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Unified HQ meet reviews security scenario
Autumn session begins with obituary references
House passes resolution condemning anti-Islam film
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Despite govt’s claims, sarpanches have no right to monitor finances
SC notice to J&K on PIL alleging bonded labour
HC allows Kashmir Bar Association team to visit Jammu jails
Pak opens fire in Chachwal village; couple injured
Broadcast of Pakistani news channels banned in Kashmir
Govt employees to hold statewide protest on Oct 10
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Unified HQ meet reviews security scenario
Srinagar, October 1 Apart from Chief Minister, the meeting was attended by top J&K Police officials, including the DGP, the Army officials, paramilitary personnel and officials from Central security agencies. Various issues, sources said, came up for discussion during the meeting. However, the security of panchayat members dominated the agenda. “The meeting of UHQ chaired by the Chief Minister here took stock of the prevailing security scenario and law and order situation in the state”, a government spokesman said here while giving details of the meeting. He said, “The scenario developed after the recent killing of two panchayat members in the Valley was reviewed in detail. The meeting discussed ways and means to provide required protection to panchayat members to help them function smoothly.” Following the killing of two panchayat members in north Kashmir in the span of a fortnight, nearly 200 panchayat members have resigned in the past seven days. The resignations have followed the killing of a 38-year-old deputy sarpanch Mohammad Shafi Teli on September 23 in Nowpora Kreeri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. The Chief Minister, the spokesman said, also directed that “proper security assessment of elected panchayat members should be worked out to provide the security cover in vulnerable areas”. “He also reviewed arrangements made by the Army, security forces and the state police and asked them to remain vigilant and take all necessary steps to instill confidence in elected representatives.” During the meeting, the sources said, it was felt that providing security to all the 33,000 members would be a huge logistical affair. |
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Autumn session begins with obituary references
Srinagar, October 1 Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti urged the House to include the names of three panchayat members, who had been shot dead by unidentified gunmen this year, in the obituary reference. CPM state secretary MY Tarigami, Congress MLA Sharief Niaz and MLA Langate Engineer Rasheed too supported the inclusion of slain panchayat members in the obituary references following which Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also regretted the killings. “I support Mehbooba on sarpanch killings…they contested the elections without any greed on non-party basis…whether they were killed by militants or became victims of personal rivalries, we pay tributes to them,” he said. Omar also condoled the demise of former Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who had passed away in August. |
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House passes resolution condemning anti-Islam film
Srinagar, October 1 On the opening day of the 10-day-long autumn session, MLA Langate Engineer Rasheed urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to introduce a resolution to condemn the “Innocence of Muslims”. Omar said the Cabinet had already condemned the video. Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone then brought in the resolution which was unanimously passed by
the Assembly.
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Srinagar, October 1 Disclosing this here today, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the move would help in providing a conducive atmosphere for imparting education to students and in upgrading sanitation and other facilities. The CM was speaking during a meeting with National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Shanta Sinha who called on him here this afternoon. Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo, Minister of State for Social Welfare Ajaz Ahmad, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister BB Vyas, Social Welfare Commissioner Secretary Jeet Lal and other senior officers were present in the meeting, besides officials of
