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School education board not to reduce Class XII exam fee
Valley shuts down to protest HC verdict against Faktoo
Transporters’ stir hits normal life
Passengers wait outside the railway station in Jammu on Monday as transporters go on a strike in the state. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh |
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Border fence relief: Reports of 72 villages submitted
Govt’s prerogative to release convicts serving life imprisonment: HC
Grant registration to 88 students: HC to dental college
Legislative Council poll
Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Movement during a press conference in Srinagar on Monday. Photo: Amin War
Jamaat denounces Israeli attack on Gaza
JKPCC vows to ensure victory of coalition candidates
Prosecution’s failure earns acquittal for accused
Jammu grenade attack may upset Omar’s AFSPA withdrawal
plan
Security alarm as militants enter J&K via Nepal route
As tourist footfall crosses 12 lakh, hoteliers eye a more lucrative 2013
Exchange of fire in Kupwara forests continues
Migratory birds flock to Valley
Migratory birds at Hokersar wetland in Srinagar. Tribune photo: Yawar Kabli
Cabinet approves land for hydel project in Kishtwar
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School education board not to reduce Class XII exam fee
Jammu, November 19 Sources said in order to reduce the stress on candidates who were not comfortable with the pattern of A and B papers, the education board had convened a meeting of its officials and decided to introduce a single paper system at par with the Central Board of School Education (CBSE). Under the system, the marks of a candidate will be counted on the basis of the marks obtained by him or her out of 500 instead of 750 (in all the five subjects). Candidates who had appeared in Class XII examination and were placed in a reappear or failure category would have to complete backlog or reappear papers within three years, irrespective of the number of chances availed by them as per the existing examination scheme under the two paper system (Paper A and Paper B). The sources said after the system was introduced last year, education institutions were hoping of reduction in examination fee being charged by the JKBOSE. An amount of Rs 660 is being charged as examination fee from Class XII students by the board. “The JKBOSE has done a commendable job by introducing a single paper system. The earlier process was not only a time consuming affair but often took toll on the candidates,” said one of the owners of a private school. “We had earlier appealed to the authorities of the school education board to reduce the fee but nothing significant was done,” he said. Joint Secretary (Examination), BOSE, VR Sharma said, “There is no such proposal for reduction of Class XII examination fee.” Sharma said, “We are not waiting for the CBSE to reduce the fee. The department can take its own decision and there is no such urgency.”
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Valley shuts down to protest HC verdict against Faktoo
Srinagar, November 19 Most businesses around Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley remained closed in response to the shutdown called by chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The inter-district public transport service was also disrupted by the shutdown. Private vehicles were plying normally in Srinagar city and most of the banks were open. The day passed off peacefully. Geelani had last week called for a shutdown on Monday to protest against the High Court verdict which rejected Faktoo’s release petition, who was a former militant commander. Geelani termed the verdict as a “political vendetta” and accused the courts of being “subservient to the government”. Faktoo has been in jail since 1993. He was arrested for killing human rights activist HN Wanchoo. The shutdown call was supported by the United Jehad Council, an umbrella group of several militant outfits led by Hizbul Mujahideen’s Syed Salahuddin, and Lashkar-e-Toiba. Faktoo, alias Dr Qasim, was briefly released in 2000 before being jailed again. The High Court on Friday had dismissed the petition seeking Faktoo’s release on the ground that he had already served a life sentence. “Life imprisonment means conviction for whole life and not for 20 years,” Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir had said in the judgment while ruling against Faktoo’s release. Faktoo, who is currently lodged in Srinagar Central Jail, is the husband of Asiya Andrabi - a hardline separatist and leader of radical women group Dukhtaran-e-Millat.
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Transporters’ stir hits normal life
Srinagar/Jammu, November 19 The strike also affected Vaishno Devi-bound pilgrims, as they were stuck in Jammu in the absence of transport facility. Reports said inter-district and inter-state buses were off roads and several passengers had to cancel their visit to their respective districts in the absence of transport facility.
With mini buses and Sumos not plying, students, especially in the Kashmir valley, were left in the lurch, with a majority of them reaching examination centres late, causing disruptions in the conduct of examinations.
Students, especially from far-flung areas of north, south and central Kashmir districts, who have their examination centres in Srinagar city faced tremendous problems in making it on time at their respective centres. “It is almost 40 km distance from my village in Ganderbal to Amar Singh College, Srinagar. On finding no bus and Sumo on road, I had to beg for a lift from a motorcyclist, who dropped me at half the distance. I reached the examination centre around 40 minutes late. Although the college authorities did not allow us to enter the examination centres initially, we convinced them somehow. But none of the students who reached late due to transport hassles were given extra time,” said Mukhtar Ahmad, a B.Com final year student.
