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4 months on, ‘rape’ victim remains untraceable
Janglat Mandi case: High Court adjourns
hearing till Sept 14
Omar: Rail link significant for socio-economic growth of J-K
Uri-II power project delay causes Rs
200-crore loss
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First Ladakh marathon gets under way
Flood warning sounded as rains swell Jhelum in Kashmir
It’s time for Gujjars to protest: Masood
Official apathy puts students’ career at stake
Indo-Pak dialogue must be Kashmir-centric: Mufti
File objections within a week: HC to victims’ families
47 bovines seized, 8 smugglers held
Pak violates ceasefire
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4 months on, ‘rape’ victim remains untraceable
Jammu, September 10 Almost four months on, the victim, who hails from the Mandi area of the district, remains untraceable. But the police claims they have been doing everything possible to crack the case and locate the victim. “The three soldiers accused of kidnapping and raping the victim are with the Army authorities. They have not been sent to police remand. For the purpose of questioning, we call them in the morning and send them back in the evening,” said Poonch SSP Shamsheer Hussain. A case had been registered under Sections 366, 376 and 109 of the Ranbir Penal Code and the matter is under investigation, added the SSP. The accused soldiers have been identified as Jaswant Singh and Manmohan Singh of Amritsar and Gurvinder Singh of R S Pura. All three soldiders belong to 13 Sikh Light Infantry Regiment. The SSP said the FIR had been registered in July. During questioning, the main accused in the case, Jaswant Singh, who hails from Tarn Taran, claimed he had sent the victim to Jammu from Ludhiana by train in July, said the SSP. Sources say Jaswant had taken the woman forcibly to Ludhiana. The other two soldiers, Manmohan Singh and Gurvinder Singh, acted as facilitators, the SSP added. However, the victim till date remains untraceable, said the officer. Following the alleged kidnapping and rape of the victim on May 19, her family had lodged a complaint with the police, which had registered a case at Mandi police station. While the victim remains untraceable since May 19, the accused soldiers had shifted to Assam along with their regiment, said police sources. “We had sought the help of the Army in the investigations and that is why these three men were brought to Poonch from Assam for the purpose of questioning,” a source said. Unconfirmed reports said the police had produced the accused soldiers in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Poonch on September 8, who had remanded the trio in three-day police custody. The SSP, however, denied that the accused were sent to police remand. The Case File *
A 38-year-old mother of three children is allegedly kidnapped and raped by three Army men on May 19 in the Mandi area of Poonch district |
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Janglat Mandi case: High Court adjourns
hearing till Sept 14
Srinagar, September 10 The court is hearing a petition filed by family members of a civilian, Abdullah Bhat, alleging that the encounter at Janglat Mandi, Anantnag, on March 1, 2001, was not genuine. The case was listed today before the single Bench of Justice Hasnain Masoodi. However, before the matter was taken up by the court, Advocate General Mohammad Ishaq Qadri sought the adjournment of the case on the ground that he had to leave for Jammu and needed considerable time to argue. Granting the plea, Justice Masoodi subsequently adjourned the case and posted the hearing into the matter for September 14. When the case was being adjourned, counsel for the petitioner’s family Zaffar Qureshi and Army’s counsels, Karnail Singh Wazir and KS Johal, were present in the court room. Qureshi has completed his arguments in the case and today Qadri was scheduled to put forth the state government’s views on the matter, which has already exonerated General Bikram Singh from the case. The state government has adopted the objections filed by the police, in its response to the petition, questioning the veracity of the 2001 Janglat Mandi encounter. The police in its objections had exonerated Singh from all the charges levelled against him in the petition. It (police) had denied that the 2001 Janglat Mandi encounter in south Kashmir was fake and maintained that identifying the militant’s grave was “impossible”. The Defence Ministry in its response to the High Court in March this year had termed the encounter, in which the Army Chief was injured, as ‘not fake’ and cited FIR copies and Singh’s hospital records as proof. The Defence Ministry claimed that Singh, then a Brigadier who headed 1 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, was returning to his headquarters in an Army convoy when it was attacked at Janglat Mandi. It had rejected the allegation of Zytoona Begum that the Army had killed her innocent son in “cold blood”. Zytoona and her daughter Jana in their petition filed before the court in 2011 had claimed that Mateen Chacha, who was killed in the Janglat Mandi encounter and whom the Army and the police claimed was a foreign militant, was Abdullah Bhat (70), a resident of Machil in Kupwara. Demanding the identification of the grave, they had also sought conducting of a DNA test. In the 2001 Janglat Mandi encounter, besides Abdullah Bhat, two civilians and two Army men were also killed. The dead included Colonel JP Janu, the then Commanding Officer of a local RR Unit, Sepoy Ganesh Kumar, Mohammad Shafi, a resident of Khawaja Mir Ali, Anantnag, and Abdul Ahad Sheikh, a resident of Janglat Mandi. An FIR said the injured in the encounter included present Army Chief General Bikram Singh and a civilian, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, a resident of SK Colony, Anantnag. |
