|
|
|
|
|
Amarnath Yatra
Differently abled devotees from Gujarat visit Vaishno Devi
|
|
|
Traffic restrictions ahead of Eid
Pak fires at Jammu post again; BSF retaliates
43 bunkers removed after 2010 unrest
Dalai Lama voices support for anti-corruption campaign
Al-Faran case file destroyed in fire, says J&K Police
Empowerment of panchayats
Appointment of new JKBOSE secy
Srikumar Banerjee becomes first chancellor
Panthers Party flays board for not naming selected candidates
HC seeks fresh report on Surankote killings
PDP has earned credibility, says Mehbooba
|
|
Amarnath Yatra
New Delhi, August 13 “Not a day more than three weeks,” a Bench comprising Justices BS Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar said, responding to a plea for a four-week time. The Bench said it was expecting the committee’s report by this time, but keeping in view the peculiar problems and the difficult terrain it was granting three more weeks. The court had set up the committee, headed by Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra in his capacity as the Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, on July 20, taking suo motu notice of the high casualties among the pilgrims due to lack of proper camps, roads and medical facilities. On being told that the state high court had also passed orders on some PILs filed on the issue and that these ran contrary to the SC directives, the Bench said such orders would remain stayed. “Work must start and some constructive steps should be taken before the onset of winter,” the Bench said. Additional Advocate General (AAG) Mohammad Ishaq Qadri said the state government had prepared a “preliminary report” on the steps required to be taken for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the pilgrims. The report had been submitted to the committee for its approval so that it could be implemented. The Bench asked him whether medical camps would be set up between the base camps at Baltal and Panchtarni and the holy cave. The AAG said the government was certainly looking at providing medical facilities all along the routes, besides at the camps. “The issue is not a question of prestige. It is a question of public importance,” the Bench clarified. In the July 20 order, the SC had appointed the state Chief Secretary as the nodal officer for holding the meetings of the committee, preparation of minutes and presenting the report to the Bench. The court had asked members of the committee to visit the site before the closure of passage to the holy shrine. The proposed measures were aimed at ensuring that the next yatra “shall be less hazardous, beneficial and appropriately managed at least with basic human facilities being available to the yatris,” it had clarified. |
|
|
Differently abled devotees from Gujarat visit Vaishno Devi
Katra, August 13 A Gujarat-based NGO, Shri Nath Ji Kripa Educational General Sewa Trust, made the visit possible for these devotees. Charu Behl, a trustee, said these devotees included 25 blind and 35 other physically challenged who were visiting the shrine for the first time. They were provided accommodation at Trikuta Bhawan, Katra, where adequate arrangements had been made for their security. After having darshan and performing puja at the cave shrine, the visiting guests from Gujarat will have a night stay at the Bhawan and return to Gujarat tomorrow, Shrine Board officials said. |
|
|
Traffic restrictions ahead of Eid
Srinagar, August 13 No passenger vehicle will be allowed to ply on the Residency road from Radio Kashmir to Hari Singh High Street on one side and on the Maulana Azad road from SRTC Crossing to Jehangir Chowk on the other side. Vehicles on emergency duty will, however, be allowed to ply on these roads. These restrictions would be in force from tomorrow till Eid-ul-Fitr, an official spokesman said. The vehicles which have to move through the Residency road will be diverted through Abdullah Bridge, Rajbagh, Lal Mandi, Shergari and Exhibition. The vehicles which have to move from Batamaloo towards the MA road shall be diverted through Jehangir Chowk, Old Secretariat, Tankipora, Habbakadal, Barbar Shah, Baba Dharam Das route and Maisuma interior. At Baba Dharam Das, vehicles bound for Hazratbal and Soura shall take a left turn and vehicles bound for Nishat and Shalimar shall proceed towards Kohankhan, Dalgate-Badyari chowk and onwards. The public has been asked to pool in their vehicles so that the load on the city roads is reduced. Shopkeepers will not be allowed to park their vehicles in front of their shops. However, they can use the space in nearby parking slots. Customers can utilise the parking space at Polo Ground, Khalisa High School, Sheikh Bagh, Polo View Parking, Press Colony, Sangarmal Parking, Old KMD bus stand, space between indoor and Bakshi Stadium and TRC Ground. Single-lane parking will be allowed on the MA road, Residency road and at Lal Chowk. |
|
|
Pak fires at Jammu post again; BSF retaliates