Students hailing from Srinagar uptown and downtown areas were seen walking to their examination centres due to non-availability of transport facility. People complained that the state government should have stepped in at this crucial point and provided State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) buses so that people don’t have to suffer due to the strike. The transporters are demanding a 30 per cent hike in the passenger fare. They have already informed the committee set up by the State Government about their problems. Anil Chopra, Transport Union leader, said “We have told the government the passenger fare hike is necessary because of rising fuel prices”. Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo, Transport Commissioner, told The Tribune “We have sent a report to the Cabinet which will have to take decision on the fare hike”. |
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Border fence relief: Reports of 72 villages submitted
Jammu, November 19 However, the state administration claims it has expedited revenue survey in 117 villages along the border out of which detailed documents of 72 villages seeking no-objection certificates stand submitted by the district administrations to the Home Department that in turn will pave the way for compensation to the marginal farmers from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The BSF had raised a permanent fence along the 192-km-long IB in 2002-03 to ward off Pakistani terrorists besides check other illegal trans-border activities. For the purpose, the BSF had been given a vast chunk of agricultural land in the forward areas along the border in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts. Kathua Deputy Commissioner Zahida Khan said, “Out of 17 such forward villages in Kathua district, the status report of 15 villages stand submitted to the Jammu Divisional Commissioner’s office while reports of the remaining two villages will be submitted within a month.” The Deputy Commissioner said in Bobiyan village the administration had disbursed Rs 61 lakh as rentals to farmers, whose lands had been acquired under the border management project for raising border outposts and allied activities. After the Union Home Ministry decided to widen the existing fence, we had to conduct revenue surveys afresh, she said. She also informed that in three villages of Kathua district, the existing fence has to be re-aligned. This proposal was under active consideration of the Centre, she added. Samba Deputy Commissioner Mubarak Singh said out of 28 villages in his district, detailed documents of 14 villages had been submitted to the Divisional Commissioner for getting the NOC from the Home Department. “Since the existing fence has to be widened and being a cumbersome process, it will take some time for us to complete revenue surveys. The process is on,” said Singh. Jammu Deputy Commissioner Sanjeev Verma said revenue survey of 72 villages had been completed. “At present, we are seeking NOC for 43 villages of Jammu district from the Home Department,” he said. A senior BSF officer said the project being under the Union Home Ministry for country’s security, the state government has to give land to the BSF close to the IB, for which appropriate compensation has to come from the Centre. However, Jammu State Morcha legislator from Bishnah Assembly Constituency Ashwani Sharma regretted that despite being a decade-old issue, no relief had been provided to the aggrieved farmers as yet. “They (Revenue officials) have again embarked upon a fresh exercise of measuring agricultural land close to the IB,” he said. During the Budget session in February-March this year, Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla, on the floor of the Lower House, had promised compensation to the ggrieved farmers within two months.
