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Indo-Pak flag meeting today; trade, travel still on hold
PoK forest fire sets off mines along LoC in Poonch
Amarnath Yatra |
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Two docs depose in Yousuf case
BJP holds protests against inflation
Prime accused claims he married starlets mother two years ago
Panchayat Conference members told to work for development
Thousands of devotees offer prayers at Hazratbal shrine
J-K proud to have produced officer of Raju’s stature: DGP
All stakeholders must pitch in to bail out addicts
3 dead, one hurt in road mishap in Leh
State’s first IT Park to come up in Budgam
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Indo-Pak flag meeting today; trade, travel still on hold
Jammu, June 22 “We received a response via hotline today wherein the Pakistan Army has agreed to a flag meeting to be held at Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch district at 11 am tomorrow,” the Jammu-based Defence PRO, Col RK Palta, told The Tribune. Colonel Palta disclosed that it would be a Brigade Commander-level meeting between the two armies. The Defence Ministry official also stated that there had been no fresh cross-LoC firing by Pak troops in the KG sector. On June 19, the Army had sent a hotline message to the Pakistan army seeking a Brigade Commander-level flag meeting to discuss the increasing incidents of firing and ceasefire violations in the KG sector. “The situation along the LoC in the KG sector is peaceful but tense. Since the Pakistan army has agreed to the flag meeting, we will strongly raise the matters of ceasefire violations and trans-LoC firing tomorrow,” said a senior Army officer. The Indian side would be represented by the Poonch Brigade Commander, he added. Besides ceasefire violations and cross-LoC firing, we are also going to take up the issue of forest fires, which start from across the LoC and then spread to our area resulting in explosions of mines, said the officer. Since June 13, when Pakistani troops started pounding Indian forward posts, two soldiers — Lance Naik Harvinder Singh and BSF jawan PK Mishra — were killed while five others were injured, two of them critically. “Though there had been instances of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in the past but never before did they target Indian posts and our soldiers,” said the officer. On June 16, the Pakistan army had refused to attend a commandant-level flag meeting in Chakan-da-Bagh without assigning any reason. Meanwhile, the trans-LoC trade and travel via Chakan-da-Bagh remains suspended since June 14 and June 18, respectively. “This morning again my counterpart in Rawalakote told me that unless the flag meeting took place between the two armies, trade and travel would remain suspended,” said custodian of the cross-LoC trade and travel Abdul
Hamid.
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PoK forest fire sets off mines along LoC in Poonch
Poonch, June 22 The forest fire broke in PoK and reached the Indian territory in Dera Dibsi in the Balakote sector, damaging the fence along the Line of Control for over 3 km in the Balakote area, sources said. The Forest Range Officer, Mendher Abdul Razak Khan, said: “The fire broke out from the PoK side on June 21 and entered the Indian territory, causing damage to some bunkers and the telecommunication set-up. Fire tenders of the Army and the civil administration are trying to
douse the flames.” The fire spread along the border belt up to the lower Krishna Ghati belt, triggering several mine explosions planted by
troops as part of the anti-infiltration measures, the sources said. There has been no loss of life or injury to anyone in the fire. There was no damage caused to any forward post along the LoC in
the fire. However, there have been minefield explosions and some damage to communication cables along the LoC and these are being repaired, the sources added. Situation under control: Army Jammu: The Defence PRO, Col R K Palta, has said that everything is under control along the LoC. “Everything is under control and there is no cause for concern. There is no habitation in the area and it is a very isolated part of the LoC,” Colonel Palta said. He said that mines had exploded in the fenced area and not in the
