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Ahead of poll, hunt on for LeT, Hizb militants
Joint contest in LC poll to strengthen NC-Cong bond: Omar
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Panthers Party promises more powers to panchayats
Army calls off search operation in Kupwara
First flag meeting in Uri after ceasefire violation
50 yrs on, ITBP awaits its flying machines
DRDO to harness geothermal energy in Leh district
The project site
National social service award for Kashmir varsity
Savings account for each Ladakh household
State to move SC against HC verdict
Give peace another chance, Omar tweets
Two ‘militants’ acquitted for lack of evidence
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Ahead of poll, hunt on for LeT, Hizb militants
Jammu, November 22 These militants could be a serious threat to more than 800 panchayat members in the erstwhile Doda district. Elections to the four legislative seats from the panchayat quota will be held on December 3. “Since there is a perceived threat to panchayat members, the police, CRPF and the SOG (an extended arm of the police trained in combating terrorism) have launched an offensive against eight militants in the erstwhile Doda region ahead of elections,” said DIG, Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban region, Garib Dass. There are over 800 panchayat members in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts, which have nearly eight militants. Ahead of the poll, the threat perception has increased, he added. The DIG said upper reaches of the mountainous district of Kishtwar has four militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen, namely Chota Hafiz, Jehangir Saroori, Riaz Ahmed and Junaid Akram. “Though there are strong indications that Junaid Akram was killed in inter-gang rivalry last year but we haven’t found his body as yet. So we consider him alive,” said the DIG. The Khari belt of the Pir Panjal range is infested with Lashkar men Riaz Takri and Tariq Ahmed, and Hizbul militants Mohammed Shafi Gujjar and Mohammed Ayub. Besides over 800 panchayat members in erstwhile Doda district, there are four candidates in the fray for two seats of Jammu from this region, said the DIG. “Though no threats have been issued to sarpanches and panches in this mountainous region comprising three districts, we have started dominating areas 24x7 where threat perception to the elected representatives is more,” he added. To instil confidence among them, night patrolling by the police and CRPF is being held, he said. The police has initiated enough measures to ensure incident-free polling in nearly 20 booths in as many block headquarters on December 3. Sarpanches targeted United Jihad Council and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin earlier this month issued a fresh threat to target panchayat members if they didn’t quit their posts On February 27, militants killed sarpanch Ghulam Mohammed Dar in Kulgam On September 10, sarpanch Ghulam Mohammed Yatoo was killed in Pattan On September 24, deputy sarpanch Mohammed Shafi Teli was killed in Kreeri, Baramulla Two contesting candidates were also killed during panchayat election campaign in May 2011 in Kashmir
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Joint contest in LC poll to strengthen NC-Cong bond: Omar
Srinagar, November 22 “Contesting of election for Legislative Council seats by the National Conference and the Congress jointly indicates a grand alliance of the two parties for the 2014 Assembly elections in the state,” Omar said as he campaigned for the coalition candidates at several towns in north Kashmir. The Chief Minister urged panchayat members in Bandipore, Sumbal and Sopore to vote in favour of NC-Congress candidates in the Legislative Council elections. “The National Conference and the Congress share high principles… for communal harmony, equitable development and restoration of permanent peace in the state. The coalition between the two parties is natural and will strengthen in the future,” Omar said. The Chief Minister said the performance of the present government is the “highest tool in the hands of workers of the coalition partners to blunt the false propaganda of frustrated elements against the government and the coalition”. “The path-breaking decisions taken by the government to empower people, give them authority to question administration and carry forward holistic development in all sectors across the state along with new initiatives for restoration of peace and stability are examples of the determination and commitment of the coalition government to work for a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar said. He said the work done by his government could not be “eclipsed by the propaganda of propagandist elements”. “We are not like them to create hype in public and the media by falsehood tactics,” the Chief Minister said. Omar also accused the main opposition PDP of using “gun to gain power”. “For the lust of power, they can go to any extent. They can even use gun to gain power. They can put society to fire, divide people on religious lines, make different sections of society fight each other just for the sake of getting to the chair and be in power,” he said. |
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Panthers Party promises more powers to panchayats
Jammu, November 22 Releasing a party manifesto for the Legislative Council elections from the panchayat quota, chief patron of the NPP Bhim Singh said his party would build a special panchayat ghar in every block, besides construct a special library, free dispensary and literacy centre in every
panchayat. “The NPP has a commitment to provide legitimate powers to the panchayats to make them deliver local and social justice, implement all state and Central sponsored schemes for the development of the