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Govt’s prerogative to release convicts serving life imprisonment: HC
Srinagar, November 19 “It is the domain of the government to consider the case along with the recommendation made and pass the order. A writ of mandamus cannot command the government for passing such an order or release the convict after expiry of 14 years or 20 years without any specific order,” Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir ruled yesterday. The ruling was delivered by Justice Mir while dismissing the petition of Mohammad Qasim Faktoo, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering human rights activist HN Wanchoo. Faktoo was seeking his release as he completed 20 years in jail in May this year. Observing that life imprisonment means imprisonment for entire life, the judge held that the judgment was passed “in the light of the law laid down by judgments of the Supreme Court and other courts.” Referring to the argument of the counsel for Faktoo, Mian Abdul Qayoom, that in terms of Section 57 of the Ranbir Penal Code, life imprisonment means imprisonment for 20 years, the court observed that, “The argument is devoid of any force as the objective of the said Section is how to calculate the fractions of terms of punishment and provides that imprisonment for life shall be reckoned as equivalent to imprisonment for 20 years...” Justice Mir said the contention that the provisions contained in the Jail Manual and Prisons Act mandated that imprisonment for life means 20 years “had no substance”. “The provisions contained in the Jail Manual and Prisons Act and the Prisoners Act are just how to regulate and manage prisoners in prisons,” the court said and cited the apex court’s judgment in GV Godse vs State of Maharashtra in this regard. Qayoom had argued that Faktoo had earned remission for his good behaviour in jail and his cumulative period of detention came out to be 20 years which amounted to life imprisonment. Faktoo was first detained in 1993 under the Public Safety Act. After six years of imprisonment, a TADA court acquitted him of all charges. He was re-arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi in 2002 and sentenced to life imprisonment in the murder case of human rights activist HN Wanchoo. — PTI
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Grant registration to 88 students: HC to dental college
Jammu, November 19 He gave the directions so that the students who have successfully completed the course are in a position to obtain their degrees, subject to the fulfilment of conditions by the petitioner-institute and the students. The High Court said the institute should surrender 14 seats from its management quota in each of the academic years 2013 and 2014 (total 28 seats) to the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) so that the admissions against such seats (14 in 2013 and 14 in 2014) are given to meritorious students who appear in the common entrance test to be conducted by BOPEE in 2013-2014. The management quota of the petitioner-institute would be reduced to 46 seats in 2013 and 2014. The institute shall deposit Rs 14,00,000 i.e. Rs 50,000 out of the fees collected from each of the 28 candidates admitted by the petitioner-institute with the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Service Authority. The amount so deposited shall be spent by the authority on organising legal literacy programmes for the Schedule Caste, the Schedule Tribe and other underprivileged sections of society in the state as per proposal approved by Executive Chairman, State Legal Service Authority. The 88 students shall deposit Rs 10,000 each with the Registrar, Judicial. The amount shall
be given in equal proportion to three institutes, Blind School for Boys, Jammu, run by the Social Welfare Department, Blind School for Girls, Jammu, run by the National Federation of Blinds, J&K Chapter, Jammu, and Anath School run by the Ved Mandhir Committee, Jammu, for improving facilities for visually impaired students enrolled in the institutions.
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Legislative Council poll
Srinagar, November 19 “Our sole aim will be to defeat the candidates nominated by the coalition partners as the National Conference-led government has ditched us,” said Shahnawaz Sultan, convener of the JKPRM, while addressing a press conference at Srinagar today. “We will oppose the coalition candidates as the government has failed to empower the panchayats in the state.” The convener said the Legislative Council elections were useless as the state was yet to hold the elections for the block development council and the district development board (BDC). “While the BDC elections have been deferred, the state government has bypassed all norms for electing the four Legislative Council seats,” said Shahnawaz. He said the party would campaign against the coalition candidates in the coming days. “We will visit every village and talk to panchayat members who have been ditched by the government. We will ensure that the coalition candidates are defeated in the poll,” he said. Shahnawaz said the coalition had nominated leaders with an aim to rehabilitate them. “The coalition government wants to rehabilitate its own people under the garb of grass-roots democracy. But we will ensure that these candidates do not get
elected.” |
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Jamaat denounces Israeli attack on Gaza
Srinagar, November 19 “Jamaat-e-Islami vehemently denounces the use of brutal force by Israel against innocent Palestinians and expresses complete solidarity with oppressed people of Palestine who have been deprived of their native land,” said spokesman of the group Zahid Ali in a statement. Ali termed Israel as an “illegal state” which he said was created “under a criminal conspiracy of anti-Islamic world powers” in 1948. The Jamaat spokesman alleged that anti-Islamic world powers were openly supporting Israel for its “barbarism” which had crossed “all limits of cruelty to retain the illegal occupation of Palestine”. Ali said his group was surprised over the silence maintained by most of the rulers of Muslim countries over the “shameless aggression of Israeli forces against civilians in Gaza”. “Jamaat-e-Islami appeals to all the Muslims living the world over to unite and express their solidarity with their subjugated brethren in Palestine and condemn the Israeli aggression in one voice,” said Ali.
Gaza strip is being continuously bombed by Israeli aircraft over the last two days. Israel launched an air raid that killed Palestinian group Hamas’ military chief Ahmad al-Jabari. Palestine is an emotive issue in the Kashmir region where protests have been held in the past in favour of Palestinians and against Israel.