inhabited area close to the LoC. |
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Amarnath Yatra
Srinagar, June 22 “It was decided to release additional quota for registration through the J&K Bank website for the convenience of the pilgrims who had not so far secured registration,” an official said after a SASB meeting held at Raj Bhawan here that was chaired by Governor NN Vohra. The Governor, who is also the SASB chairman, reviewed the status of the registration process and the ongoing arrangements for the forthcoming yatra during the meeting. The CEO of the SASB, Navin K. Choudhary, said the additional online registration quota had been released to ensure that all intending pilgrims reach the base camps only after having registered themselves. He said more than 3.5 lakh pilgrims had already registered till date through the branches of J&K Bank, YES Bank and 102
post offices in addition to the online registration through the website of J&K Bank. The registration process through bank branches and post offices is still going on at several places, Navin added. The SASB reiterated its appeal to the yatris not to reach the base camps without registration while reminding them to produce the required health certificates. |
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Two docs depose in Yousuf case
Srinagar, June 22 Dr Fareeda Noor and Dr Irshad Ahmad Kuchay, were cross-examined before the Justice H S Bedi Commission. — TNS
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BJP holds protests against inflation
Srinagar, June 22 Twentyfour BJP activists led by M Altaf Thakur, general secretary of the party’s Srinagar district body, staged a demonstration at the Press Enclave area here. Protesters carried BJP flags and raised slogans against “rampant” corruption and inflation. The police detained the protesters after they tried to take out a procession towards Lal Chowk. Thakur said a similar protest was held in Budgam town, around 15 km from here, which was led by local BJP leader Ashraf Azad. Jammu: The BJP today stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and described him as a “proxy PM, who lacked decision-making ability”. The BJP lashed out at the Congress-led UPA government for its failure to check corruption and high inflation. As part of its country-wide “jail bharo” programme, 400 BJP activists courted arrest in Jammu city and other districts of the state to protest against price rise, corruption, black money and mis-governance. “While the UPA government under the prime ministership of the so-called most intelligent economist of the country has gifted corruption, price rise and black money to people, the Congress being a coalition partner in Jammu and Kashmir has shown least concern for providing even basic amenities to people,” national president of the BJP Mahila Morcha Smriti Irani told mediapersons here. Flanked by party’s state co-in charge RP Singh, state president Shamsher Singh Manhas and other senior leaders, Irani, who was in the town to lead the jail bharo programme, alleged that all time high corruption -- both during the rule of the Congress-led UPA at the Centre and NC-Congress coalition in the state - had been the major achievements of the party so far. She asked the Centre and the state government to read “the writing on the wall” and take effective steps to book corrupt elements and bring down price rise. Irani also made a scathing attack on the state government for its failure to ensure round-the-clock electricity to people, particularly in the Jammu region. She alleged that the people were facing hardships due to long and unscheduled power cuts during summer. Responding to a question regarding the upcoming presidential elections, Irani defended the party’s decision to support PA Sangma as a presidential candidate. She said, “We are proud to back a tribal leader and we hope he will win.” She also dismissed the talk of division within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance on the presidential elections. “There is just a difference of opinion, nothing else.” Earlier, Manhas while addressing protesters alleged that both the Congress and the National Conference under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had failed to fulfill even a single promise made in the election manifestos.
