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Rs 1,300 cr for urban reforms in Jammu, Srinagar
Geelani talks peace, opposes killing of sarpanches
300 doctors at Srinagar’s SMHS hospital go on indefinite strike
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Pak splurged Rs 20 lakh on Dand, gave him 18-kg RDX
Vice-Prez flags off expedition to Ladakh peak
Separatists maintain softer stance on anti-Islam film
PDP calls for blocking of film on Internet
Lawyer’s kin seek Major’s autopsy report
10-year jail term for Lashkar commander’s aide
Hearing in Machil case adjourned
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Rs 1,300 cr for urban reforms in Jammu, Srinagar
Jammu, September 15 The Union Urban Development Ministry had earlier blocked Rs 600-crore assistance for three years after expressing displeasure over the policies of the state government with regards to the ULBs. Sources said the funds would be utilised on the execution of projects initiated under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) and the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The two centrally sponsored schemes were extended to the state in 2007-08 for the upgrade and improvement of the two capital cities and 22 towns besides other urban development programmes. “The Union Urban Ministry has directed the state to make the local bodies self-sustaining, warning that it will not help the state in future,” said an official who recently attended a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand. “Despite announcing major steps to carry out urban reforms, the Omar Abdullah-led government has failed to take major initiatives on rent control reforms, rationalisation of stamp duty to under 5 per cent, property title certification and computerisation of land and property registration,” the official said. Under the Central guidelines, 23 points of reforms were to be initiated in the ULB, but the state had been slow in implementing these mainly due to lack of coordination within the officials and departments. Tara Chand said the reform process was under way and the government was planning some major initiatives. “The Centre has approved Rs 1,312 crore for taking up major urban infrastructure projects,” he said. Tara Chand claimed that so far Rs 129 crore had been earmarked for improving sewerage facilities in Jammu division, while Rs 132 crore were being spent in Kashmir division for the purpose. “Officials have been directed to be more efficient in completing the projects, particularly in Kashmir division due to limited working season there,” he said. Coordination lacking 23 points of reforms are to be initiated in the ULB, but the state has been slow in implementing these mainly due to lack of coordination within the officials and departments.
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Geelani talks peace, opposes killing of sarpanches
Srinagar, September 15 Geelani painted his party and ideology as a peaceful political struggle. “Our long-standing policy is that no innocent should be killed,” Geelani said in reply to a question about the stand of his party on a spate in the assassination of sarpanches and panches in the Valley. “No one should be targeted because of political differences. This is our policy,” he said. Since the 2011 panchayat elections, dozens of sarpanches and panches have been killed by suspected militants across the Kashmir region and many more have been forced to publicly resign in southern, central and northern districts. Geelani, who once was considered to hold a considerable sway among the militant ranks, said stone-pelting and burning of buildings was not part of their separatist struggle. “In 2010 when I was released from the Chesma-Shahi sub-jail, I announced at a press conference that our struggle should be peaceful and there is no space for ‘jalaav’, ‘gherao’ and ‘pathrao’ (burning, cordoning and stone-pelting),” Geelani said. Geelani said despite calling for calm at a “critical time” in the summer of 2010 — when widespread protests had paralysed the state apparatus, and police stations and government offices were being attacked and burnt across Kashmir — his party was being “targeted” and restrictions were being imposed on its members. Geelani’s 2010 press-conference in which he had called for calm was a vital landmark in taking out Kashmir from a spiral of violent street protests and deadly police crackdown. |
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300 doctors at Srinagar’s SMHS hospital go on indefinite strike