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JKPCC vows to ensure victory of coalition candidates
Jammu, November 19 The elections to the four seats from the panchayat quota will be held on December 4. “In a closed-door meeting that lasted over an hour here this morning, the JKPCC insisted upon its leaders to work cohesively with the National Conference to ensure victory of all the four candidates of the coalition government,” said a Congress leader. Under a seat sharing agreement, the Congress and the National Conference (NC) have fielded two candidates each for the four seats. Shehnaz Ganai and Ali Mohammed Dar of the NC and Ghulam Nabi Moonga and Sham Lal Bhagat of the Congress are in the fray. “The party high command in New Delhi had asked the JKPCC to work in tandem with the NC to ensure victory of all the four candidates of the ruling alliance in the upcoming poll,” he said. To achieve its goal, the JKPCC has asked all the party leaders to reach out to the masses at the grass-root level, he said. The meeting was presided over by JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz.
— TNS |
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Prosecution’s failure earns acquittal for accused
Jammu, November 19 “It is important to point out that the NDPS Act is a stringent legislation and so the standard of proof required to bring home the guilt against the accused has to be high. There are many safeguards laid down in the Act to prevent the false implication of a person and the police agency dealing with the cases under the NDPS Act is required to observe mandatory requirements laid down in the Act in letter and spirit. As far the case is concerned, it is worth mentioning that there are many disturbing features in the case.” said the judge. On February 4, 2007, a vehicle which was on its way from Srinagar to Jammu was intercepted at the Kud check point around 5 pm. A search was conducted of all the passengers and their luggage. The accused were also travelling in the same vehicle and were carrying two bags. On search of their bags, the police found 7 kg poppy straw in one bag and 6 kg in another. |
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Jammu grenade attack may upset Omar’s AFSPA withdrawal
plan
Jammu, November 19 “Though the grenade attack in Jammu city happened after a long time, it has again brought to the fore capability of terrorists to strike anywhere. This attack has yet again vindicated our stand on the AFSPA,” said a senior Army officer, who declined to be named. The Army’s strong reservations in the recent past about its withdrawal were no knee-jerk reactions. A man was killed and six others suffered injuries in the attack on November 17 in Jammu city, which had been calm since many years but not immune to terrorists’ attacks, he added. A similar grenade attack at the bus stand here in 2007 had injured four persons. The Army’s frequent feedback to the Ministry of Defence vis-à-vis possible ramifications of withdrawing the Act are based on facts, assessments and trends of violence, he said. The officer also referred to the recent statement of Defence Minister AK Antony, who had said that there wouldn’t be any hasty decision on the AFSPA, and Army Chief General Bikram Singh’s remarks about the presence of 400 militants in the state. “The Defence Minister had plainly said no to a hasty decision on the AFSPA and the Army Chief has put the number of militants in the state at 400. At the same time, we cannot ignore the fact that over 3,000 militants are waiting on the other side of the border to infiltrate into the state,” he said. No doubt, the parameters of violence have gone down over the years because of the relentless counter-insurgency operations bringing the situation to near-normal. But, any move to revoke the AFSPA may recoil and bring the situation back to square one, he said. A top source in the Defence Ministry said several officers and soldiers had sacrificed their lives and limbs in the past 20 years to bring the situation to a near-normal but tampering with the AFSPA might cast an adverse impact on the counter-insurgency operations of the Army. “We all know that the Army doesn’t operate in Jammu district and rolling back the AFSPA from peaceful districts will bar the Army from entering such areas to undertake counter-insurgency operations,” he said. The Army goes by a detailed assessment and that is why it had opposed the withdrawal of the Act, which is an indispensable tool for the men in olive to combat Pakistan-sponsored insurgency in the state, he added. Omar had been advocating the withdrawal of the AFSPA from Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Srinagar and Budgam districts. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, during his recent visit to the state, had categorically stated that the time was not right to repeal the Act.