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Missing Pak-born starlet case
Jammu, June 22 Laila, her mother Saleena Patel, brother, sister and a cousin have been missing since February 2011. The police arrested the prime accused, Tak, from Jammu city yesterday. “We are probing if he (Tak) had killed Laila Khan, her mother Saleena Patel, and other members of the family in Himachal Pradesh or Nepal before decamping with Laila’s luxury vehicle Mitsubishi Outlander,” DIG, Ramban-Kishtwar-Doda Range, Garib Dass told The Tribune. “We are verifying the veracity of Tak’s statements. He claimed that Saleena, who had got married to him in the Ratnagiri area of Mumbai two years ago, had promised him that she would spend her life with him in Kashmir after settling down her children,” said Dass. Tak is 32-years-old while Saleena is 47-years-old. The DIG said the Kishtwar police had the copy of “nikahnama” of Saleena and Tak. During preliminary questioning, Tak said before parting ways with him, his wife Saleena had taken all his contact numbers and thereafter he never saw her again, said Dass. |
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Panchayat Conference members told to work for development
Srinagar, June 22
The demands presented by the six-member delegation led by Chairman of the Panchayat Conference Fazal Hussain Khan included incorporation of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the state for strengthening and empowerment of Panchayati Raj institutions, election of the Chairman of the block development council from sarpanches and panches and larger and systematic involvement of panchayat representatives in the formulation and implementation of development schemes at the grass-roots level. Other demands projected by the deputation included provision of security and honorarium to sarpanches and panches. The Governor urged the delegation members to devote themselves wholeheartedly to hastening the development process in their respective areas. He assured them that he would take up their demands with Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar and, if necessary, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
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Thousands of devotees offer prayers at Hazratbal shrine
Srinagar, June 22 The Friday following celebrations are unique to Muslims in Kashmir and the tradition has continued despite objections raised by the Salfis and Jamat-i-Islami, who oppose veneration of shrines. Friday following is not celebrated by Muslims in any other part of the world. An official holiday is observed on the day in the Valley. The day is celebrated on the first Friday after Meraj on the 27th night of the Rajab month of the Islamic calendar. The occasion was celebrated on June 17 and 18 as the Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad ascended to the highest levels of heavens on the 27th night of the Rajab month. The unique feature of Meraj-ul-Alam and following Friday in Kashmir is the public exhibition of the holy relic (hair strand of Prophet Muhammad) each time after the five daily prayers at the Hazratbal shrine. Thousands of devotees throng Hazratbal on the occasion, as was witnessed today as well. Shab Khwani (nightlong prayers and supplications) was also held at the shrine last night. A large number of Muslims in Kashmir also celebrate Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, which falls on 12th Rabiul-Awwal of the Islamic calendar, in a distinct manner by thronging Hazratbal to catch a glimpse of the holy relic. Distinct Milad and Meraj celebrations began in the Valley during the early 18th century. A large number of Muslims in the Kashmir valley decorate their houses with colourful lights on both the occasions. |
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J-K proud to have produced officer of Raju’s stature: DGP
Srinagar, June 22 “Jammu and Kashmir is proud to have produced an officer of Raju’s stature who proved his mettle
at the national-level and was chosen to be the founder Director General of the National Investigation Agency,” Rajendra said. Chairing a condolence meeting of senior police officers in memory of the late Vigilance Commissioner, the Director General of Police said Raju was a friend, philosopher and a guide for his colleagues and subordinates. “He always gave valuable advice and suggestions to his superiors,” the acting Director General of Police said. Raju was battling blood cancer and breathed his last at a private hospital in Kochi on Thursday.
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DRUG TRAP-II
Srinagar, June 22 Dr Khan maintained that the location of their de-addiction centre at the PCR was providing a “sense of security” to parents. “Initially, when we set up this centre at the PCR, many thought it would not be a good idea. But now, more people come here as the location of the centre in a police-controlled area is providing a sense of security to parents, who fear that their wards may run away if admitted to some other place. Here, the addicts have no place to run,” he said. His words can be substantiated by the fact that a drug addict wishing to get admission at the PCR de-addiction centre has to wait for five or six months to get admission. “We have 10 beds here and the waiting list number has mounted to 305,” Dr Khan said. On the other hand, a similar centre set up at the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital despite having better facilities and a 25-bedded infrastructure does not witness a heavy rush of addicts seeking treatment. In fact, according to an official, most of the beds at the SMHS centre remain unoccupied. Now, the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, is mulling over setting up more de-addiction centres with the help of the police, Dr Khan said. However, Dr