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Omar: Rail link significant for socio-economic growth of J-K
Srinagar, September 10 Omar inspected the pace of work on the projects at Qazigund, Galander and other places on the national highway. He received a presentation from the agencies concerned on the status of progress on the works today. He said the rail communication would provide an alternate and all weather commuting facility to the people and trans-shipment of goods, including fruits and vegetables from the state. He said both the projects would help generate economic activities for the people of the state. The Chief Minister inspected the Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel (T-80), connecting Kashmir to Jammu through the Pir Panjal mountain range. The Pir Panjal Tunnel is the longest rail tunnel in India. It is located between Banihal in south Kashmir and Qazigund in north Kashmir and is 10.960 km in length. The Railway authorities told the Chief Minister that the Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway project had been declared a national project and envisaged construction of a large number of tunnels and bridges in rugged and mountainous terrains. The rail link also crosses over deep gorges of the Chenab. A 359-metre bridge being built over the Chenab will be the highest bridge in the world. The total length of the bridge is 1,315 m and will come up at a cost of Rs 5,120 million. The Chief Minister also inspected a 9-km-long tunnel at Qazigund. The tunnel is being constructed by the National Highway Authority of India. Omar was informed that 114 km of the 400-km road project had been completed at a cost of Rs 590 crore. This includes a stretch from Lakhanpur to Jammu, including 15-km Jammu bypass and 17.80-km Srinagar bypass. The work on 286 km of the road is underway. The major structures to be constructed include two tunnels of 10.8 km at Chenani and 9.2 km at Qazigund. It also envisages construction of 12 short tunnels, 34 major bridges and 24 viaducts. |
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Uri-II power project delay causes Rs
200-crore loss
Srinagar, September 10 The Uri-II power project was scheduled to be commissioned on March 31 this year but the 105-day-long strike by Uri residents, who were demanding jobs in the project, halted the work. North Kashmir’s Uri town is the constituency of state’s irrigation minister Taj Mohiuddin, who later mediated to end the strike. The Minister said he was not “not ashamed” of backing the striking residents as it was there right to get rehabilitated. “May be I did (support the strike), so what. We have a basic policy of the Government of India and the state government that you have to rehabilitate the people... it is written in the MoU, there is a Cabinet order for it,” Mohiuddin said. Mohiuddin said he was “not ashamed” and will not deny that he had backed the agitating residents of Uri, from where he had won the Legislative Assembly seat in 2008. When the strike was finally called off in July, the water level had already risen to an extent that work on a portion of the project could not be undertaken, forcing the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), which is constructing the power project, to reschedule the work when the water level will decrease. The water level will decrease by November this year and the project is now pitched for commissioning in February 2013, nearly a year after the original commissioning date, sources told The Tribune. Due to the delay in completion of the project and its commissioning, the state has incurred a loss of nearly Rs 200 crore. “The state has lost approximately Rs 200 crore because of the delay. It has lost around Rs 150 crore on account of free electricity and another may be Rs 60 crore or Rs 50 crore on account of water usage charges,” an official said. Nearly Rs 50 crore would have been earned from
the NHPC through water usage charges. The Uri-II power house, which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 1724.79 crore, will generate
160 crore units of electricity annually. |
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First Ladakh marathon gets under way
Leh, September 10 Runners participated in four categories, including the full marathon, half marathon, free run of 10 km and a 172 km Khardongla challenge. The Khardongla challenge turned out to be the toughest test. The participants had to cross the highest mortorable road of the world situated 18,383 feet above the sea level. Director, Rimo Expedition, Tsewang Mutup said, “The Ladakh Green Marathon will be the annual event of the region from this year. The event aimed at searching talent among locals. We are expecting at least one youth to represent the country in the Asian and the Olympic games by 2020.” Mutup said, “Rimo expedition has sponsored eight participants, who will be the first and second runners to participate in the Mumbai Marathon, due in January. The winner of Khardongla challenge will get a chance to participate in the Bangalore Ultra Marathon.” The Ladakh Green Marathon was organised
to create awareness about the need to protect the environment.
