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Day after militant attack, 3 liquor shops shut down
Army searches Kupwara forest to track militants
Elections to four Legislative Council seats |
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44 file papers for Legislative Council poll
National Conference must act against Kamaal: Congress MP
Govt to study impact of cement factories on saffron
Local masons get training in stupa building, conservation
3,800 CRPF personnel may return after Gujarat poll
Faktoo to remain in jail for life: HC
8,000 Kashmir University students to sit for NET examination
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Day after militant attack, 3 liquor shops shut down
Srinagar, November 16 Militants attacked two liquor shops in the Hemal hotel complex in which Mushtaq Ahmad of Aloochi Bagh, an employee of one of the liquor shops, “The shooting led to panic, but things have settled down now. Life has returned to normal,” said Tariq Ahmed, a salesman at a shop adjacent to the liquor shop in the Heemal hotel complex. Another shopkeeper in the area said dozens of youths come to these liquor shops every day. “The three liquor shops were doing a brisk business,” he said. Militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack last night. “Our preliminary investigations have so far revealed that it was a local module of the Hizbul Mujahideen which had attacked the liquor shop. We are continuing with our investigations,” said a police officer. Liquor shops and cinemas were closed after insurgency erupted in the Valley in 1990. Despite the militant threats, a few liquor shops reopened in early 2000. A liquor shop owner was shot dead by suspected militants in 2004. Activists of Kashmiri women's separatist group Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of the Faith) have raided liquor shops in the city in the past. Since 2004, liquor shops in Kashmir have been rarely attacked. At present, half a dozen liquor shops are operating in the Valley. A hotel owner at the Dal Lake area said the attack was not aimed at tourists. “The attack was purely aimed at the liquor shops. Tourists arrived at our hotel even today and there is no panic due to the incident,” said a hotelier. Targeting liquor vends
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Army searches Kupwara forest to track militants
Srinagar, November 16 A senior Army commander based in Baramulla, who is in charge of the troops in volatile north Kashmir which borders the Line of Control (LoC) from where the militant infiltrate into the region, said the search operation was on. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Baramulla-based 19 Infantry Division, Major General Bipin Rawat, said the Army had sealed a portion of the forest and was looking for three more
militants who were part of the infiltrating group of five members. “We have surrounded that area where the last operation had taken place. That area is completely sealed and we are still there,” Major General Rawat said. The search operation in the dense Shamsabari forest of Kupwara district was launched on Wednesday this week after a group of five militants clashed with soldiers. Three soldiers belonging to 17 Battalion of Army’s Jat Regiment and two unidentified militants were killed in the gunfight. Major General Rawat said the Army was looking for three more militants in the area. “Five militants were spotted before we planned an ambush,” he said. The gunfight in the frontier district was one of the bloodiest between the two sides in recent months as the region witnesses a surge in militant attempts to infiltrate to this side of Kashmir before winter sets in and snowfall blocks the infiltrating routes and key mountain passes. Last week, four militants were killed in the Keran sector of Kupwara district when the Army foiled a major infiltration bid on November 9. Conflict in Kashmir, which began more than two decades ago, is fast waning as the number of militants operating in the region has dwindled to a few hundred, down from thousands
who operated till a few years ago. Many of the top militant commanders, who were active in the region in the last decade, have been killed in the last one year denting in the militant capability to launch any major strike. Kupwara encounter
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Elections to four Legislative Council seats
Jammu, November 16 While the panchayat elections in the state took place on a non-party basis in May-June 2011 after a gap of 33 years, this time all major political parties have fielded their candidates for the four seats in the Legislative Council. Earlier, the elections to 143 block development councils — which were deferred following differences between the National Conference and the Congress on the implementation of the 73rd Amendment - were also scheduled to be held on a “non-political” basis. For the four seats (two each from the Kashmir and Jammu regions) of the Legislative Council from the panchayat quota, each elected sarpanch and panch would cast two votes in favour of political or independent candidates. Barring a few panchayat members, all major political groups have fielded their “political personalities” for the four seats which according to panchayat members would diminish the “non-political tag” of 4,130 PRIs in the state. A section of elected panchayat members has announced to boycott the elections in protest against the government decision to hold the poll without empowering the panchayats. Shafiq Mir, chairman of the All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), said it was against the principle as the panchayat elections were conducted on a “non-party” basis. “Had the government been sincere in its intention to empower the panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir, it should have allowed only panchayat members to contest these elections. After these elections, sarpanches and panches will carry a political tag of having affiliation to a particular group,” said Mir. The AJKPC leader said it would be a setback to the ongoing struggle for empowerment of panchayats in the state. “I don’t want to put the entire blame on the government. It is a crucial time for sarpanches and panches to decide what is wrong and what is right. They have no right to decide on their own because they were voted by the people on non-political grounds. If they vote for political parties, it means they are deceiving people,” he said. Noted political expert Prof Hari Om said ministers, MLAs and elected panchayat members belong to the “same stock”. “The entire system is rotten as the existing panchayats and old Gram Sabhas are not alike these days. A majority of elected panchayat members have either strong political affiliations or influential backing. For instance, the Congress candidate for the MLC seat from Jammu, Sham Lal Bhagat, is a loyalist of Rahul Gandhi, party’s general secretary. It is clear that Rahul’s influence will play a role in these elections,” he said. Prof Om said the elections would be a “very costly affair” and an ordinary sarpanch or panch cannot afford to contest these elections. There are 4,082 sarpanches and 28,253 panches in Jammu and Kashmir who will cast their votes to fill the four vacant seats in the Legislative Council. The election results will be declared on December 6. |
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44 file papers for Legislative Council poll
Jammu, November 16 Today was the last date for submission of the nomination forms, which would be scrutinised on November 17. The last date for withdrawal of nomination is November 19. The poll is scheduled on December 3.