Jammu, August 13 This was the sixth incident of ceasefire violation in a week. For the first time, the Pakistan Rangers fired at Indian posts during the day time. The possibility of pushing militants into the Indian side ahead of Independence Day has not been ruled out. Security agencies have sounded a high alert along the international border and Line of Control keeping in view the Independence Day celebrations. Sources said Pakistan Rangers opened fire at the Pindi post in the Arnia sector at around 12:05 pm and the firing lasted about half an hour. “The Rangers targeted India’s Pindi post from the Charwa and Jawal posts with small arms and resorted to firing for about 30 minutes. The BSF troops deployed along the border retaliated and gave a calibrated response that left a Pakistani solider injured,” a source said. On August 5 and August 11, too, the Rangers had targeted the Arnia sector with small to medium arms. A BSF jawan, who was manning the forward Pittal post in the Arina sector, had sustained bullet injuries in the heavy firing on August 11. So far, Pakistan has violated the mutually brokered truce between the two countries 22 times this year. Last year, a total of 51 such cases were reported, while 44 cases of ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir were registered in 2010. The Jammu region had witnessed “zero infiltration” in 2011 after security forces nixed all infiltration attempts of militants on the international border and the LoC. The troops along the international border and the LoC have been put on a high alert to foil any attempt of militants to infiltrate into the Indian side. “The troops have been directed to maintain a round-the-clock vigil along the border and the LoC. Vigilance has also been stepped up in the RS Pura, Samba and Kathua sectors along the border, especially after the detection of the trans-border tunnel,” the source added. |
|
|
43 bunkers removed after 2010 unrest
Srinagar, August 13 “So far we have removed 43 bunkers and we would soon vacate the Nedous hotel. A total of three CRPF Battalions (112, 164 and 125) have already left,” said CRPF Public Relations Officer Sudhir Kumar. The decision to remove the bunkers was taken in the wake of the 2010 unrest that witnessed a series of killings in the Valley for about five months. The Central government had then proposed an eight-point programme for the restoration of normalcy in the Valley while the removal of bunkers was part of the efforts to reduce the visible presence of security forces in the civilian areas. Kumar said the vacating of buildings by the CRPF was an ongoing process and that they were willing to vacate more premises occupied by them if provided alternative accommodation. “We are here just to assist the local place and will leave whenever directions are received… more bunkers will be removed in the future after analysing the situation,” he added. When asked how many bunkers were present here, Kumar said there were 25 CRPF battalions in the Srinagar sector while adding that an element of "duplicacy" was involved in its numbers. "There is duplicacy... sometimes section posts too are called bunkers... there is a bunker outside my office (at Ikhwan hotel here) as well," Kumar said. The Chief Minister had earlier stated that the government would “progressively” decrease the footprints of security forces while 20 more bunkers are scheduled to be removed in the coming months. Besides the government and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, separatists too have been for long demanding the withdrawal of troopers from civilian areas. |
|
|
Dalai Lama voices support for anti-corruption campaign
Jammu, August 13 “Corruption is a kind of violence that exploits people in many fields. It is very sad. India is basically a religious-minded nation where people always talk about ‘karma’. Corruption is very negative karma so people should avoid it. I think this kind of movement is helpful in reminding people and leaders that something needs to be done and the leaders, especially, should pay more attention to this issue,” the Dalai Lama told reporters here. The Buddhist spiritual chief, who arrived here this morning from Leh, would leave for Dharamsala on Tuesday. The spiritual leader, while expressing grief over the incidents of violence in Assam, advocated dispersal of spiritual thoughts among the masses in the riot-hit state. “Indeed, the incidents were very sad. Spiritual thoughts play a vital role in changing the mindsets of a human being and it is a must in Assam (right now) as it would help in restoring peace in the state,” he said, adding that India has a strong culture of non-violence and people of various cultures and religions live harmoniously. The Dalai Lama said there were problems in some pockets in India but it was a perfect democratic nation so it would definitely sort out such issues. |
|
|
Al-Faran case file destroyed in fire, says J&K Police
