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Employees’ protest march foiled
Temperatures dip in Valley ahead of expected snowfall
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Civil society calls for ‘jihad’ against rapists
Regipora market observes shutdown for 2nd day
Power revenue in Kashmir: Rs 402 cr
Hoteliers call for a fresh tourism policy
Baramulla hospitals to have more facilities for differently abled
South Kashmir residents rue
shortage of essential supplies, say govt insensitive
MC to conduct raids to ensure food safety
Fire destroys two structures
Three injured in road accidents
Valley student brings laurels
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Employees’ protest march foiled
Srinagar, January 10 A large number of government employees led by JCC leader Khurshid Alam took out a procession, which was scheduled to reach the Divisional Commissioner’s office from the Sher-e-Kashmir Park here. The police, however, foiled the march by detaining several JCC leaders and members, including Alam, at the Regal Chowk. Talking to The Tribune over the phone, Alam said the employees would not get bogged down by the police action. “We were disallowed to submit a memorandum at the Divisional Commissioner’s office. If the government feels it will bog us down through the police action, it is wrong,” he said. As the three-day long JCC pen-down strike ended today, Alam said the next protest programme would be announced tomorrow. “The programme will be decisive,” he added. He also claimed that a few protesters had suffered injuries during the police action. Even as frequent JCC protests and strike calls have taken a toll on work in the government offices, Alam said the amalgam was aware of the problems faced by the people. However, he said, they were being forced to hit the streets in protest by the government as it had failed to meet their demands. The employees’ demands include release of arrears recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission, enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies and regularisation of daily wagers and casual workers working in various government departments. The other demands are inclusion of five years of contractual service of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers in the service book and regularisation of education volunteers after seven years of service. After a series of protests and strikes by the employees last year, the government had reached an agreement with the JCC wherein the employees were assured that a decision on their demands would be announced by September 30. However, the JCC then resumed protests, saying the government had failed to fulfil the promises
made to them. |
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Temperatures dip in Valley ahead of expected snowfall
Srinagar, January 10 He said Srinagar too is expected to receive light snowfall while the MeT office has forecast light rainfall in the Jammu region on January 12-13. While the Valley witnessed dry weather conditions today, the night temperatures dipped by a few degrees. As per a MeT official, Srinagar recorded minus 2.6 degrees Celsius minimum temperature as compared to minus 0.3 degrees the night before. Similarly, tourist resort Pahalgam in south
Kashmir saw a low of minus 9.3 degrees Celsius as compared to minus 3.2 degrees the night before. Other parts of the Valley too witnessed a dip in night temperatures. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, and the border town of Kupwara recorded minus 3.2 and minus 2.9 degrees Celsius minimum temperatures, respectively. Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir recorded minus 9.2 degrees Celsius minimum temperature. However, most parts of the Valley witnessed a sunny day after overcast conditions in the morning. Srinagar, Qazigund, Pahalgam and Kupwara recorded 9.8, 8.5. 6.2 and 10.6 degrees Celsius maximum temperatures, respectively. The Valley is currently undergoing through 'chillai kalan' - harshest 40-day winter period beginning December
21. Inspector-General of Police, Traffic, Munir Khan said one-way traffic would ply tomorrow on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Kashmir's only surface link with the rest of the country. “Subject to fair weather conditions, all types of vehicles would be allowed to travel from Jammu side towards Kashmir in a regulated manner,” he said. The traffic police has also directed all highway travellers to cross Nagrota by 13:00 hours, Udhampur by 14:30 hours and Banihal by 22:00 hours as beyond which no vehicle will be allowed to proceed towards Kashmir for onward journey. Traffic to resume on NH
Subject to fair weather conditions, all types of vehicles will be allowed to travel tomorrow from Jammu side towards Kashmir on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in a regulated
manner — Munir Khan, IGP (Traffic) |
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Civil society calls for ‘jihad’ against rapists
Srinagar, January 10 Academicians, lawyers, historians, linguists and human rights crusaders participated in the conference, which was aimed at discussing realistic solutions to curb crimes against women in Kashmir. KCDS chairperson Prof Hameeda Nayeem, who moderated the inaugural session of the conference, said women trafficking in Kashmir could be on a rise as was evident from the infamous 2006 sex scandal in which only women involved were taken to task whereas the men involved were at large. “There are men who were equally involved in that sex scandal but they are roaming free,” Nayeema said, adding that women, by and large, have been at the receiving end in Kashmir. Condemning the subservient attitude of women towards men at their homes, Hawa Bashir, a former professor at Government College for Women, said charity begins at home and that it was important to create an atmosphere at home which fosters good principles among children. “Most of the cases of crimes against women in Kashmir go unreported and these could be anything, from domestic violence to incest. The poor woman is scared of lodging a complaint with the police. Where will she go? Are men cooperative enough to lend her a voice? Not yet, I think. So let us inculcate moral values among our family members first,” Hawa said. Dr Javed Iqbal, a veteran columnist, said drug and alcohol addiction, which had become prevalent due to the turmoil, had particularly led to the increase in the crime rate against women. He quoted several figures from the National Crime Records Bureau (Union Ministry of Home Affairs) which reveal that dowry deaths and honour killings in Kashmir were