Mushtaq Margoob, an expert on disaster psychiatry and who also heads the SMHS de-addiction centre, said the centre though functional would cater to the issue holistically once made fully operational. He asserted that dealing with the issue was not confined to mere clinical treatment or counselling. “Once our centre is properly made functional in the coming months, we will deal with the issue holistically. “Besides treatments, we will engage the addicts in recreational activities and we need to create more awareness over the matter so that the addicts do not relapse into drug abuse. We have been holding regular awareness camps across the Valley but more needs to be done. The centre would also treat female drug addicts separately.” The majority of the drugs abused in the Valley are medicinal opioids and prescription anxiolytics. Free availability of drugs without prescriptions is also a major reason behind the abuse of drugs in Kashmir. The main drug hubs are the backwaters of Dal Lake, Boulevard Road and Chanapora in Srinagar besides Sangam in Anantnag district, Sopore town in north Kashmir and Shopian town in south Kashmir, said police sources. They said the police had been conducting raids and arresting drug peddlers but that alone would not resolve the problem as collective efforts were required from all stakeholders. Experts dealing with addicts too call for an integrated approach to deal with the issue and remove the associated social taboos. “The police or the health department alone cannot resolve the matter as collective efforts are needed to check the drug menace which has reached epidemic proportions,” said Dr Waqar Bashir, who has been treating drug addicts in the Valley for over five years. While the police has also been engaging the services of moulvis to counsel drug addicts at the PCR centre, by partnering with the Directorate of Health Services, it expects to tackle the drug menace in a better way. However, only time will tell if it brings in the desired change. As far as the mainstream as well as separatist leaders are concerned, they have only been expressing concern and raising slogans over tackling the drug menace. They have not come up with an effective plan of action to deal with the grave matter. (Concluded) Medicinal Abuse * The majority of the drugs abused in the Valley are medicinal opioids and prescription anxiolytics *
Free availability of drugs without prescriptions is a major reason behind the abuse of drugs in Kashmir *
The main drug hubs are the backwaters of Dal Lake, Boulevard Road and Chanapora in Srinagar; Sangam in Anantnag district; Sopore town in north Kashmir; and Shopian town in south Kashmir |
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3 dead, one hurt in road mishap in Leh
Leh, June 22 It is the second mishap at Khardongla during this week. Two tourists from Mumbai were killed and six others were injured when an avalanche hit their vehicles at Khardongla. SHO, Leh, Sonam Rigzin said the accident occurred when the vehicle in which the victims were travelling ahead of other members of the marriage party, rolled down a hill near the Khardongla top. According to the Police Control Room, Leh, two members of the marriage party died instantaneously while one member died at the hospital. — TNS
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State’s first IT Park to come up in Budgam
Srinagar, June 22 “We have identified 150 kanals for the first IT Park of the state at Ompora, which is near Srinagar airport,” Minister for Science and Technology Aga Syed Ruhullah said. “The IT Park will simultaneously provide jobs to IT professionals in the state and become a source of revenue also.” The project was conceived in 1999 when Omar Abdullah was the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry. Officials of the IT Department said the park was 12 km from the city centre, Lal Chowk. They said the park would come up on the lines of the state of the art technology parks in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore, which are the IT hubs of the country. “We are in touch with officials of the IT Department of these states and the park in J&K would be on the pattern of these states,” said a senior official. “We will provide the state of the art infrastructure, power, broadband connectivity and other facilities to attract national IT players.” The official said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed soon with the Industries Department for acquiring land at Ompora. “We will also formulate a joint policy with the state Industry Department to attract the major national IT players like Wipro, Bharti Airtel and Tech Mahindra to Kashmir. We are in touch with various IT companies of the country and we will invite them to set up their base in the proposed IT Park,” he said. Hi-tech park * 150 kanals for the IT Park identified at Ompora in Budgam district *
The park will create job opportunities for hundreds of IT professionals of the state, who otherwise have to look for jobs in other parts of the country *
The project was conceived in 1999, when Omar Abdullah was Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry *
The park to come up on the lines of state-of-the-art technology parks in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore |
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Finally, the Pakistan army, which had been violating the truce deal in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district, has agreed for the much-awaited flag meeting, which will be held at
Chakan-da -Bagh tomorrow.
Friday following Meraj-ul-Alam was celebrated with traditional fervour across the Kashmir valley today.
While devotees thronged several shrines for prayers throughout the day, the main gathering was held at the revered Hazratbal shrine located on the banks of the Dal Lake.
