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Road row
CRPF begins process to pull out sixth unit from Kashmir
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SIT submits progress report in teenager killing case
LPG crisis looms large over Kashmir valley
NC, Congress encouraging communal elements: BJP
Civic poll to be announced in next Cabinet meeting
PDP will collapse before 2014 elections: NC
CM okays Rs 50 lakh for artist welfare fund
Army men booked for assault
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Road row
Srinagar, October 31 Sahai said this after the government today took a team of mediapersons for an aerial survey of the yatra track along the Baltal-Panjtarni-holy cave route in the morning. Asserting that it was “normal” to undertake track improvement works before the commencement of the pilgrimage every year, he said the weather condition did not permit construction during this time of the year as the yatra area had received snowfall recently. While no construction work could be seen through the chopper, the area around the cave shrine was snowbound while scant human movement was noticed between the Baltal and Sangam areas. The IGP said the Supreme Court as well as the Special High Powered Committee (SHPC) that was constituted to minimise casualties among the pilgrims had not suggested road construction while orders had been passed regarding sanitation facilities for pilgrims. The government arranged the chopper ride for the media days after the chairman of the hard-line Hurriyat faction, Syed Ali Geelani, had claimed that construction work was going on at the yatra area. During a press conference, the separatist leader had urged locals to brace up for an agitation while presenting photographs of the “construction” work along the yatra area. However, Sahai said the photographs were those of prefabricated huts. When Geelani had also alleged that the government was planning to construct "Amarnath Nagar" along the yatra route, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had offered to take the Hurriyat chairman on a helicopter ride to the holy cave shrine. However, the Hurriyat had said Geelani would prefer to go the yatra area on his own along with locals. Even as the Hurriyat called for a meeting today to discuss the issue, the amalgam did not call for protests but formed a committee to make people “aware” of the issue. The Hurriyat said the committee would draft a report after talking to people and then announce the future course of action during a seminar scheduled on November 10. |
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CRPF begins process to pull out sixth unit from Kashmir
Jammu, October 31 “Acting upon the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the CRPF had last year withdrawn three battalions — 174, 112 and 125 — from the Kashmir valley. This year we have already pulled out 152 Battalion from Kashmir and 129 Battalion from Jammu,” said a top CRPF officer. Following the decision of the Home Ministry, the process has been initiated to withdraw the sixth battalion from Kashmir, he added. After the Centre had agreed upon the request of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to reduce the footprints of security forces in the state, the CRPF had been asked by the Home Ministry to withdraw at least six battalions from the state, he said. “The Centre has decided to deploy nearly 10,000 personnel for anti-Naxal operations in Maoist-affected states of the country and that is why we have been asked to remove our battalions from J&K, where the security situation has been improving for the past four years,” said the officer. The officer, however, said withdrawing CRPF battalions from the state was not an easy task. It happens only with the concurrence of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and that too following the consent of the state government because the CRPF as of today has all kinds of duties in the militancy-plagued state like maintaining law and order, guarding vital installations and providing security to VIPs,
he said. On July 28, Defence Minister AK Antony had laid stress on reduction in the visibility of armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir. 65 units remain in J-K
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SIT submits progress report in teenager killing case
Srinagar, October 31 In its progress report to the court, the SIT has submitted that it has so for examined five independent witnesses and recorded their statements, both in writing as well as in audio visual form. Wamiq, a Class VII student, was allegedly killed due to a teargas shell fired by the police on January 31, 2010, in Srinagar. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, Rajeev Gupta, who is hearing the case, had on September 29 directed the (SIT) to record the statements of the witnesses through the audio-visual medium. “The SIT has examined five independent witnesses and recorded their statements in writing and in the audio/visual form, which are on file,” read the SIT progress report submitted to the court. However, it added that “ascertaining the possibility of the injury as seen on the deceased teenager could not done” due to some “technical” difficulties. “The same would however be done soon,” the progress report added. However, in his arguments, Ajaz A Dar, the counsel representing the complainant family, submitted that the probe into the matter had been lingering on for almost two years and the SIT needed to be asked to complete the investigation at the earliest. After hearing both sides, the CJM directed the SIT to “expedite” the investigation into the matter. The case has been listed again for further consideration on November 26, when the SIT is expected to file another progress report. The family of the deceased teenager has maintained that Wamiq was killed after the police-fired teargas shell hit his head while he was playing carrom on a street near Gani Memorial Stadium in Srinagar. It has been demanding registration of a murder case against the accused police officers. On the other hand, the police has named the Wamiq as a “miscreant” in its FIR. |
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High Court raises seven posers to state govt on LPG crisis