the NCPCR. Omar said the state government had put in place various measures to protect the rights of children and help in their comprehensive development. He said the state Social Welfare Department was working under various Centrally-sponsored schemes for the welfare of children, women and the under privileged. The CM asked the NCPCR chairperson to identify areas in which the commission and the state government could jointly work towards the upliftment of children, especially those who were physically-challenged. Sinha apprised the CM of her meetings with Kupwara and Baramulla administration officials regarding schemes for child welfare. She expressed satisfaction over the progress on these schemes. The Social Welfare Department Commissioner Secretary said four composite regional centres were being established in Kupwara, Doda, Udhampur and Anantnag to provide necessary succor to the child development programme in these districts. He said the government had established 29 ‘bal ashrams’ in the state besides two ‘swadhar’ shelter homes for orphans. He said the government had also established rehabilitation councils for militancy-affected children. |
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Despite govt’s claims, sarpanches have no right to monitor finances
Jammu, October 1 The accounts of panchayats are being maintained by panchayat secretaries (government officials) and it has resulted in alleged malpractices, including misuse and embezzlement of funds. It has come to the fore at a time when there is a raging debate over the incorporation of the 73rd amendment of the Indian Constitution in the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act. Furthermore, it is mandatory for the panchayat secretaries to get the signatures of sarpanches on “muster rolls” after the completion of work but all that is happening is just contrary to the norms. In most of the cases, sarpanches have alleged that the panchayat secretaries were overlooking the elected members and submitted “muster rolls” without taking them into confidence. “I have no knowledge vis-a-vis funds released or spent for development activities in our panchayat. There is no check (as far as panchayat accounts are concerned) and there is every possibility that these funds are misused or embezzled. The need of the hour is to induct transparency in the implementation of projects at grassroots level,” Anil Sharma, sarpanch, Jandrah panchayat halqa, told The Tribune. He said the state government should comply with the 73rd amendment and the J&K Panchayat Raj Act by devolving to the panchayats all the finances, functions, and functionaries of the key departments specified in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution. “If one goes by the government claims that it has devolved the powers of 14 departments to the panchayats, sarpanches and panches are still acting as ‘mukhbir’ and they don’t have any governing authority. For instance, if a doctor doesn’t perform his or her duty well in a village hospital, we can’t make a written complaint to the higher-ups as we are just authorised to make a verbal complaint to the authorities. Similarly, we can’t hold teachers accountable if they don’t attend school regularly,” Sharma said. |
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SC notice to J&K on PIL alleging bonded labour
New Delhi, October 1 A Bench comprising Justices AK Patnaik and HL Gokhale passed the order on a PIL by social activist Swami Agnivesh and an alleged victim of the outlawed practice. The victim said she was kept as a bonded labour in RS Pura, Jammu, and was beaten up and raped when her husband escaped from bondage. She said she was staying in Delhi with her husband and they were afraid of returning to Jammu as they might be killed. “Thirty-six years after the Union government abolished the bonded labour system in 1976, it is still prevalent. One such example is the present case where the petitioner No. 2 not only served as bonded labour for two and a half years but was also a victim of sexual slavery only for the reason that she along with her husband wanted to be free from the system of bonded labour,” the PIL said. The entire family of the victim, hailing from Chhattisgarh, had served as bonded labourers for 10 years in a brick kiln in Jammu, the petition said. The petitioners are pleading for a directive to the Commissioner of Police, Jammu, to investigate the rape and other offences and prosecute the culprits. They also want identification of other bonded labourers in the state and their rehabilitation. |
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HC allows Kashmir Bar Association team to visit Jammu jails
Srinagar, October 1 The delegation of lawyers headed by Bar president Zaffar Qureshi is scheduled to leave for Jammu on October 5 on a three-day visit of the jails in the region. The directions of the high court came following an application by the Kashmir High Court Bar Association that its members be allowed to visit various jails in Jammu to see the facilities and inquire into the problems faced by the inmates in these jails. The Bar in its application moved through its president had prayed before the court that its members be permitted to visit Sub-jail Hiranagar, Kathua jail, District jail Amphala, Jammu, Central Jail, Kotebalwal, Jammu, and Udhampur District Jail.
