attitude was an important factor of the quality training received by the police officers at the academy.
— TNS |
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Army jawan held for stabbing colleague
Udhampur, June 14 The accused is a resident of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, while the victim belongs to Kerala. The accused had stabbed his colleague Prabhash T a day earlier with a knife. The victim sustained serious injuries and was admitted to Command Hospital, Udhampur. An investigating officer visited the scene of the crime, prepared a site plan, lifted blood stains from the spot, seized blood stained clothes of the victim and also recorded the statements of eyewitnesses. As the investigating officer proved the offence against the accused, the SHO of the Rehmbal police station arrested the accused yesterday. — TNS
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HC stays NHRC proceedings on Tricolour issue
Srinagar, June 14 Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar granted stay on the NHRC proceedings in the case after the state government filed a petition against it. The state government in its petition to the high court had challenged the jurisdiction of the NHRC in the matter. The BJP’s youth wing (Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha), led by MP Anuraq Thakur, had organised an Ekta Yatra (unity march), a campaign to hoist the Tricolour at Lal Chowk on January 26 last year. The rally, however, was stopped by the state government at Lakhanpur, near Jammu. Thakur had later moved the NHRC against the J&K Government. On May 1, 2012, the NHRC had pulled up the state government for stopping the BJP leaders from hoisting the national flag. The high court has also issued a notice to Anurag Thakur to file objections to the state petition within four weeks.
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Amarnath Yatra
Srinagar, June 14 “The Meteorological Department is in the process of establishing a Doppler Radar Station at
Srinagar, which will give more accurate weather forecasts in the Kashmir valley. It will benefit not only the
yatris, but also people throughout the year. The Doppler radar would become available later this year,” Director, Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus said. He said this during a meeting with Governor NN
Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. Vohra had last year sought the help of Union Minister for Science, Technology and Earth Sciences Vilasrao Deshmukh for installing a Doppler radar. The department is also establishing three advance weather systems at
Sheshnag, Panjtarni and the holy cave area that would become fully operational by June 20.
— TNS
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Army Chief to arrive in J-K today
Jammu, June 14 “The Army Chief will directly go to the Northern Command headquarters in the morning and leave for Srinagar late in the afternoon for an overnight stay there. On June 16, he is likely to visit forward areas in Kashmir, where he will interact with soldiers,” said Defence PRO of the Northern Command Col Rajesh Kalia. “He will fly to Delhi on the same day,” he said. Sources said during his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir after becoming the Army Chief, General Singh will review the security situation in the border state. “GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Lt Gen KT Parnaik will brief the Army Chief about the existing situation in the state and on borders,” they said. The sources said the Army Chief might meet Governor NN Vohra and Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah during his visit to the Valley.
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Governor briefed about RTI Act
Srinagar, June 14 “Sufi briefed the Governor about the functioning of the State Right to Information Act 2009 and the initiatives being taken by him and the State Information Commission for enhancing awareness among people about their rights and privileges under the law,” an official said. “The Governor appreciated the efforts being made and said the effective implementation of the statute would contribute to enhance the interests of good governance,” he said.
— TNS
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CRPF constable commits suicide
Srinagar, June 14 “Constable Santosh Kumar of 61 Battalion of the CRPF committed suicide at the Battalion Headquarters at Shivpora by shooting himself with his service rifle,” a police spokesman said. Kumar was rushed to a city hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, he said. A case has been registered. |
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For the second consecutive day, the bid of the Joint Consultative Committee, an amalgam of various employees’ bodies, to gherao the civil secretariat was foiled by the police here.
Srinagar, June 14
The state government will install a Doppler Radar Station to provide timely weather forecasts even as persistent bad weather has been hindering track clearance works on Amarnath yatra
routes. “The Meteorological Department is in the process of establishing a Doppler Radar Station at
Srinagar, which will give more accurate weather forecasts in the Kashmir valley. It will benefit not only the
yatris, but also people throughout the year. The Doppler radar would become available later this year,” Director, Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus said.
Senior Congress leader