Srinagar, August 13 This was stated by the Inspector General (Crime) in his response filed before the division bench of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), which is hearing a petition by two groups seeking re-investigation into the abduction of six foreigners by the Al-Faran militant outfit in 1995. The International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice (IPTK) and the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) had filed a joint petition before the SHRC on April 6 seeking a fresh probe into the case. “The Inspector General of Police, Crime, J&K, vide his communication dated August 13, 2012, has submitted that the case diary file along with other relevant documents prepared by the Kashmir Crime Branch have been sent by the SSP, Crime, to the Pahalgam police station on July 2, 2004, for submitting the closure report before the competent court of law,” read the SHRC orders passed today. “The master file (of the Al-Faran abduction case) retained in the office of the SSP, Crime, was gutted and reduced to ashes during the fire on September 11, 2010,” the order further read. It added that in his response to the SHRC, Ashkoor Wani, the then Superintendent of Police (SP), Anantnag, presently the DIG, Udhampur, has declined his role into the alleged fudging of DNA samples. "As part of the ongoing work on the issue of nameless and unmarked graves in Jammu and Kashmir, we request that the case of the four kidnapped persons (foreigners) be considered by the SHRC," the petition had said. The kidnappers had demanded the release of 21 people, including Maulana Masood Azhar, Sajjad Shahid Khan, alias Afghani, and Nasrullah Mansoor Langrial, alias Darwesh. The spotlight on the case was back after a recently released book, ‘The Meadow: Kashmir 1995-- Where the Terror Began’, claimed that India prolonged the abduction crisis and that government-sponsored gunmen killed the abducted foreign tourists. The book has been cited as an “important piece of evidence” in the petition before the SHRC. Meanwhile,the Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission today took serious note of former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) PS Gill’s failure to file his personal response in the kidnapping and disappearance of four foreigners from a Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir in 1995. The Commission has now issued an independent communication to Gill asking him to file his response by the next date or be prepared to face adverse consequences. There are allegations against Gill, the then Kashmir Inspector General of Police, that he played a role in fudging the DNA samples which were taken to confirm the death of one of the slain foreign tourists. |
|
|
Empowerment of panchayats
Jammu, August 13 While the opposition parties have accused the government of “throttling democratic institutions”, sarpanches and panches said the ruling coalition was trying to “buy time” by not incorporating the 73rd amendment of the Indian Constitution in the state Panchayati Raj Act. The Congress, which is the main coalition partner, has refused to buy the National Conference’s theory that Article 370 doesn’t allow the incorporation of the 73rd amendment in the J&K Panchayati Raj Act and termed it as a “wrong interpretation”. “I have not given up on that issue and the struggle is still on,” Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz had recently said. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also took the government head on for “undermining democratic institutions”. “The failure of the government in constituting block development councils and district committees reflects that the present regime is not interested in strengthening the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state. The government is deliberately trying to weaken these institutions,” PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said. Minister for Law and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar, however, said a small group of “politically-motivated” sarpanches and panches had been raising an “unnecessary” hue and cry because some vested interests didn’t want to give the credit of empowerment of panchayats to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Asked about the existing stand-off between the coalition partners on incorporation of the 73rd amendment in the state Panchayati Raj Act, Sagar said the Cabinet had approved the report of the Cabinet Sub-committee comprising three Congress ministers (on the issue) in letter and in spirit. “They can’t blame the NC because the government has addressed all their reservations,” he said. He also lashed out at the PDP for levelling “baseless allegations” against the Omar-led government, saying, “They are frustrated because the Chief Minister has already delegated powers to the panchayats.” Harsh Dev Singh, working chairman, Panthers Party, said the Congress was enacting a “drama” to befool people by giving “hollow slogans”. “The Congress is playing to the gallery. The party is in the government and its state president has been making hollow slogans on roads. He should make it clear to the people who will take a final call on the empowerment of panchayats,” Singh asked. He said the Chief Minister was also ignorant about the problems of sarpanches and panches as his government had remained “non-existent” so far. BJP state chief spokesperson Jitendra Singh said, “If the Congress feels it is unable to persuade the National Conference on the issue, the political propriety and constitutional morality demands that it should withdraw from the government. The Congress is following a dual policy to befool the people.” Anil Sharma, general secretary, All J&K Panchayat Coordination Committee, which had been spearheading the agitation for the empowerment of panchayats dubbed the political debate as an “eyewash” and a plan of the government to buy time. “A quite perplexed situation is prevailing all around. Everyone has been beating the drum in the name of panchayat empowerment, but nothing has happened on the ground.” |
