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Cars with tinted glasses have free run
Police station blast
leaves PWD official dead, four hurt
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MC seals illegal workshop
Man hacks wife to death, arrested
Roadside food an open invitation to disease
Tardy e-metering hurting consumers
Budha
Amaranth
land
scam
ZPEOs await separate office
Cleanliness drive launched to restore Shiar Bawa’s glory
Gujjar Nagar residents protest over power cuts
JU gets first woman Dean
Pilgrim count touches 17,000
Cycling team selected for national tournament
Haryana clinch junior korfball title
SSMS win cricket meet
women
Cricket
Sqay
Championship
Mock test series held
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Cars with tinted glasses have free run
Jammu, July 23 Thousands of vehicles with tinted films continue to move on city roads despite the claim of the authorities of working in close coordination for “effective” implementation of the apex court ruling. “After the Transport Department cancelled the permissions granted in favour of vehicle owners allowing them to use tinted glasses and black films, it constituted ‘special inspection squads’ for the compliance of the court directive. The traffic department also launched a vigorous drive but it slowed down gradually,” a source said. Lack of coordination among officials of both departments had affected the effective implementation of the project, he added. A Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia, had banned the use of tinted glass, restricting visions beyond permissible limit as fixed under the Motor Vehicles Act, in vehicles from May 4 onwards. The court had given its judgement on a plea seeking a ban on the use of tinted films on car windows, including vehicles used by VVIPs. It was alleged that several crimes were committed by people using cars with tinted windows. The court, however, has exempted certain categories of VVIPs from the ban following security reasons. A senior officer of the state administration said special checking squads constituted by the Transport Department had failed to make frequent inspections, while the traffic police officials remained “mute spectator” to this “gross violation” in many cases. “Both departments should work in tandem and close coordination so that an effective mechanism is put in place to get the desired results,” the officer said. Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo, Transport Commissioner and Chairman, State Transport Authority, admitted that there could be “some coordination gap” at the lower level, but he had asked all regional transport officers and additional regional transport officers to intensify inspections to ensure compliance of the apex court directions in letter and spirit. The Commissioner said the department had initiated several measures to work in complete synergy with the Traffic Police Department. “We have constantly been advocating the counselling of all officers and officials so that good results are achieved,” he said. He added that vehicles under “Z” and “Z+” security covers would be allowed to use tinted glasses due to security reasons. “We have also written to the DGP and Home Secretary of the state to initiate necessary measures to comply with the apex court judgement,” Kakroo said. Of the 9.2 lakh vehicles in the state, over 10,000 vehicles continue to run on Jammu roads with tinted films or glasses. J&K IGP Mohammad Muneer Khan could not be contacted. |
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Police station blast
leaves PWD official dead, four hurt
Jammu, July 23 Kathua SSP Atul Goyal said the incident occurred when some workers of the Public Works Department (PWD) were handling an explosive material used in construction works. “A powerful explosion took place near an under-construction building inside the compound of the Bani police station this morning,” he added. PWD supervisor Mohmmad Iqbal was killed and four others were inured in the explosion. The injured included labourers working at the construction site, the SSP said. The four injured have been admitted to the hospital. The PWD had reportedly dumped the explosive material, used in the construction of roads and bridges, at a store in the compound of the police station. The police station building and vehicles parked on the premise also suffered some damage in the blast, sources said. The police and CRPF later cordoned off the area and started their investigation into the matter.