Srinagar, October 31 A division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Hasnain Massodi today directed the state government to file a detailed affidavit in this regard by November 2, when the matter has been listed for further consideration. In the detailed order passed by the Bench today, the court has sought a reply from the authorities on seven points. One of the queries is about the total number of LPG dealers in the state. The court has also sought details on the number of counters opened in the Kashmir valley for the reverification process and for providing cylinders to consumers. It has asked the government to explain the method adopted for re-validating the papers of LPG consumers and for providing verified papers to consumers who possess cylinders but do not have proper papers with them. The Bench has questioned the government about the number of LPG cylinders required for distribution per day in the state and the number of cylinders in store in the Valley. The government will also have to inform the court about the steps taken by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department for exercising an effective control over the distribution of LPG cylinders and steps taken to check monopoly by any distributor. It has been directed to inform about the alternative arrangements made by the CAPD Department for supplying cylinders to consumers until proper papers are provided to them by LPG dealers after the re-validation process. Observing that the LPG crisis had emerged in view of the “faulty distribution of LPG cylinders”, the High Court has asked the state government to explain whether it (faulty distribution) has been taken care of. |
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LPG crisis looms large over Kashmir valley
Srinagar, October 31 The crisis is likely to hit the Kashmir division worst where supplies get chocked during the winter as the only road link to the region- the Srinagar-Jammu highway- gets frequently blocked when there is snowfall. The only LPG filling plant in Kashmir is not able to cope up with the heavy rush of refills during winter months as the demand for LPG suddenly jumps here. “During winter months, the demand for LPG increases by over 70 per cent. This means if a family consumes one cylinder a month during summer, it requires about two in winter,” J&K LPG Dealers Association secretary Jagmohan Singh Raina said. Due to freezing temperatures, a lot of energy is needed to cook food or boil water in Kashmir where mercury dips as low as minus 13 degrees. Official figures reveal that the state has nearly 17 lakh LPG consumers out of which nearly eight lakh consumers are in Kashmir. The Valley has only one filing plant at Pampore with a capacity of 1,700 metric tonnes a month which is owned by the Hindustan Petroleum while the Jammu region has two gas filling plants. The strategic Ladakh region has one LPG filling plant, where nearly 60,000 consumers are registered with oil companies. Besides, two lakh LPG cylinders are stocked in the Ladakh region which has a high presence of Army troops. Sources say there will be poor supplies of LPG between November and March which may worsen the scenario here. “The cap on LPG cylinders has created a dicey situation, particularly in Kashmir where supplies are bound to get affected when there is snowfall,” an official said. “Due to shortage of fuel, people in the hilly areas are likely to turn towards forests seeking wood as alternative fuel,” he said. |
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Not playing second fiddle to NC: Cong
Jammu, October 31 The statement has come despite the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Saif ud Din Soz’m claim that postponement of these elections was neither victory nor defeat of any party. During a function to observe the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, party leaders said there was an impression that the Congress had sacrificed its agenda to remain in power. But the way the party has forced its coalition partner to postpone the BDC elections reflected the leadership was committed to its ideology and agenda, they added. “With the postponement of BDC elections we have proved that the Congress is not a “B” team of the NC in the state,” Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma said. “It is the result of the efforts of our leadership that BDC elections were postponed so as to incorporate provisions of the 73rd amendment of the Indian constitution in the existing J&K Panchayat Raj Act,” Sharma said. The NC and the Congress were face to face on the issue of the 73rd amendment. Relief, Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla said by getting the BDC elections postponed, the Congress had once again proved that the party was committed for the welfare and upliftment of the weaker sections. “BDCs elections will be held very soon after incorporating the relevant provisions of the 73rd amendment of Indian Constitution in J&K Panchayat Raj Act,” MP Madan Lal Sharma said. There was a widespread feeling within the Congress cadre that the party leadership had failed to implement its agenda in the coalition government. |
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NC, Congress encouraging communal elements: BJP
Jammu, October 31 BJP chief spokesman Jitendra Singh reiterated that whatever be the provocation, there could be no justification for anti-national demonstrations, for which the state government was also answerable. Addressing a press conference here today, Singh said incidents in Kishtwar over the past three days had sent out a dangerous message and that the minorities were feeling insecure while pro-Pakistan elements were holding the town to ransom. He said no offender should be allowed to go scot free but it was against the rule of justice that on the one hand the coalition government was granting general amnesty to former militants returning from Pakistan and on the other hand the administration was “planning to slap the Public Safety Act (PSA)” on the minority community of Kishtwar for an unsubstantiated and a relatively less serious offence. Singh said it was a paradox that though NC and Congress leaders accuse the BJP of being communal, they were themselves responsible for encouraging communal elements. Former Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta has also expressed his concern over recent incidents at Zanskar, Kishtwar and the RS Pura area. He asked the administration to take effective steps to check the activities of anti-social elements. Ministerspeak
With the postponement of BDC elections we have proved that the Congress is not a “B” team of the NC. It is the result of the efforts of our leadership that BDC elections were postponed so as to incorporate provisions of the 73rd amendment of the Indian constitution in the existing J&K Panchayat Raj Act — Sham Lal Sharma, Health Minister |