|
|
Appointment of new JKBOSE secy
Jammu, August 13 Sources said a four-member selection committee constituted by the state government had forwarded a panel of three shortlisted candidates for the post of secretary. The shortlisted candidates included Satinder Singh, Principal, GGM Science College; Renu Goswami, joint secretary, JKBOSE, and Veena Pandita, joint secretary, JKBOSE. Farooq Ahmed Factoo, Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, said the four-member committee had already submitted a panel to the government. “The committee has shortlisted three candidates and the list has been forwarded to the government for finalisation,” said Factoo. The sources added that eligibility norms for the post of secretary had been relaxed. Earlier, the candidates had to possess at least five years of experience as college principal, but now the candidate should have at least two years of experience as college principal. However, it is not clear whether the announcement of the new incumbent will be made in August or September. The sources said Prof Baloria was appointed as the JKBOSE secretary in May 2011 and his term completed in May 2012. He was given a one-month extension till June 30. The government failed to appoint a new secretary as a result of which Prof Baloria was given an extension of two months from July 1. The sources said going by her long association with the JKBOSE, Goswami, JKBOSE joint secretary, was the front-runner among the shortlisted candidates for the post of secretary. They said the JKBOSE was under fire due to its announcement of 2012-14 session of the Elementary Teachers Training course. It had failed to decide the fate of two batches, 2008 to 2010 and 2009 to 2011. |
|
|
Srikumar Banerjee becomes first chancellor
Srinagar, August 13 Dr Srikumar Banerjee has been appointed as the head of the varsity for a period of five years. He has worked in several prestigious institutions, which include the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, and Atomic Energy Commission of India (AECI). A leading expert in Material Science and Technology in India, Dr Banerjee has made outstanding contributions to many materials-related areas, basic as well as application oriented. In 1967, Dr Banerjee obtained a B.Tech degree with Honours in Metallurgical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kharagpur and subsequently obtained Ph.D from the same institute. Dr Banerjee has been the recipient of many awards and honours which include the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) Young Scientist Medal (1976), National Metallurgists’ Day Award (1981), Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Prize in Engineering Sciences (1989) and Materials Research Society of India (MRSI) Medal (1990). — TNS |
|
|
Panthers Party flays board for not naming selected candidates
Jammu, August 13 In a statement issued here today, Singh said despite the process of interviews been completed more than one and a half year ago, the lists of selected candidates had arbitrarily and wrongfully been withheld. He was talking about the inordinate delay in the release of lists of draftsmen, accounts assistants and teachers who were interviewed during 2010-11. He said unemployed youth of various districts of the Jammu region had been agitating against the delay in the publication of the lists by the SSRB as their counterparts in the Kashmir region had even joined their services. Singh castigated the SSRB for not issuing teachers’ list of various districts in the Jammu region, which had adversely affected the academic activity in various schools. He claimed that more than 27,000 posts of teachers, including masters, headmasters and lecturers were vacant in the state and a majority of vacancies were in schools of the Jammu region. He regretted that neither the state government nor the SSRB were bothered about addressing the issue, resulting in near paralysis of the academic institutions in the state. He expressed concern over the filling up of vacancies in the SSRB, including its chairman and members. He said the government had temporarily assigned charge of the chairman, SSRB, to a Valley-based member who had shown least concern in the finalisation and publication of lists. He sought early filling up of vacancies in the SSRB and release of candidates’ lists.