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MC seals illegal workshop
Jammu, July 23 Local residents had complained to the authorities that the workshop had become a major source of pollution in the locality. A senior MC official said hundreds of workshops repairing two and four wheelers had sprung up in the city without seeking necessary permission from the MC. As part of a special drive, the enforcement staff, led by the Chief Enforcement Officer, sealed the premises of Bansi Lal at Chakki Wali Gali, Janipur. The workshop had been running from a residential area, causing health hazard and nuisance in the locality. A police team from the Janipur police station and the Police Lines assisted the enforcement staff in the operation. As part of their anti-encroachment drive, the enforcement staff also cleared footpaths and pavements of encroachment in the BC Road, Maheshpura, Bakshi Nagar and Shakti Nagar areas and seized goods put on display by shopkeepers and vendors by encroaching upon pavements. MC Commissioner KL Khajuria said action would be taken against all illegal workshops. “We have already asked the owners to follow the guidelines and desist from opening such shops in residential areas. Inspections will be conducted across the city soon,” said Khajuria. Residents expressed happiness at the steps being taken by the corporation in this regard. “Vehicles coming for repairs are parked in narrow lanes. They also add to noise and air pollution,” said Sumir Gupta, a resident of Gumat. Automobile workshops have mushroomed in the city in the recent past, aggravating the problem of traffic jams. The government had earlier shifted trucks and other load carriers to Narwal, on the outskirts of the city, to ease the congestion. |
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Man hacks wife to death, arrested
Rajouri, July 23 Earlier, the victim’s family members blocked the national highway for over three hours. The victim, Sujata Devi, had married Joginder Paul of Thalyote village seven years ago. The husband worked as a mason and the couple had two children out of the wedlock. Sources said Joginder attacked his wife with a shape-edged weapon over a minor issue. She died after sustaining injuries on the head, arms, legs and other parts of body. Joginder fled the scene after the incident and some local residents informed the police. The national highway and the main bazar remained closed for over three hours this morning after a protest by the victim’s family members and relatives. They demanded strict action against Joginder. Senior police officers visited the scene and pacified the protesters after assuring them of conducting a post-mortem examination. The Daramsal SHO said: “We have conducted a postmortem examination and handed over the body to the family.” “We have also arrested the accused and his interrogation is on,” he added. Joginder’s father and three brothers had also been detained for questioning. The police has registered a case of murder at the Daramsal police station. |
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Roadside food an open invitation to disease
Jammu, July 23 Experts claim foods processed and served in unhygienic conditions can cause serious ailments. Tourists are among the consumers of such unhygienic food in the city. Nidhi Kotwal, Assistant Professor, Foods and Nutrition, Government College for Women, Parade, said unhygienic surroundings usually contaminated food even if it was of good quality. “Vendors selling such food in the open do use fresh and quality material, but they ignore some crucial things, resulting in contamination.” Nidhi said most vendors usually overlooked certain precautionary measures. “They do not wear gloves, fail to cover the food and leave the surroundings dirty, thus attracting flies,” she added. On the impact of weather, she said the monsoon season provided a conducive environment for microbes to flourish. “Consumption of eatables infested with microbes often leads to food poisoning. People are more susceptible to catching ailments and infections in this season.” An official from the Department of Food and Drug Controller, Jammu and Kashmir, said strict laws were in place but the municipal corporation needed to be proactive in its approach to implement these. “The Food and Safety Act was enforced in the state in August 2011. The municipal corporation can conduct a drive under the Act to ensure that the quality of food items is not compromised,” the official added. |
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Tardy e-metering hurting consumers
Jammu, July 23 A large number of areas in the city have been partially metered, as a result of which the pockets covered continue to suffer power cuts effected in non-metered areas. The failure of the government to implement the project is hurting the state, which has slipped under a huge debt, with liabilities touching Rs 31,272 crore. The power department had 12,77,369 registered consumers in 2010-11. But it has manage to install only 5,09,685 electronic meters so far, leaving over 7.5 lakh consumers to use unlimited power without having to worry about energy consumption. The process to install electronic meters in the state was started in 2004-05. In the first year, 24,052 meters were installed. An economic survey report said though the process was expected to be completed within the next two to three years, it looked to be a Herculean task for the authorities to achieve 100 per cent metering in the state. Sham Lal Bhat, a resident of Muthi village, said: “Two rules are followed in the same locality. While residents in some lanes pay their electricity bills as per the consumption, those in the other lanes pay a fixed amount in the absence of e-meters.” “We met the Chief Engineer but she said she couldn’t do much till all houses got e-meters. It seems the department is not interested in completing the e-metering process,” he added. The state requires 2,300 MW, but faces a shortfall of over 850 MW due to the availability of around 1,500 MW. The Jammu region was being supplied with only 650 MW and the shortfall was being met by enforcing 12 hour curtailments in unmetered areas. The remaining shortage was being overcome by enforcing power cuts in metered areas. |