panchayats,” said Singh. He said, “The Panthers Party has a commitment that there shall be no illiterate person in the panchayat within a year.” Singh said the empowerment of panchayats was the goal of the party. “The NPP shall not allow the government to bungle with democratic and basic rights of the people living in rural areas,” he said. “The NPP has a commitment that all office-bearers, including block chairmen, district chairmen and other functionaries, shall be elected by panchayat members. There shall be no nomination of chairman or members at any stage.” The Panthers Party assured the panchayat members that the party would provide all facilities and amenities to sarpanches and panches which are available in other parts of the country. |
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Army calls off search operation in Kupwara
Kupwara/Srinagar, November 22 The operation was jointly launched by the troops of 18 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army and the Special Operations Group of the police. “The militants have escaped from the Warnow forests and the operation has been called off,” said a source. Police sources said during the four-day operation, they had information that one of the most wanted LeT militant commanders of north Kashmir, Qari Mohammad, was hiding in the forests along with four to six militants. The police said there were no reports of casualties from either side. Another combing operation, however, continued in the forests of adjoining Diver village in Lolab. The police said after a brief exchange of fire between the security forces and militants in the forests of Diver village on Tuesday evening, a cordon and search operation was launched. “The militants escaped from the Diver forests taking the advantage of darkness,” a source said, adding that the militants were hiding in the forest. “The Tramukhan and Diver forests are still under siege and a fierce gun battle may break out,” the source said. “Many households were thoroughly searched for the presence of militants. No arrests have been made so far.” |
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First flag meeting in Uri after ceasefire violation
Srinagar, November 22 “Pakistan reserves the right to open fire, if India constructs any new bunker,” a senior Pakistan army officer reportedly told his Indian counterpart at the first flag meeting since the first major ceasefire violation in the Uri sector of Baramulla district. The firing had left three civilians dead. Sources said while Col Himanshu of 9 Maratha informed his Pakistani counterpart Col Ajmal that no new bunkers were being constructed, the Pakistan army officer insisted they fired at Churanda village as new posts were being constructed in no man’s land. “We told them that we were occupying old bunkers and some of them were to be repaired ahead of winters,” said a source. On October 16, three civilians, Mohammad Shafi (30), Liayaqat (17) and Shahnawaz, were killed in the first ceasefire violation in Kashmir in the last one decade. On November 6, Indian and Pakistani troops again exchanged heavy fire in the village. Sources said the two sides agreed in the meeting that there would be no ceasefire violations in the future and both sides would respect each others territory. The General Officer Commanding, 19 Infantry Division, Maj Gen Bipin Rawat, said the meeting was held at the Kaman post (Peace Bridge) which connects Srinagar with Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “The Indian Army had asked for a flag meeting on October 3 and 17 but Pakistan had refused. Pakistan agreed for the meeting two days ago,” said
Rawat. |
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50 yrs on, ITBP awaits its flying machines
Jammu, November 22 The ITBP guards the strategic 3,488-km-long India-China border from J&K to Arunachal Pradesh without flying machines even though the neighbouring country has been consistently ramping up its infrastructure. A top source in the ITBP said, “After suffering defeat in 1962 and in an age of drones, the ITBP should be provided with an independent aviation arm for effective air reconnaissance and to carry out on-the-spot investigations.” The Army that guards the 776-km-long Line of Control (LoC) in J&K got its aviation corps on November 2, 1987, while the BSF that mans the border with Pakistan and Bangladesh got its air wing in 1969. Raised in 1962 in the wake of the Sino-Indian war, the ITBP is deployed from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Diphu La in Arunachal Pradesh. It keeps vigil on border outposts in the Himalayan range at altitudes ranging from 9,000 feet to 18,000 feet, where temperature plummets to -50°C. “Though a proposal to provide an air wing to the force is under active consideration of the Union Home Ministry, in an age of technology-driven warfare and considering China’s ‘activities’ on the other side of the border it is high time the Centre speeded up the process,” said the ITBP source. The ITBP guards the hostile Himalayan terrain bordering China, a country that has well-connected and well-replenished posts and which keeps on experimenting with new technologies. “In today’s world, an aviation wing for the ITBP has become indispensable. In an emergency situation, we can’t afford to wait for the Home Ministry to arrange air-facility for us or approach the Defence Ministry for flying machines from the Air Force or the Army,” said the source. “It is an open secret that the ITBP posts all along the India-China border have a poor road network and in some strategic areas roads simply do not exist. Keeping in mind the country’s security, the paramilitary force should be equipped with an aviation wing. It is time to wake up to the emerging challenges,” the source added. A Defence Ministry source said wisdom lies in learning lessons from past mistakes and not remaining cocooned in a shell only to get into a firefighting mode during a crisis. “Air reconnaissance on the border is a must today and we should not forget the bitter experience of 1962 and another important fact that India shares a vast and strategic border with China,” he said. “Unfortunately, those at the helm of affairs, it seems, lack foresight and believe more in crisis management,” he said. |