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Flood warning sounded as rains swell Jhelum in Kashmir
Srinagar, September 10 At Ram Munshi Bagh in the city here, the water level of the river crossed 16 feet, pressing the authorities to sound a “flood alarm”, said Aamir Ali, coordinator of the state Disaster Management Cell. He said a flood “alert” would be sounded if the river water level crosses 18 feet and “floods” were declared when the water level spills over 21 feet. Ali said the water level was receding in the river as rains had stopped this morning. “The water has receding in the river, so there is no cause for worry,” he said. The incessant rains, which began on Friday night, had caused flash floods in south and north Kashmir in which 37 people had been trapped, all of whom were rescued after a day-long operation on Sunday in Shopian and Kulgam districts. A weather department official said “light rain may occur in a few places in Jammu and Kashmir and at isolated places in the Ladakh region”. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir region, Asgar Samoon said the situation was “improving” since rains had stopped for now. “We expect the water to recede in the next 12-13 hours,” Samoon said. He said a meeting of the flood control department decided that all officers would remain on duty in their stations till the situation returned to normal. Samoon said rescue boats had been readied for any emergency.
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It’s time for Gujjars to protest: Masood
Jammu, September 10 He said it was high time for the community to launch an agitation in support of their demands of political reservations for the scheduled tribe (STs) in the state. Talking to The Tribune, Masood Choudhary, who was instrumental in forming of the Gujjar Desh Charitable Trust, said that real problems of the Gujjars were intentionally over looked by the government. “Just by granting the ST status will not solve the problems,” he argued, adding that the status was granted to the Gujjars about 20 years back but the socio-economic condition of the nomadic community had not improved much. Strongly arguing for the political reservation to the STs, he said the schemes for uplifting this community would be implemented if the community had adequate numbers of elected representatives in the state government. “If STs are given political reservation all over the country, why not the same rights in this part of the country,” he said. Masood Choudhary also the former vice-chancellor of Baba Ghulam Shah Badhshah University demanded constitution of SC-ST Commission in Jammu and Kashmir
to look into the grievances of the marginalised communities. “SC-ST Commissions all over the country have been working to protect interests of the weaker sections of the society.” He said, “The Central government has pumped in huge funds for the socio-economic development of the STs in Jammu and Kashmir but these were not properly utilised.” Choudhary said the Central government has taken a serious note of the non implementation of funds meant for STs in the state. He demanded a separate share for SC and ST in the budget of the state. Choudhary said the new recruitment procedure adopted by the state government to appoint people on adhoc and contractual basis was also a violation of the rules. “Reservation provisions are not followed while recruiting people on contractual or adhoc basis,” he said. |
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Official apathy puts students’ career at stake
Srinagar, September 10 The BOPEE took four months to conduct the counselling sessions of the students but the admission process hasn’t started yet. Moreover, the counselling sessions were still pending due to which the students have started migrating to other states for pursuing their higher studies. “We have been sitting idle at our homes for the last four months. The councelling sessions are must because specific streams are allotted as per the merit,” said Bilquis Jan, who cleared her PCM entrance examinations
and wants to pursue a BE course. The students rue that their academic sessions are badly affected as the four months long delay limits the duration of the first semesters. “Our first semesters require the attendance for 90 days in the college which is not possible now,” said Imaad Khan, an MBBS aspirant. The BOPEE has another weird norm, the PCB counselling sessions are done in Kashmir and those of PCM in Jammu. This makes it mandatory for the students of Kashmir to travel all the way to Jammu and vice-versa causing problems for the students, especially the one from the remote areas. “Sometimes the students even lose their important documents on the way,” said Bushra, an aspirant from the Pinjura village of South Kashmir. The authorities express their helplessness since these norms had been in existence from many years. The principal secretary, BOPEE, Amreek Singh said, “We cannot do anything at this point. The schedule for the CET exams has been the same. The matter could be raised when the next academic session starts in May.” |