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Budha
Amaranth Darshan Bharti
Poonch, July 23 The matter came to light after a family from Haryana was charged Rs 2,500 at Heerpura in Shopian district on July 20. Later, a local resident of Mendher tehsil in Poonch district was stopped 2 km ahead of Heerpura to pay Rs 3,000 for travelling on the Mughal Road. Taxi drivers have already raised the issue with the authorities concerned, but no action has been taken so far. “We were travelling from Baltal to Poonch when some policemen stopped us 2 km ahead of Heerpura and started shouting at us without provocation. On being asked for the reason, they said the route was not open to pilgrims,” claimed Harbans Lal Sharma, a traveller. “We were taken to the Heerpura police station and detained for over 3 hours. When we requested them to release us, as children and women were accompanying us, they asked us to pay Rs 5,000. The matter was finally settled after we paid them Rs 3,000,” he claimed. Various religious organisations have condemned the exploitation of pilgrims in Poonch. VHP district president Nishu Gupta criticised the Heerpura police for their attempt to sabotage the Budha Amarnath yatra by harassing pilgrims. He demanded an inquiry into the matter and action against the erring policemen. |
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land
scam
Jammu, July 23 “The officials have been booked for their involvement in cheating, fraud, forgery and criminal conspiracy in Jammu," a Crime Branch official said. Those booked are: Mohan Lal Sharma, Khadim Hussain, Manohar Singh, Baisakhi Ram and Hassan Bibi, alias Bano. SSP (Crime Branch) Nissar Ahmad said they had registered a case against the revenue officials and the investigation is on. — TNS |
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ZPEOs await separate office
Jammu, July 23 Sources said in order to bring centralisation in the DYSS, the state government had created 199 posts of ZPEOs in 2006 (102 for Kashmir Division and 97 for Jammu Division). Sources said due to the lack of proper planning behind setting up of a separate office complex in all the zones and the non-vesting of important powers, the ZPEOs are now up in arms against the department for not conceding their long pending demands. “Ever since the posts of ZPEOs were created by the authorities, we are demanding a separate office for all the officers but despite repeated assurances nothingis being done”, said one of the ZPEO. “Besides conducting domestic activities in addition to centrally sponsored Panchayat Yuva Khel Krida Aur Abhiyan (PYKKA), it is very difficult for one officer to manage all that and that is why the post of ZPEO is pivotal in this context”, he added. “The youth services and the sports office at Gandhi Nagar is a perfect example of mismanagement where you can find as many as six ZPEOs sitting under one roof”, said another ZPEO. “There is complete chaos inside the office complex due to the presence of so many ZPEOs and it affects the work of the department to a great extent”, he added. When contacted, Jai Pal Singh, Director, Youth Services and Sports said, “The government is very much aware of the requirements of the ZPEOs”. When quizzed about the initiatives taken by the authorities to set up a separate office complex for the ZPEOs, the Director said, “There is no such proposal in process at the moment because the department has already set up offices for them in private buildings and the rent is also being paid by the department”. List of ZPEOs in different zones: Jammu Division: Rajouri (15), Kathua (13), Udhampur (12), Reasi (5), Poonch (11), Jammu (15), Samba (3), Doda (14), Ramban (4) and Kishtwar (5) Kashmir Division: Srinagar (7), Ganderbal (5), Budgam (12), Kupwara (13), Anantnag (11), Kulgam (7), Baramulla (18), Bandipora (5), Pulwama (7), Shopian (5), Leh (5) and Kargil (7) |
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Cleanliness drive launched to restore Shiar Bawa’s glory
Katra, July 23 Hundreds of Jawans participated in the initiative to remove garbage and sewage from the site. "It is our duty to clean the lake and the adjoining areas. If we are living near the place and enjoying all the pleasures of the site then it is our duty to keep it clean," said Dharam Parkash, Commanding officer, 126 Bn CRPF, . He said CRPF with local police and civil administration would also organise more programmes to increase the awareness among the people. "We have started a one-day campaign under which we are cleaning the lake. It will be a continuous process by us from now on. We will make all the necessary arrangements to keep the area clean," said Parkash. As a part of the campaign, Jawans and officials collected garbage in bags from the site for disposal. |
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Gujjar Nagar residents protest over power cuts
Jammu, July 23 The protestors raised slogans against the power department and alleged that they had been subjected to several hardships due to the failure of the state government to ensure regular power supply in the locality. “The entire government machinery seems to have collapsed as the Muslims had been subjected to various hardships, particularly at the time of Sehri and Iftaar following power curtailments. The department had been hurting the religious sentiments of the people,” Rafiq Malik, a protestor alleged. Mohammad Hussian, President Mohalla, Gujjar Nagar said, “The authorities had assured them that they would ensure uninterrupted supply during Sehri and Iftaar but all these assurances remained mere eye wash. We will intensify our agitation if the department failed to streamline power supply in the area henceforth.” Later, an Executive Engineer, PDD approached them and assured to arrange a meeting PDD, Chief Engineer, Shahnaz Goni. The protestors were assured of improved power supply from tomorrow. Meanwhile, traffic remained disrupted for half-an-hour on all roads leading to the Tawi-bridge. |
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JU gets first woman Dean