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DRDO to harness geothermal energy in Leh district
Leh, November 22 It will be the first project of its kind in geothermal energy in the country. The survey on geothermal potential at Chumathang and the Puga valley was done in 1970 and in the 1980s, respectively, by the Geological Survey of India. Chumathang Geothermal Field is being developed as a joint venture of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). Dr Tsering Stoban, a scientist in the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), a unit of the DRDO, at Leh said: “The project constitutes of two parts. The first phase was completed during which exploration of potentiality at the Chumathang hot spring was carried out. The analysing of data is in progress.” Dr Stobdan said the data collection began in May this year with the involvement of the Geological Survey of India, Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Mineral Exploration Corporation and the Ladakh Renewal Energy Development Agency. The first phase of the project has been sanctioned. The second phase of the project is yet to be sanctioned by the Defence Ministry. It is expected to complete by 2014-15. Jigmat Takpa, project director of the Ladakh Renewal Energy Development Agency, nodal agency of the LAHDC, Leh, said: “The Memorandum of Understanding between the LAHDC and DRDO will be signed soon to develop Chumathang Geothermal Field as joint developers. Survey investigation works, shallow bore well drilling and identification of rock types have been completed.” He also said there were seven geothermal provinces in India and Chumathang had been found to be one of the most promising areas followed by the Puga valley. Exploration and development of geothermal resources in Ladakh would immensely contribute to meeting the national geothermal energy target. |
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National social service award for Kashmir varsity
Srinagar, November 22 The award was given away by President Pranab Mukherjee to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir (KU), Talat Ahmad, at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday in the presence of coordinator of the National Service Scheme (KU wing) Farooq Ahmad Khan. Of the 23 shortlisted universities from 636 universities of the country, the KU won the coveted award, outclassing some prominent names in the academic arena of the country. The University of Kashmir was among the select list of six universities which were awarded in various categories. Two upcoming universities were also awarded on the occasion. The IGNSS award comprises a cash award of Rs 1 lakh, a national certification and a medal. Prof Talat Ahmad expressed his contentment with the KU’s achievement and said the award recognised the dedicated effort and commitment of more than 16,000 National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers of the varsity. He lauded the efforts of the programme officers of the university, its affiliated colleges and various higher secondary schools. Prof Talat said the NSS wing of the varsity, headed by Dr Khan, had affectively carried out social service and spread awareness among students. Khan said the award was a mark of recognition for the continued efforts of the students and faculty members of the varsity. The NSS is one of the flagship programmes of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, aimed at developing qualities of good citizenship and spirit of volunteerism among youth and provide them an opportunity to work with people in villages and slums. The scheme seeks to achieve its objectives through the twin approaches - “campus to community” and “college to village”. Ruhulla Hussain, NSS volunteer, Amar Singh College, Srinagar, was felicitated for his service. |
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Savings account for each Ladakh household
Srinagar, November 22 This was stated by Chief Postmaster General of the Department of Posts, J&K Circle, John Samuel after inaugurating the newly constructed post office building in Kargil today. There are at present 109 post offices in Ladakh. Samuel requested the district administration to use post offices for payment of scholarships to schoolchildren. The post office building has been constructed on one kanal at a cost of about Rs 40 lakh. The newly constructed eco-friendly building is a model building in the area,” Samuel said. He said the post office at Kargil had been provided with state-of-the-art
technology to provide various services. Till now, 20 post offices have been modernised
in the state, a postal official said. |
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Ban on pvt practice by govt docs