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Security alarm as militants enter J&K via Nepal route
Jammu, November 19 “We have an open border with Nepal and they (militants) continue to enter India and then reach the state unchecked, which should be a cause for concern for those at the helm of affairs in the state,” said a senior Army officer. “Militants are entering the state and we don’t know what is being done with such militants, who are pouring into the state from Nepal,” he added. In the latest such incident on November 6, 26-year-old militant Mohammed Showkat Ali of Pangai village in Rajouri district had to be arrested by a special police team. The militant, who had entered the state via Nepal, was arrested along with his Pakistani wife Fatima Kosar (22) and two minor children Khalid Walid and Omar Walid. “While India has an open border with Nepal, it cannot be ignored that terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has established a well-knit system in Nepal. It is high time the state government evolved a strict mechanism,” said the officer. “The move of having an all-weather fence is aimed at zero-infiltration of militants from Pakistan and Pak-occupied-Kashmir but what about militants entering the state via Nepal. It’s like raising an impregnable fence in front of a house having a strong front door but keeping the backdoor open,” he added. “The government should be alive to the sensitive issue. Though intelligence agencies nab such ultras but an effective mechanism should be evolved without further delay,” he said. Rehab policy for ultras
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As tourist footfall crosses 12 lakh, hoteliers eye a more lucrative 2013
Srinagar, November 19 “Around 60,000 people are associated with the tourism sector and we can generate 60,000 more jobs if our suggestions are implemented... hoteliers are the largest stakeholders,” Kashmir Hotels and Restaurants Owners Federation (KHAROF) president Faiz Bakshi said while addressing a press conference here. With the UK lifting the travel advisory for Srinagar, Bakshi said such moves would benefit the tourism sector only if international flights operated from the Srinagar International Airport. “The airport is international in name only.... If it is not possible to operate daily international flights, there should at least be weekly international flights,” he said. Bakshi said the federation had been for long demanding new hotels at areas where construction is banned to accommodate the increasing number of tourists. "If the ban remains in place and if we are not allowed to upgrade or do construction work at the existing hotels, we will not even be able to cater to low-budget tourists," he said. Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) president Showkat Chowdhary said preserving the environment did not mean stopping construction of new hotels. He said permission could be given to construct hotels 3 km away from the restricted areas due to ecological concerns. Chowdhary said the association’s demands included giving a boost to cross-LoC tourism. He said the government along with the stakeholders should draft short and long-term policies for the development of tourism infrastructure. “More than 12 lakh tourists have come here so far this year and now we are eyeing more for 2013,” he added. When asked if the hoteliers wanted security in view of the recent attack on a wine shop here in a hotel complex, Bakshi said: “No, we have our own security guards and so far no tourist has been targeted.” However, he said, the government should thoroughly probe the firing incident outside the wine shop last week.
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Exchange of fire in Kupwara forests continues
Kupwara, November 19 Sources said the firing again resumed this afternoon from both the sides but there were no reports of casualties from either side. They said the village close to the forests was under cordon to ensure that no militant escaped from the spot. “Intermittent firing between the militants hiding in forests and the security forces resumed this afternoon. But there are no reports of any casualties from either side. The cordon of the village continues. Few households were searched for the presence of militants,” said a source. A joint team of 18 Rashtriya Rifles and the task force of the police had cordoned off the forests and part of the village and were involved in the exchange of firing since yesterday morning. The firing was suspended last evening. The sources said the militants again resumed firing today, which was retaliated by the troops. “Five to six militants, including one of the most wanted LeT commanders Qari Mohammad, are believed to be hiding in the forests,” the source said. A senior police officer said there were chances that the operation would prolong for at least two more days as the militants were hiding in inaccessible dense forests.
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Migratory birds flock to Valley
Srinagar, November 19 Annual sojourn
Zargar said the number of birds arriving this year was expected to cross the 7 lakh arrivals registered last year. “We are witnessing the arrival of more birds than we used to have at this time of the year,” he said. He said the department was setting up over a dozen watchtowers as there were apprehensions that poachers might target the birds. Thousands of migratory birds from Russia, Siberia, the Phillipines, Eastern Europe, China and Japan fly long distances to escape extreme winter conditions in their summer habitats and search for food. They stop in Kashmir for nearly a month before flying south as the temperature in the Valley dips below freezing point by mid-December. The birds start the return leg of their voyage by January-end.
— PTI |
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Cabinet approves land for hydel project in Kishtwar
Jammu, November 19 The Cabinet authorised the state Power Development Department (PDD) to lease out 567.22 hectares comprising 138.93 hectares of forest land, 281.09 hectares of state land, 55 hectares of private land and 92.20 hectares of riverbed area falling in Drabshalla village of Kishtwar on a lease basis under the Land Grants Act 1960 for the development of the mega project for 35 years from the date of its commercial operation. The authorisation was also accorded to the PDD to lease out land to other independent power producers at various locations in the state for periods specified in individual agreements under the Land Grants Act after obtaining all required clearances. The Cabinet has also accorded approval to the Science and Technology Department for execution of Rongdo 3 MW hydroelectric power project by the Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency. It also gave a nod to the proposal for revision of the master plan for the Pahalgam Development Authority.
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A one-day strike called by the transport unions disrupted normal life across the state today with people, especially students and employees, facing a lot of hardships.
Srinagar, November 19
Srinagar, November 19
Srinagar, November 19