on a rise. “This trend is alarming and women are not speaking up for themselves, which is more dangerous,” he said. Blaming the commercialisation of education as a de-facto reason for the increasing incidents of crimes against women, Muhammad Shafi Khan, a teacher in Shopian, referred to
the rape incident of a 7th standard girl and said it is usually the silence on
the part of victims and their families which encourages criminals. “The victim and her family kept mum for more than a month after the rape incident fearing alienation from society. Such is the intolerance growing among our society that we think a 13-year-old girl is to blame for a rape. I hang my head in shame,” Shafi said. |
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acid attack
Srinagar, January 10 The protesters said the state government’s decision to establish a fast-track court in the Valley took longer time than expected as the crime rate against women had risen considerably. Khalida Ara, a government schoolteacher from remote Gopalpora village, braved the chill to register her presence here. She says she is here not just for the acid attack victim but also for those students who were allegedly beaten up by the police on Tuesday. She said they were unjustly targeted as the ones responsible for crimes against women in Kashmir. “Under no circumstances are students alone responsible for crimes against women in Kashmir. Was the acid attacker who threw the acid on the victim a
student? No. So, why is the police hell-bent on demoralising the education sector of the state by targeting coaching centres and beating up students and teachers mercilessly?” asked Khalida. She added the people were fast losing trust in the judicial system of the state as the process of granting justice to a victim was too exhaustive. “Thousands of cases of dowry, domestic violence and rapes are lying pending in local courts here. The government does not care. A fast-track court is not the only solution. We have to strengthen our moral values,” she said. The protesters also called for the introduction of “Moral Sciences” as a subject of study in the academic courses of schools which could groom children for a better way of life. |
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Regipora market observes shutdown for 2nd day
Kupwara, January 10 The trouble erupted yesterday after locals, including women and children, blocked the Kupwara-Chowkibal road near Regipora in protest against snapping of power supply to the village. They raised slogans against the Power Division, Kupwara, for hours and did not allow any traffic movement. The protesters later clashed with the police and two of them were injured. The protesters alleged that the police used force against them and the CRPF men smashed window panes of a few houses. “We were protesting peacefully but the CRPF men barged into houses and smashed the windowpanes. They beat up many youth and women,” said a local resident. They said the electrical division of Kupwara took transformer in deception on Monday stating that it would be repaired and installed in a day but later the power department employees asked locals
to clear the power dues for the installation of transformer. “Earlier we were convinced that the transformer had developed some snag and needed repairs but later we were shocked to know that the employees of the division had snapped the power supply because of
outstanding power dues from some consumers. We cooperated with the department even after they kept us in deception and raised electricity
bills of more than Rs 1 lakh but the power is still not restored,” said another local. The Kupwara police station today witnessed a rush of relatives of the arrested youth who were seeking their release. The locals threatened to intensify protests if the youth were not released. “We will not call off strike unless the arrested youth are released. Instead of resolving the problem, the police committed excesses on us and also arrested some youth and shopkeepers,” said a shopkeeper. Executive Engineer of Electrical Division Kupwara, Tajamul Hussain said the transformer was being repaired and would be installed tomorrow. “The transformer is
being repaired on priority and will be installed tomorrow. Instead of clearing the pending dues, the consumers resorted to violence but we will restore the power supply by this evening,” said Tajamul
Hussain. |
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Power revenue in Kashmir: Rs 402 cr
Srinagar, January 10 During the meeting, the officials informed the minister that the Power Development Department, Kashmir, has registered a