Jammu, November 22 The High Court had given the directions on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO in 2011, which had submitted that private practice of doctors was illegal and made people suffer, especially poor. The private practice by doctors was banned by the District Bench of the High Court comprising then Chief Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifulla and then Justice Virender Singh. A Health Department official said though the state itself had issued a Sadr-e-Riyasat Ordinance a few years back to ban the private practice by government doctors, it was not implemented keeping in view the poor infrastructure in hospitals. Sources said despite tall claims of bringing reforms in the health sector, many Cabinet ministers were opposing the move, knowing that health infrastructure was not capable of catering to needs of patients. Law Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said the matter had been referred to the Law Department. He said a suitable decision would be taken on how to deal with the issue. “The matter is under study and the state will file a suitable reply at an appropriate level,” said Sagar. Special leave petition means a special permission for appeal against any High Court or tribunal verdict. Usually, any issue decided by the state High Court is considered final, but if there is any constitutional or legal issue, which can only be clarified by the Supreme Court, then the leave is granted by the apex court. Law secretary GH Tantray said, “The Law Ministry has asked us to study the case and prepare a response for the SLP. We have done our duty.” After the imposition of the ban, the Health Department had expressed its reservation on the ban, maintaining that hospitals in the state were facing pressure of patients and it would not be in the public interest. |
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Israel-Palestine conflict
Srinagar, November 22 The Chief Minister on Wednesday night hoped the ceasefire being charted out between Israel and Palestinian Hamas group, which governs the Gaza strip, comes into effect. “Let’s hope the ceasefire being talked about does come in to effect in Gaza. Saner heads need to prevail and give peace another chance,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging website Twitter. The Israeli air strikes in Gaza, which began on Wednesday last week, when an air raid killed Hamas’ military chief Ahmad al-Jabari, has angered many in Kashmir. Several protests, including by students and lawyers, have been held this week to condemn the Israeli attacks and express solidarity with Palestinians. Hardline Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Geelani has called for protests against Israel across the Kashmir region after the Friday congregational prayers, prompting the Chief Minister to react, saying some people are “desperate” to make residents of Kashmir suffer. “It (ceasefire) will also help back home because some people in Srinagar are desperate to use Palestinian suffering to make people in the Valley suffer,” said Omar. |
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Two ‘militants’ acquitted for lack of evidence
Jammu, November 22 On January 7, 2002, the Poonch police station had received information from reliable sources about entry of militants into Bagial Dara, which fall in the jurisdiction of the Poonch police station. They entered the house of Kala around 3:30 am and caught Mohammad Azam, a special police officer. They detained him in the house and cut his tongue on the intervening night of January 6th and 7th in 2002. On receiving the report, an FIR was registered under Section 307, 120-B of the RPC, 4/7/25/26/27 of the Arms Act, 2/3 E&IMCO and 3-A, 3 (2) of POTA. During the investigations, Kapooran Bi confessed before Munir Hussain, the brother of the deceased, that both the accused persons with the intention of murdering the deceased, hit him with an axe and knife while he was asleep and injured him seriously. They later informed the Army that militants had detained the deceased Azam in a cattle shed and killed him. Azam was having an illicit relation with Sheena Bi, a resident of Shoker, Bagial Dhara. This was the reason why both the accused planned Azam’s murder. The Principal Sessions Judge while acquitting the accused, said, “From the evidence of the prosecution witness recorded in the court, it is apparent that they have improved upon their statement recorded under Section 161 of the CrPC. Related witnesses have tried to involve the accused in the commission of the offence but the same is not mentioned in their statements recorded by the police.”
“As such, implicit reliance cannot be placed upon their evidence. It is here that the evidence of the witness becomes suspicious. The statement of Saheen Akhtar is surprising that the witness did not disclose the names of the accused on the very next day to the police or her relatives. All these factors cast a doubt on the genuineness of the prosecution case.” |
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Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said fielding of candidates jointly by the ruling coalition for the Legislative Council (LC) elections was indicative of a grand alliance between the National Conference (NC) and the Congress parties in the 2014 state Assembly elections.
The National Panthers Party
(NPP) today reiterated its commitment to provide legitimate powers to the panchayats to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state.
The police and the Army today morning called off the cordon and search operation in the forests of Warnow village in
Lolab, Kupwara district, after failing to locate the militants who were firing intermittently since Sunday.
The operation was jointly launched by the troops of 18 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army and the Special Operations Group of the police.
Leh, November 22
The entire Ladakh region will be brought under the “Samporna Bachat Yojana” scheme, wherein each household would have a savings account either
with the post office or at the bank. This was stated by Chief Postmaster General of the Department of Posts, J&K Circle, John Samuel after inaugurating the newly constructed post office building in Kargil today.