Srinagar, September 15 Unlike other states, Jammu and Kashmir lacks special laws providing security to doctors working in public hospitals. The strike comes in the wake of fresh attacks by patients’ attendants on resident doctors over the past few days. The doctors have demanded judicial inquiries into the cases. The Department of Health, the Resident Doctors’ Association, Jammu, the Doctors’ Association, Kashmir, the Medical Faculty Association and resident doctors of all allied hospitals in the Valley have extended their support to the ongoing strike and urged the state government to pass an ordinance for the safety of doctors inside hospitals. Hundreds of resident doctors are camping outside the hospital premises, raising slogans against the “hooliganism” perpetrated by patients and attendants and “inefficient” security staff at the hospital. Patient care in the OPD and general ward sections at the hospital stands paralysed as a result of the strike. Emergency, casualty and ICU services have been exempted from the strike. Resident Doctors’ Association president Dr Adil Rashid said 15 incidents of assault on doctors had occurred in the hospital during the past one month, but nobody from the management had come to their rescue. The doctors are demanding the issuance of non-bailable warrants against those involved in such cases. Only stringent laws could protect doctors from such assaults, they added. In the past 72 hours, three resident doctors — Dr Raj, Dr Bilal and Dr Irfan — have fallen victim to public rage after being accused of causing patients’ death. “In all these cases, the patients were suffering from serious ailments and their chances of survival were very dim. A doctor always tries to save his patients, but at times it cannot be helped. Emotionally charged attendants do not understand this and start assaulting us. The situation aggravates when there are no senior doctors or security staff present around,” said Dr
Adil. Situation critical 15 cases of assault on doctors at SMHS Hospital in one month Health Dept, state doctors’ bodies extend support to strike J-K lacks laws providing security to doctors in public hospitals.
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Pak splurged Rs 20 lakh on Dand, gave him 18-kg RDX
Jammu, September 15 “Dand has confessed that soon after the Kandahar plane hijack in 1999, Arshad Cheema, a Pakistani diplomat posted in Kathmandu, had given him Rs 20 lakh, 18 kg RDX and a pistol,” DIG (Doda-Ramban-Kishtwar range) Garib Dass told The Tribune. The officer said Dand, who had close links with the ISI, also knew the art of making bombs. “He received Rs 20 lakh for providing logistical support and facilitating entry of terrorists inside the Tribhuvan airport to hijack the IC814 flight. Also, RDX and pistol were given to him to carry out subversive activities in future,” the DIG said. “Since he was linked to terror activities for the past 25 years and was a hard nut to crack, he was divulging information in bits and pieces, which needed to be verified,” added Dass. The DIG said Dand had confessed to his meetings with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his brother Anees Ibrahim in Karachi. “He is currently with the Kishtwar police. We will interrogate Dand thoroughly after procuring his next remand,” the officer said. On Dand being a Intelligence Bureau “source”, the DIG said: “It was no big deal for a man like him. It’s a trick of the trade. Giving small information to the intelligence agency to continue with the real job is no big deal for him.” Everything had to be probed, be it blasts, fake travel documents, passports, Hawala money, six visits to Pakistan, six fake identities and contacts with the ISI, UJC chief Syed Salahuddin, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, his brother Anees Ibrahim, the DIG said. In 1998, Dand married a Hindu girl, Sapna (32), near Kathmandu from whom he has a seven-year-old daughter. On whether the police would seek Sapna’s extradition from Kathmandu to facilitate the investigation, the officer said the police had no such plans as of now. “We are busy probing his hazy past and we will see if his wife is needed to facilitate our investigation,” he added. The police has recovered two mobile phones, a diary, a Pakistani SIM card and some other documents, which could further spill the beans in the case, a source said. The source added that Dand had been taking pleas of having worked with an Indian intelligence agency in
Kathmandu. Decoding Dand Received 18-kg
RDX, pistol from Pak envoy in Kathmandu Expert in bomb making Known to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, brother Anees Ibrahim |
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Vice-Prez flags off expedition to Ladakh peak
Srinagar, September 15 The expedition comprises 43 mountaineers, including 24 university and college students from various parts of the country, 10 Army and nine Air Force personnel, who would attempt to scale the Mount Golap Kangri in Ladakh. The expedition is scheduled to conclude on September 26. Members of the expedition have undergone mountaineering training organised at the JIM&WS at Pahalgam. All the members of the expedition were introduced to the Vice-President and the Governor who interacted with them and wished them good luck and success in achieving the summit. Anantnag Deputy Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Shah; Anantnag DIG Vijay Kumar; Sector Commander of Sector 1 of the Rashtriya Rifles Brig JV Prasad; Anantnag SSP RK Jalla; and Commandant of 116 Battalion of the CRPF Satish Linda were present on the occasion. The Vice-President and the Governor, who were shown mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing, rowing and river rafting equipment, witnessed a climbing and river crossing demonstration by trainees of the institute. In his PowerPoint presentation, Principal of the JIM&WS Col Virinder Singh presented a picture of the growth and activities of the institute. He said the institute organised training courses in adventure, ad hoc adventure, basic mountaineering, advance mountaineering, search and rescue, basic, intermediate and advance skiing course, white water rafting and paragliding. It also trained youth as tourist guides. He said these courses were helping in the promotion of adventure tourism in the state. He said at the instance of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, the institute deploys two rescue teams during the annual Amarnath yatra to assist yatris in emergent situations, particularly at difficult stretches of the track. The Vice-President and the Governor were presented mementos on the occasion. |