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Pak opens fire in Chachwal village; couple injured
Jammu, October 1 Amid unprovoked fire, the BSF had to shift the injured couple to safety before ferrying them in its vehicle to Samba district hospital. “This evening around 6 pm, the Rangers opened heavy fire on our posts in the Chachwal area and they also targeted civilians, who were working in their fields,” said BSF Jammu Frontier DIG JS Oberoi. A couple was badly injured in the fire and Rangers didn’t stop the firing. The man and his wife were lying injured in their fields and consequently the BSF had to press into
service its bullet-proof vehicle, which shifted them to safety one by one
amid the gunfire, the officer said. Thereafter, we shifted the couple in another BSF vehicle to Samba district hospital where first aid was provided to it before referring it to Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu for specialised medical care, he added. Oberoi informed that unwarranted and unprovoked act of the Pak Rangers forced the BSF to retaliate. |
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Broadcast of Pakistani news channels banned in Kashmir
Srinagar, October 1 The channels which have been banned include Pakistan-based Dawn News, ARY News, state-run PTV and Geo News. The ban was ordered and implemented immediately after massive protests against the making of the anti-Islam film swept the main cities in Pakistan last week. The Kashmir valley had remained shut on September 21, which is believed to have been an effect of the situation in Pakistan which had announced the day as ‘Youm-e-Ishq-e-Rasool’ (Day of love of Prophet) and called for protests against the film. The making of the anti-Islam film and release of its trailer on video-sharing website Youtube angered many people here and had led to widespread protests in the Kashmir valley, which lasted for more than a week in mid-September. Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Baseer Ahmad Khan told The Tribune that he has issued an order banning the broadcast of several Pakistani news channels. “There is a ban on broadcast of Pakistani news channels,” Khan said. |
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Govt employees to hold statewide protest on Oct 10
Srinagar, October 1 Addressing a press conference here, JCC leader Khurshid Alam said the employees would hold protests across the state on October 10 and submit memorandums at the deputy commissioners' offices. Alam said committee members would gherao the Sectretariat on October 15. Earlier, JCC leaders held a meeting with a team of government officials led by chief secretary Madhav Lal for the resolution of their demands. However, Alam said, the government disappointed them. The JCC leader flayed the authorities for their "non-serious" attitude towards their demands. After a series of protests and strikes by government employees earlier this year, the state authorities had entered into an agreement with the JCC wherein the employees were assured that a decision pertaining to their demands would
be announced by September 30. Another JCC leader Abdul Qayoom Wani claimed the government was only trying to "buy time" by calling the employees' leaders for talks and by entering into agreements. "On ground, nothing positive has emerged in regard to our demands. We had suspended our protest till September 30 but now the authorities have forced us to resume our agitation," he said. The employees’ demands include release of arrears recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission, enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 yearsand removal of pay anomalies. They also want regularisation of daily wagers and casual workers working in various government departments, Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers in service from five years and education volunteers after seven years of service. Alam said the only "silver lining" that had emerged during today's meeting with the government was that a cabinet sub-committee would deliberate over the extension of retirement age and regularisation of daily wagers on
October 11.
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Air Cmde Patange takes charge of Jammu Air Force Station
Jammu, October 1 He assumed the command vice Air Commodore Nitin Sathe, who relinquished it, prior to proceeding on posting. Talking to mediapersons here today, Patange said, “Jammu Air Force Station is an important station where work remains a challenge.” The Indian Air Force has always served the people in the state during natural calamities and will keep serving the people, he added. A colourful ceremonial parade as per the customs and traditions of the IAF, marked the occasion. The parade was commanded by Group Captain S Sridhar, Chief Operations Officer (COO), of Jammu Air
Force station. The air warriors turned out in their crisp blue uniform, exhibited smart drill movements to the rousing and inspiring martial tunes like “Sare Jahaan Se Achha”. The parade was also witnessed by the families of all air warriors of the station. Speaking on the occasion, Air Commodore Nitin Sathe commended the air warriors of the station for their professionalism, dedication and sense of duty, which were instrumental in the accomplishment of organisational goals while serving under his command. He expressed confidence that they would continue to work with the same professionalism and elan under the command of his successor Air Commodore Patange too. He also thanked the families of the air warriors of the station and expressed gratitude on behalf of the President Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA) for the tremendous support extended by them in the conduct of all station activities connected with the welfare of troops. He congratulated all the ranks, who were instrumental in bringing laurels to the station, in all spheres of station activities. Patange was commissioned in the flying branch in the IAF in December 1984. An alumnus of NDA and a graduate from the DSSC, Wellington, he is also a qualified flying instructor. He has held various prestigious command and staff appointments during the course of his service in the IAF. Prior to taking over the command of the Air Force Station Jammu, he was holding an important appointment at HQ Eastern Air Command. He was also part of the United Nations peace-keeping mission in Somalia. He has also served as the Air Attaché in Ukraine during 2008-2011. |
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