Twentyeight candidates filed their papers for two seats from the Jammu province while 16 candidates filed papers for
two seats from the Kashmir valley. While Congress candidate Sham Lal Bhagat filed his nomination papers at
Doda, coalition partner National Conference candidate Shahnaz Ganai filed her papers at Jammu in the presence of senior party
leaders. Devener Singh Rana, political adviser to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Surjeet Singh
Slathia, Minister for Commerce and Industries, and other senior leaders were present when Ganai filed her papers. Two Congress leaders, namely Dharam Pal Sharma and Girdhari Lal
Chalotra, also accompanied the NC leaders. PDP candidates Ved Mahajan and Gurmeet Singh Bajwa filed their nomination papers in the presence of a large number of party workers. Parbhakar Singh and Sukhdev Sharma, both
sarpanches, filed their nomination papers as covering PDP candidates for the Jammu
province. BJP candidates Col Uttam Singh (retd) and Rashpal Verma submitted their nomination papers to the Divisional
Commisioner, Jammu. State president of the BJP Shamsher Singh Manhas and other senior leaders Nirmal Singh, Ashok
Khajuria, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Kavinder Gupta were also present. National Panthers Party
(NPP) candidates Anita Thakuar and Mohammad Rafiq Chandel (sarpanch) filed their nomination papers for the Jammu province. Anita filed her nomination papers at Jammu while Chandel filed his papers at
Udhampur. Harjeet Singh and Ram Chand have filed their papers as BSP candidates. Sixteen candidates filed their nomination papers for two seats from the Kashmir province. As many as 15 candidates filed their
nomination papers before the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan
Samoon, who is also the Returning Officer for the election. One candidate filed his nomination papers before the Deputy Commissioner,
Baramulla, who is the Assistant Returning Officer for the election. Prominent among the candidates who filed their nomination forms were Ghulam Nabi Monga of the Congress, Ali Mohammad Dar of the NC, Peer Mohammad Hussain and Yasir Reshi of the PDP besides eight Independent candidates and two candidates of the NPP and one from the
BJP. State unit of the Samajwadi Party today announced that it would boycott of the poll. |
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Omar stresses need for special schemes for J-K
Jammu, November 16 “The special category states such as Jammu and Kashmir share inherent problems of inadequate and costly communication network, hostile climatic conditions and adverse topography,” he said, adding that the special problems confronting these states require special focus. Addressing the Chief Ministers’ conference of north zone states convened by the Union Finance Ministry at New Delhi, Omar said measures ensuring inclusive development and pro-active role by banking institutions towards achieving the goal along with other steps by the Union Government can go a long way in ensuring redress of chronic backwardness issues of the states like Jammu and Kashmir. In an official statement issued here, Omar has suggested a separate meeting of the Union Finance Minister with the special category states to ensure their full inclusion in the economic development process of the nation. “Even within the states of the north region to which today’s conference seeks to address, the progress on the listed agenda is widely uneven. I wish the Union Finance Minister would consider calling a separate meeting exclusively for the special category states to ensure their full inclusion in the economic development process of the nation,” Omar has said. The statement issued by the Chief Minister says the financing institutions, though working under the RBI discipline, are primarily driven by market demands, profit motives, ease of options and concern for security of their investment. “The obvious truth is reflected in more than 100 per cent CD ratio in economically advanced states while it remains very low in the states like Jammu and Kashmir. This is a worrisome issue and puts the operations of other public sector and private banks in a poorer light,” he maintained and stressed the need for improving the CD ratio particularly in agriculture, industrial, trade and MSME sectors. |
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National Conference must act against Kamaal: Congress MP
Jammu, November 16 Firebrand Congress Lok Sabha member Choudhary Lal Singh today said the utterances of Kamaal amounted to propagating secessionism and there was a need to take action against him. “It is unfortunate that a leader of the National Conference, which is running the government in the state, is clearly challenging the integration of the country”, he said, adding that such persons were a threat to the nation’s security. Kamaal, while addressing party workers at Kishtwar two days ago, had allegedly said: “India not Pakistan is our enemy and the Indian Army is the biggest hurdle to peace in the restive state”. Taking a dig at the NC leadership, especially Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, for not taking Kamaal’s “anti-national utterances” seriously, Singh said NC leaders could not escape their responsibility. “It is really surprising that the NC leadership hasn’t disowned Mustafa Kamaal, who frequently