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Civic poll to be announced in next Cabinet meeting
Jammu, October 31 Minister of Health Sham Lal Sharma said this while addressing party workers here today. Sharma assured the party workers that the elections would not be delayed further. He said the minister concerned had assured that the process of ULB elections would be completed by the end of December. The election for the Urban Local Bodies and also the Jammu and Srinagar municipal corporations were due in February 2010 but they have been postponed by the government since. Even the opposition parties had launched a campaign against the government for not constituting the urban local bodies. During budget session of the Assembly, the state government had promised to conduct the election by April this year. The last election for the Urban Local Bodies was held in 2005 after a gap of 26 years. The government has also proposed to include 35 more areas within the JMC limits. The government has constituted a committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand to look into various provisions of 74th amendment of Indian Constitution before announcing the Urban Local Bodies elections. |
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PDP will collapse before 2014 elections: NC
Srinagar, October 31 “One can figure out the PDP’s desperation to woo the disgruntled party members and also bring back leaders back to the party-fold by selling them false dreams,” NC spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said. Sadiq hinted at defections within the PDP saying “damage has already been done and such a development is in the offing”. “We neither want them nor are they joining us,” he said ruling out possibility of any of them joining the NC soon. Omar Abdullah who heads the ruling alliance will also finish his six-year tenure as Chief Minister in 2014 and the state will go to Assembly polls the same year. Sadiq claimed the PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had failed to keep the party flock together. “This (PDP’s disintegration) will happen before the 2014 elections because of a leadership crisis arising inside the party. Intra-party disagreements, ideological dilemma and a lack of leadership are also weighing heavily on their minds,” Sadiq said. Reacting to Mehbooba Mufti’s claims that Omar-led government had failed to check brewing communal tension in the remote Zanaskar area, te NC spokesman said the PDP president was trying to “ignite the sentiments” of the people. “She (Mehbooba) has a communal mindset. If she knew so much about the situation and that she claims it was simmering why did not she visit the area earlier,” Sadiq said. |
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Explain if sharing of beds by patients permissible: SHRC
Jammu, October 31 The Tribune had recently highlighted the fact that mothers of newborn babies were sharing hospital beds. Taking cognisance of a complaint filed by Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna, SHRC member Javid Kawos today issued the notice to Commissioner Secretary, Health, MK Dwivedi, and Medical Superintendent, SMGS Hospital, AK Sharma,
asking them to explain the matter. The SHRC has asked the Commissioner Secretary to submit the report in person or appear before the panel to record his statement on December 17. The SHRC has also sought to know whether sharing of beds make patients prone to contact infections and if so, what steps have been taken
to increase the indoor capacity of the hospitals, particularly the SMGS Hospital. “The Commissioner Secretary, Health, shall report whether the minister concerned admits that the state government has received Rs 400 crore under the National Rural Health Mission to improve the medical facilities in rural areas. What steps have been taken to improve the health sector in such areas which in turn will automatically lessen the burden on the SMGS Hospital and other referral hospitals,” reads the SHRC notice. The state Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report which was recently tabled in the recently concluded Assembly session categorically stated the health sector in Jammu is in a shambles. The Tribune in a report on October 6 had highlighted the sorry state of affairs
in the SMGS Hospital where workload, staff crunch and limited beds continue to mar the
services. The 750-bedded hospital has been facing an acute dearth of doctors, nurses and paramedic staff. |
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CM okays Rs 50 lakh for artist welfare fund
Srinagar, October 31 This was stated by the secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Cultural Academy, Khalid Bashir, at a two-day conference on Kashmiri language-opportunities and challenges, which started today at the Institute of Hotel Management, Srinagar. Bashir said the organisation of the Kashmiri conference would be followed by a two-day conference on Dogri in Jammu after the Durbar move. He said although the Union Ministry of Human Resources and Development was keen on providing the necessary funding for the digitisation of culturally relevant manuscripts and paintings, the state Finance Ministry had agreed to allocate the funds for this purpose. State Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the preservation of the mother tongues of the state, especially Kashmiri and Dogri, had become the need of the hour and that the state government would initiate remedial measures. |
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Army men booked for assault
Srinagar, October 31 "We have registered a case under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 392 (robbery) of the RPC,” a police spokesman in Srinagar said. Investigations in the case are going on, he added. Sources said the troops had put a naka on the outskirts of Baramulla town and the vehicles plying on the road were stopped for checking at around 4 am. “Some Army personnel were drunk and they thrashed passengers and drivers without any provocation. They even stole the wallet of a driver,” said a complainant. Those who were thrashed were shifted to the Baramulla hospital for treatment, he added. They were later discharged. “The residents said they could identify the Army men who assaulted them,” said a police officer. Defense spokesman in Srinagar Lt Col JS Brar said he was not aware about any such incident. “I can not comment on the issue,” Brar said. |
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