-TNS |
|
|
HC seeks fresh report on Surankote killings
Srinagar, August 13 The petition, filed by Abdul Ahad and others, through their counsel Parvez Imroz in November 2011 called for reinvestigation into the case by a special investigation team (SIT) or by the CBI. The case came up for hearing before Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, who, after hearing both the sides, directed the state government to file a fresh status report within three weeks. The HC has asked one of the respondents to file his objections by or before the petition comes up for hearing. On December 2, 2011, the High Court had directed the Additional Advocate General (Home) to file within two weeks the status report regarding the investigation conducted into the matter so for. However, the report was filed, but the court was not satisfied with it and asked the state government to file the complete report. In the petition, the petitioners have alleged that on the intervening night of August 3 and 4, 1998, their 19 relatives, including six men and 13 women belonging to three families, were “massacred” at the house of Hussain Mohammad Sheikh. They alleged that the killings were carried out at the behest of security forces, including the police and Army, at Salian village, 14 km from Surankote tehsil in Rajouri district. On August 4, 1998, an FIR under Sections 302, 122, 122 B, 121, 449 of the RPC was registered at the Surankote police station. The petitioners, however, claimed that the case was closed at the behest of security agencies. The SHRC, which took suo motu cognisance of the killings, in its final report had recommended the police authorities to identify three associates of SPO Zakir, the main accused in the case. It also asked for bringing all the “culprits” in the “net.” |
|
|
PDP has earned credibility, says Mehbooba
Jammu, August 13 Mufti expressed satisfaction that the PDP’s agenda of peace and development was now seen positively not just in the Kashmir valley but in the Jammu and Ladakh regions as well, where it was welcomed as a serious political force with established credentials in governance. Addressing a public meeting at Nowshere in Rajouri district, Mehbooba said like the people of the Kashmir valley, those of Jammu and Ladakh were also treating the PDP as their real voice because the leadership of this party had earned the faith of people by its convictions and commitments. “Though the PDP originated as an idea for restoration of dignity of the people of the state, the party, with inputs from various sections, has evolved an agenda that it believes could lead to the liberation of the state from decades of strife, bring a sense of achievement to its people and usher in a new era of sustainable peace and prosperity,” she said and added that the huge response to the party, from all the regions, was a clear indication that the people were looking up to the PDP as the only credible political force of the state. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
The Supreme Court today set a three-week deadline for finalising the report by the Special High Powered Committee on the steps required to be taken for checking casualties among Amarnath yatris and improving the facilities for them.
Katra, August 13
With no let-up in ceasefire violations on the international border, Pakistan today again targeted Indian posts in the Arnia sector with small arms, forcing the Border Security Force
(BSF) to give a calibrated response that left a Pakistani soldier injured.
With the Kashmir valley witnessing considerable improvement in the situation after the violent summer of 2010, the CRPF has already removed 43 bunkers and is all set to vacate the Nedous hotel located in the heart of the summer capital.
Against the backdrop of the anti-corruption crusade launched by social activist Anna Hazare and yoga guru Baba Ramdev, the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, today asked the political class to “pay more attention” to eradicating corruption from the country.