speaks against the country,” the Congress leader said. “He (Kamaal) is still enjoying an important position in the National Conference. The NC leadership must take action against Kamaal. “Mustafa Kamaal has some psychiatric problem. So, he should be sent to a psychiatric hospital for proper treatment,” the Congress MP said. Singh, while interacting with the mediapersons in connection with the Sheedhi Diwas function tomorrow at Kathua, said the Congress would not tolerate such “irresponsible” remarks of the senior NC leader. When asked why was the Congress running a coalition with a party whose senior leader had made such an irresponsible statement, Singh said, “I am a very small person to take such a decision. It is the decision of the party high command to form an alliance with the NC.” He, however, admitted that due to the compulsions of the coalition, the Congress was finding it difficult to implement its agenda in the government. Terming the performance of the NC-Congress coalition in the state as “sub-standard”, he said it was all due to the compulsions of the coalition that the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution was not so far properly implemented in the state. |
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Govt to study impact of cement factories on saffron
There are 37 cement manufacturing factories in the state which were established before 2006 as
the state issued a notification making environment impact assessment mandatory. The Environment Pollution Assessment Committee will carry out a detailed study of all the cement factories in the state to assess environmental pollution caused by them. The
report will be submitted to the government by December end. Officials said many environmentalists and NGOs blamed the dust and soot generated by the cement factories at Khrew, a famous saffron production area in Kashmir, for the declining saffron production and fungal attack on the flower. The production of the labour-intensive crop used to be around 40 tons a year in early 1990s which has nosedived to eight
tons. “Minute dust particles emitted by quarries and cement factories settle on fields damaging the flowers. Illegal construction despite ban by the government is destroying the fields in Pampore, Balhama and Wuyan which produce 70 per cent of the total saffron,” said Nadeem Qadri, an environment activist from Pampore. There are two varieties of saffron, ‘lacha’ and ‘mongra’ which were once a symbol of Kashmir’s idyllic Himalayan ecology. Saffron is used mainly in drug and food industry and religious rituals of Hindus across the globe. Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Shant Manu, who is the chairman of the committee, said, “It will be the first of its kind study on the impact of the cement industry on land, air and water resources and will include the impact on saffron fields. Environmental scientists from the University of Jammu and the University of Kashmir will also be a part of the committee.” Manu said the report would be incorporated in the new policy being formulated for giving clearance to new cement industries. The land under saffron cultivation has shrunk from 5,707 hectares in 1997 to 3,010 hectares as the cement industry is transforming the area rapidly. Chairman of the Pollution Control Board (PCB) Lal Chand said they were asking the factories to install pollution control devices. “People living around these industries have been complaining of respiratory diseases and overall impact on health.” |
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Local masons get training in stupa building, conservation
Leh, November 16 The chief executive councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Rigzin Spalbar, was the chief guest on the occasion. During the workshop, trainees used traditional construction material and renovated a large dilapidated stupa near the Chemday monastery. A group of Buddhists monks from the Chemday monastery formally consecrated the newly renovated stupa on the valedictory function. The traditional wisdom of building Buddhist stupas in Ladakh is at the verge of extinction. In the entire region, there are only two persons who are experts in the field. The Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF), a Leh based NGO, in collaboration with the state Tourism and Culture Department had organised the workshop. The CEC urged local NGOs, representatives of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, the Ladakh Gonpa (monastery) Association and public representatives to work together on the preservation of stupa, which are an important part of the historical and cultural heritage of Ladakh. He stressed on the renovation of ancient stupa and creating mass awareness about the importance of cultural heritage among the people. He also proposed to school authorities to keep books on stupa and other traditional cultural heritage of Ladakh in their school libraries so that interest is generated among the young generation. Secretary of HCHF Dr Sonam Wangchuk while addressing the people on the occasion said it was one of the series of workshops for local masons on building and conservation of Buddhist stupa. He said the workshop was held by the organisation with the help of two local experts, Gyen Paldan Sonam and Tsering Tundup. A similar workshop was organised earlier this year at two places in the Nubra block. Spalbar said the workshop was divided into two parts. The theoretical aspects of stupa building were taught at Leh town and the practical training was given at Chemday village. |