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Indo-Pak dialogue must be Kashmir-centric: Mufti
Pahalgam, September 10 Addressing a public rally in the Pahalgam area, Mufti said the main stakeholders in the peace process between the neighbouring countries were Kashmiris. He said people would feel left out and neglected, if the reconciliation process was not Kashmir-centric. “The easing off of the visa norms is a welcome step. However, the bone of contention between the two countries has been the state of Jammu and Kashmir and both the parties should take cognisance of the aspirations of the people of Kashmir,” said Mufti. Mufti stressed that the time had come when Kashmiri people should take their own decisions for the betterment of their future. He said Kashmir no longer should be controlled through a remote control. Recounting the development process his party had initiated while leading the coalition government, Mufti said the PDP was going to form the next government. “I can feel the change in the air. People have understood that the present government has failed to deliver what they had promised. Our government was able to bring colossal changes in a very limited time,” said the PDP patron. Chief spokesperson of the PDP Dr Sameer Kaul said both the Centre and the state government should refrain from politicising the Amarnath yatra. “People should take a call in the religious matters of the state and the government should not interfere,” said Dr Kaul. He said the people of Kashmir have been organising the yatra very peacefully and efficiently for a long time. Koul said any kind of interference in the religious affairs of Muslims or Kashmiri Pandits should not be tolerated. |
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Machil ‘fake’ encounter case
Srinagar, September 10 The court also directed counsel for the Union of India Karnail Singh Wazir, who represents the Army in the case, to provide a copy of the review petition to counsel representing the victims’ families. The Machil fake encounter case relates to three youths, hailing from Nadihal village in Baramulla. Shezad Ahmad, Riyaz Ahmad and Mohammad Shafi were allegedly killed by personnel of 4 Rajput Rifles of the Army in Machil on April 30, 2010, in a staged encounter and later passed off as foreign militants. Seeking review of the July verdict of the High Court in the case, the Army had also filed a separate application for condonation of delay for filing the review petition, as the Army was supposed to seek the review of the High Court judgment within 30 days, which has expired. The procedure says the court can hear a review petition only after condonation of delay is granted. The petition, wherein the Army has sought review and stay of an earlier High Court judgment passed in the matter in July this year, was today listed before Justice Hasnain Masoodi. “The court has directed the respondents (state and the victims’ families) to file their objections to the application, seeking condonation of delay,” said Karnail Singh, adding that the matter has been posted for further consideration after a week. During today’s hearing, counsel Nisar Hussain Shah appeared on behalf of the state while advocate Mian Qayoom appeared on behalf of the families of the three slain youths. “It is prayed that the order passed by the High Court on July 4, 2012, be reviewed to the extent that the CO of 161 Territorial Army rifleman Abbas Hussain Shah be allowed to exercise the option under Section 125 of the Army Act, for seeking his custody,” the Army submitted in its review petition filed before the High Court today. The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Sopore, should be directed to hand over the custody of Abbas, the petition added. The CJM, Sopore, has declined to handover Abbas to the Army, saying he is a civilian, not a TA rifleman. |
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47 bovines seized, 8 smugglers held
Batote, September 10 In another incident, the Dessa police recently foiled an attempt to smuggle nine bovines to Kashmir and nabbed a smuggler, identified as Rayees Ahmed. The Doda police also seized 29.3 kg of Trillium, a medicinal herb, which was being smuggled to Kashmir. The police has booked Ghansara Singh, Manraj and Manmohan Singh under Section 379 of the RPC and the 6 Forest Act. The drives were conducted by in charges of the Doda and Dessa police stations under the supervision of Doda SP Mohammad Arif Rishu.
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Poonch, September 10 The Pakistani troops fired at the Indian forward post, Kundana, guarded by 112 battalion of the BSF in the Sabjian sector along the LoC in Poonch district around 4:45 pm, a senior Army officer said. Indian troops guarding the border retaliated, resulting in an exchange of fire, the Army officer said. — OC
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Pahalgam, September 10