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Separatists maintain softer stance on anti-Islam film
Srinagar, September 15 The two factions of the Hurriyat Conference have largely ignored the controversy and just issued statements of condemnation. Though, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, had called for “peaceful” protests after the Friday congregational prayers against the anti-Islam film, his first press conference after the film controversy missed out on any mention about the film. Geelani’s standard mode of protest is to call for bandh. He has a history of calling for shutdowns on almost every issue from US President Barrack Obama’s 2010 visit to the country to his latest call against the “politicisation” of the Amarnath yatra. Similarly, chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has desisted from making statements against the anti-Islam film. His only statement over the issue came in the capacity of the “ameer” of the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (United Ulema Council), not as the Hurriyat chairman. The only harsh reactions over the making of the anti-Islam film have come from the Jamiat-Ahl-e-Hadees, which was the first to condemn the film, and the former Grand Mufti of the state, Mufti Bashir-ud-Din, who told Americans to leave the Valley. The former Grand Mufti reshaped his statement later, saying he had made the statement for the safety of Americans. The first shutdown call against the anti-Islam film has been given by a group of moderate Islamic scholars under the banner of the Mutahida Ulema Ahl-e-Sunnat. The shutdown has been called for September 18. |
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PDP calls for blocking of film on Internet
Srinagar, September 15 A party spokesman said the film represented a crude but deliberate attempt to hurt the sensitivities of Muslims. He said the global outrage it caused was understandable. The PDP spokesman said many countries had blocked the film. He said, “Considering the sentiments of the people, our government should also follow suit.” The spokesman said the party shared the sense of outrage and called upon the Government of India to prevent such mindless attempts at dividing humanity. The PDP spokesman also sought the state administration to take into account the feelings of people and desist from using force. Referring to the incident in a school at Patushahi, Lolab, the spokesman said the authorities concerned should have displayed better sense and judgment in view of the surcharged atmosphere on account of the anti-Islam film. “People’s sentiments should be respected in all situations and state agencies have a responsibility of displaying tact and understanding in emotionally surcharged circumstances,” the spokesman added. |
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Lawyer’s kin seek Major’s autopsy report
Srinagar, September 15 Singh, the prime accused in the alleged killing of lawyer and activist Jaleel Andrabi, reportedly shot himself after gunning down his two children and wife at his Selma home in the US on June 9. On August 29, Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar Rajeev Gupta, who is hearing the Jaleel Andrabi custodial murder case, had asked the prosecution to get original report furnished to the Interpol regarding Avtar Singh’s suicidal death. The court had refused to accept the e-mail messages received from the Interpol, Washington, as authentication. “In the application moved before the CJM today, we have sought the postmortem report and relevant records related to Major Avtar Singh and his family members’ death,” said counsel Hafizullah Mir, who is representing Andrabi’s family in the case. Hafizullah said the family had been forced to move the application after the prosecution failed to procure the original report. The family has also sought full investigation report and the report about the conclusion of the case prepared by the Selma police in the US. Major Avtar Singh had reportedly settled in Selma, a US county, before killing himself and his family in June this year. The CJM, after taking the application on record, posted the application for disposal. But he did not specify the date on which he would pass the orders on the fresh application. Timeline March 8, 1996: Lawyer Jaleel Andrabi ‘kidnapped’ by Maj Avtar Singh, who served in the Army in Kashmir during 1990s March 27, 1996: Andrabi’s body fished out of the Jehlum in Srinagar June 9, 2012: Major Singh reportedly shot himself after gunning down his two children and wife at his Selma home in the US.