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3,800 CRPF personnel may return after Gujarat poll
Jammu, November 16 One company of the CRPF consists of 125 personnel and officers. “Thirty companies of the CRPF, 26 from Kashmir and four from the Jammu region, were sent to Gujarat on November 10 for performing election duties. These splinter companies are likely to return to the state after the elections,” said CRPF’s IG (Operations) SS Sandhu. “The 30 CRPF companies have been exclusively sent to Gujarat for election duties and most likely they will come back to the state,” said Sandhu. Acting upon the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the CRPF has pulled out five battalions from the state - three last year and two this year. A process to reduce the footprints of the paramilitary force in the state was initiated following Defence Minister AK Antony’s statement on July 28, stressing reduction in the visibility of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. “So far five battalions of the CRPF have been pulled out of the state and deployed in Naxal-hit states of the country. We are awaiting the response of the state police to withdraw the sixth battalion,” he said. The state police has so far not responded to the withdrawal of 18th Battalion, which has been deployed in Kulgam, he said. The Centre has decided to deploy nearly 10,000 personnel for anti-Naxal operations in Maoist-affected states of the country. Sandhu said as of today the CRPF had 51 battalions in Kashmir and 14 in the Jammu region. |
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Faktoo to remain in jail for life: HC
Srinagar, November 16 Faktoo, who is hardline separatist leader Asiya Andrabi’s husband, had filed a petition for his release on the grounds that he had completed 20 years in jail. The Muslim League chairman was convicted of murdering human rights activist HN Wanchoo and was handed down a life term. He was arrested on December 5, 1992, along with two others. Faktoo is currently lodged in Srinagar Central Jail. Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir while dismissing Faktoo’s petition on Friday said life imprisonment awarded to him meant conviction for life. “Life imprisonment means conviction for whole life and not for 20 years,” Justice Mir said in his judgment. The arguments in the case had completed on September 17 and the High Court had reserved its judgment. Defending Faktoo, advocate Mian Qayoom had sought his release on the grounds that he had spent 20 years in prison. “Faktoo on May 31, 2012, has completed 20 years in prison and as per the Jail Manual and Prison’s Act amounts to life imprisonment,” Qayoom had argued. Senior Additional Advocate General AM Magray had opposed Faktoo’s release. Faktoo is the first prisoner from the state who completed his PhD in Islamic Studies during his detention. |
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8,000 Kashmir University students to sit for NET examination
Srinagar, November 16 An official source at the KU said the number of
students appearing in the national level competitive examination has reached
a record high this year, indicating a growing interest for research and teaching careers among
the youth. “It is definitely a positive trend which is emerging in the academic arena of the state. So many students are competing for posts of lecturer and Junior Research Fellowships (JRF). Clearing the NET examination opens doors for wonderful opportunities in the chosen area of study,” said Prof
Iqbal Malik, a chemistry lecturer at Gandhi College, Srinagar. A KU official said research has in particular become the chosen specialisation among students who complete their
post graduation from the university. Experts feel that the job market in the Valley is highly saturated and employment opportunities in medicine, engineering, law and administration are narrowing, leading to an increased interest in research and teaching jobs. “The salary of a junior lecturer starts from Rs 35,000 and goes up to Rs 1 lakh. A research fellow is paid all expenses of his research study besides some stipend. Researchers have ample opportunities in both the academic and scientific sectors which they can take up,”
said Imtiyaz Shafi, a career consultant. |
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A day after militants attacked liquor shops in a tourist hub, an eerie calm prevailed in the area. The three liquor shops at the Heemal hotel complex on the banks of the Dal Lake were closed.
As many as 44 candidates, including 25 Independents, have filed their papers for the four seats of the Legislative Council under the panchayat quota. Candidates of all main political parties filed their nomination papers today amid shouting of slogans and beating of drums. Both the National Conference (NC) and the National Panthers Party
(NPP) nominated women for one of the seats.
Even as the CRPF awaits the response of the state police to pullout its sixth battalion from the state, 30 companies of the paramilitary force, which were sent to poll-bound Gujarat on November 10, may return to Jammu and Kashmir after performing election duties.
Jammu, November 16