Jammu, July 23 She took over the charge in the presence of Vice-Chancellor, Jammu University, Prof MPS Ishar. Prof Saraf succeeded Prof RD Sharma, who was recently appointed the chairman of BOPEE. Wishing Prof Saraf all success in her new assignment, the Vice-Chancellor hoped that her taking over as the Dean of academic affairs would renew a sense of confidence among the academic fraternity of the university. He also conveyed good wishes to the outgoing dean Prof RD Sharma for his new assignment. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Saraf extended her gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and her university colleagues for the support bestowed upon her and assured them of all cooperation from her side. Prominent among others who were present on the occasion included Registrar, Jammu University, Naresh Padha, Meenakshi Kilam, Ramnika Jalali, Jasbir Singh, Jai Kumar Sharma, Jatinder Khajuria, DL Choudhary, Anju Thappa, Ranjeet Kalra, Khempal Singh, Satya Bhushan and officers of the dean academic affairs office. Later, she convened a meeting of the officers of dean office and reviewed the progress of various academic programmes and the ongoing admissions of the various post graduate courses. |
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Pilgrim count touches 17,000
Poonch, July 23 Gulshan Sharma, secretary, Shri Budha Amarnath Trust, said 15,000 pilgrims had visited the shrine on the first two days of the annual yatra. He said hundreds of pilgrims were reporting for the yatra daily. The third batch of 2,123 pilgrims, including locals, reached Poonch last night and paid obeisance today. The first batch of 1,400 pilgrims offered prayers at the shrine in Rajpura Mandi on July 21. The Budha Amarnath Committee, the Bajrang Dal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Dashnami Akhara, Poonch, have made adequate arrangements for the stay of pilgrims at various places in Poonch. — TNS |
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Cycling team selected for national tournament
Jammu, July 23 The screening was conducted in the presence of the office-bearers of the association. The team comprises Vikesh Kumar, Kuldeep Singh, Altaf Ganie, Ashiq Hussain, Hilal Ahmad, Abid Hussain, Ajay Kumar, Hashim Iftikhar, Ravinder singh, Mufeed-ul-Zameen, Zafar Ahmad, Amir Asad, Basit Mehraj, Aakershait Pathak and Shubam Singh Manhas. |
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Haryana clinch junior korfball title
Jammu, July 23 After trailing 4-7 in the first half, the host team made a strong comeback to score five goals, but Haryana clinched the title by a narrow margine (10-9). For Haryana, Sandeep and Sonu slammed four goals each. Harish was the top scorer for J&K with three goals. Tamana and Mohit scored two goals each. Earlier, Himachal Pradesh defeated Bihar 13-7 to secure the third position. The Minister for Youth Services and Sports, RS Chib, was the chief guest. Chib said: “The present government had taken up various projects to facilitate the sportsmen of the state.” He said both Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Makan had shown keen interest in promoting sports in the state. Chib said: “The development of sports infrastructure and organisation of national events in the state will go a long way in expanding sports activities across the state.” Prominent among those present included Dalip Thussu, secretary, J&K State Sports Council; Dinkar, secretary-general, Korfball Federation of India, Ashok Kumar, deputy director, Youth Services and Sports; Sheikh Fazal Ahmed, former secretary, J&K State Sports Council; and Tarlok Singh, working president, J&K Korfball Association. The tournament was organised by the J&K Korfball Association in association with the J&K State Sports Council under the aegis of the Korfball Federation of India. |
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SSMS win cricket meet
Jammu, July 23 Electing to bat first, SSMS scored 123 runs in 19 overs. In reply, AB Cricket
Fighters were bowled out for 100 runs. The Minister for Youth Services and Sports, RS Chib, was the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, Chib lauded the efforts of the organisers for holding the event to encourage the budding cricket talent at local level. The Minister also sought involvement of private sector for the promotion of sports in the state. Later, he gave away the trophy and the cash prize of Rs 30,000 to the winning team and Rs 20,000 to the runners-up team. The nine-day long Cricket Tournament was organised by the All India Centre for Urban and Rural Development (AICURD), a local NGO, in collaboration with J&K State Sports Council and Army, wherein seven teams from Shehar-e-Khas competed. |
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women
Cricket
Jammu, July 23 In the first semi-final match, Government Women College defeated Physical Education College, Ganderbal. Batting first, Government Women College scored 158 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted overs. In reply, Physical Education College was bowled out for 38 runs in seven overs. In the other second semi-final match, Gousia Club thrashed Anantnag XI by 180 runs. — TNS |
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Sqay
Championship
Jammu, July 23 Around 350 participants from all over the state participated in the event. Srinagar district lifted the overall championship trophy while Ganderbal and Pulwama had to settle for second and third spot, respectively. In sub-junior boys section, Basit, Momin and Syed Uzair bagged first, second and third positions, respectively. In 37kg weight category, Asrar Javeed, Fazan and Talib secured first, second and third position, respectively. In 41kg weight category, Hilal Ahmad, Muneer and Sameer clinched first, second and third position, respectively. In Sub-Junior girls section, Muntaha Manzoor, Shafia Shakeel and Arooja Fayaz fetched first, second and third position, respectively. In 35kg weight category, Aimen Bashir, Iqra Riyaz and Munazah Amin bagged first, second and third position, respectively. |
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Mock test series held
Jammu, July 23 It was organised by the Jammu Psychological Association (JPA) in collaboration with the Department of
Psychology, University of Jammu. — TNS
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