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10-year jail term for Lashkar commander’s aide
Jammu, September 15 “In default of payment of the fine, he shall undergo further imprisonment of one year,” said the Principal Sessions Judge,
Udhampur. On August 10, 2003, a police party headed by sub-inspector Bhattu Chowdhary was on an anti-insurgency search operation in Bhagni village. Around 11:30 am, the police party received information that some militants were hiding in the Bhagni area. Soon after receiving information, the police party laid a cordon in the area and started a search operation. During the search, militants opened indiscriminate fire on the police party. The police party retaliated which resulted in an encounter. The gun battle continued for an hour. All militants except Mohammad
Yousuf, alias Mithu, escaped. A grenade was recovered from his possession. A case was registered under Section 307 and 124-A of the
RPC, 7/27 of the Arms Act and 3/4 of the Explosive Substances Act. It was revealed that Yousuf was a close associate of Lashkar commander Qari and was assigned the task of hurling the grenade on the police party which he could not do because he was unable to pull its pin.
Yousuf was found involved in an attack on the Basantgarh police station in 1996. He was arrested from Pathankot in 1999 and jailed for two years. He was in contact with dreaded militants, Abdullah and
Masood-ul-Azhar. After he was released from jail, he again indulged in militant activities. “The evidence on record is sufficient to hold Mohammad
Yousuf, alias Mithu, guilty on charge of being in possession of prohibited ammunition. So he deserves to be convicted under Section 7/25 of the Arms Act. He is accordingly convicted. He is, however, acquitted of the charges under Section 124-A and 307 of the
RPC. Regarding the quantum of punishment to be imposed, it needs to be pointed out that Mohammad Yousuf has a long history of criminal activities. He has been found involved in many militant activities though none of those activities have been proved in the case. But keeping in view his criminal background, I suppose he does not deserve any leniency as the punishment has always to be proportionate to the crime committed. Looking at the background of the accused, the manner in which he tried to attack the police party with lethal ammunition, his association with anti-national elements and his track record, the court believes that Mohammad Yousuf deserves deterrence rather than reformation.” |
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Hearing in Machil case adjourned
Srinagar, September 15 The three accused, against whom the court was scheduled to hear the charge, are civilians Bashir Ahmad Lone and Abdul Hamid
Bhat, and Territorial Army rifleman Abbas Hussain Shah. The Sopore Chief Judicial Magistrate had on July 27 bifurcated the charge-sheet against the eight accused Army men and the other three accused, including two civilians and the Territorial Army rifleman, while allowing the Army authorities to court-martial the accused Army officers in the case. But the CJM had also committed the case of the three accused for hearing of charge and subsequent trial to the Sessions court,
Baramulla. In their plea, the Army had sought deferment of hearing of charge against TA rifleman Abbas Hussain Shah till the time the High Court decided its review petition.
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Maharaja Hari Singh
(SMHS) Hospital, a major healthcare facility in the Valley, have gone on an indefinite strike from today, demanding stringent laws for the safety of doctors from public assaults.
Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari flagged-off an expedition to the Mount Golap Kangri in Ladakh from the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports (JIM&WS) in the presence of Governor NN Vohra at Pahalgam today.