revenue of Rs 402 crore from consumers of the Kashmir division till December 2012 while Rs 60.24 lakh have been recovered from the defaulters till November 2012. “The meeting was informed that 34,921 new connections have been registered in the region during the past eight months of the current fiscal, taking the total number of connections to 7,19,908. It was also revealed that 4,951 new applications were received for revision of load against which 4,162.66 KW load was added in the division”, the spokesman said. The officials of the PDD also informed the minister that different checking squads have made 15,957 inspections across the Kashmir division to check illegal connection and power pilferage. During these raids, a fine of Rs 169.67 lakh was imposed against which Rs 60.24 lakh have been recovered from the violators, he said, adding that the meeting also reviewed under-execution works being carried out under RGGVY, R-APDRP and state plan in the division. “The minister said despite limited resources, the state has to spend over Rs 3,100 crore on the import of power against a revenue collection of half of this amount. He said this was a matter of concern and needs immediate attention of the authorities at the helm of affairs”, the spokesman said. “Khan urged upon the PDD authorities for adopting a multi-pronged strategy to bring a turnaround in the power sector with emphasis on energetic inspections, 100 per cent metering and effective implementation of relevant laws to cap pilferages at various levels and to affect targeted recoveries precisely”, the spokesman said. “Jammu and Kashmir is the only state where about 70 per cent energy is lost due to power pilferage and T&D losses”, Shabir
Khan was quoted by the spokesman as having said. He said the state’s economy couldn’t afford this huge deficit for a long. “The situation demands self-introspection and the responsibility lie on officers, engineers and the field
staff of the power department”, he said. |
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Hoteliers call for a fresh tourism policy
Srinagar, January 10 “The development at the known tourist places has reached its saturation. The government should upgrade the infrastructure, including the development of roads leading to lesser-known tourist spots so that the tourist flow at main scenic places eases,” said KHARA president Showkat Chowdhary. He also urged the government to train locals as tourist guides for prime historical sites of the state. As the government has already stated that it wanted to promote Kashmir as a prime destination for adventure sports, Chowdhary said besides skiing, the authorities should actively promote paragliding, trekking, water sports, mountain biking, rafting and rock climbing. The association urged the government to frame a tourism policy for next 15 years. It said local tourism experts, too, should be taken on board while framing the policy. The association claimed that the haphazard growth because of unplanned construction of hotels and guest houses was proving detrimental for the tourism industry. “Kashmir is suffering because of a poor garbage disposal system and concrete structures, which are in disharmony with the natural environment. Proper development of tourism can become an engine of economic growth and prosperity in the state but a careful planning of the infrastructural development is also required,” the KHARA president said. |
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Baramulla hospitals to have more facilities for differently abled
Srinagar, January 10 “At the district hospital we have constructed ramps and we would also start working on constructing ramps at the PHCs and CHCs across the district,” Khwaja said while addressing an event on the issue of disability organized in Baramulla by CRY fellow Ambreen Bashir. The Deputy Commissioner said the civil society should also come forward and work with the government in order to eradicate the sufferings of differently abled persons. “The civil society should also come forward to address the sufferings of differently abled persons,” Khwaja said. CRY fellow Ambreen Bashir said the aim of the meeting was to share the problems faced by the person with disability. “For getting disability certificates, people with mental disorders and those with visual and speech impairment have to face problems in Baramulla because the psychiatrist, ophthalmologist and ENT specialist are not available on the day of assessment. The assessment should be done at the chief medical officer office only with the availability of these specialists,’’ Ambreen, who has identified and registered around 100 differently abled persons from the district, said. Humanity Welfare Organisation chairman Javeed Ahmed Tak while speaking on the occasion discussed the constitutional safeguards for the persons with disabilities. “The need of the hour is that officials at the helm of affairs should be sensitised about the reservations and benefits for disabled persons,” he said. Baramulla chief education officer (CEO) Abdul Rouf Shahmeri said only providing financial assistance was not a solution to the problem. “We have to patronise them and make them independent,” the CEO said, adding that they would initiate the process of providing training to the teachers on special education for their empowerment. The Tehsil Social Welfare Officer, Baramulla, Nasima Ahad, block medical officer of Boniyar and Uri, supervisor from Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Boniyar and Zonal Education Planning Officer (ZEPO), Boniyar, also attended the function. |
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South Kashmir residents rue
shortage of essential supplies, say govt insensitive
Anantnag, January 10 “We are witnessing power cuts of 12 to 14 hours at a stretch and the irony is that our area was metered around five years back,” said Muzaffar Ahmad, a resident of Bijbehara area in Anantnag district. The condition of people living in far-flung areas is grimmer than those in towns as they do not get power supply for days at a stretch. “We have been pushed back to primitive times. We are back to using kerosene oil lamps in our houses,” said Abdul Majid, a resident of Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam district. He said people of his district had been taking out rallies and protest marches against the administration but to no avail. “This is a shameless government. Under their rule, essential supplies are meant for politicians and bureaucrats not for the common people,” said Saleem Ahmad, a resident of Aliyarpora village of Shopian district. Moreover, people allege that gas agencies were contriving ‘shortage’ of cooking gas in connivance with black marketeers. “Gas cylinders are facilitated after a gap of two to three months and the agencies refuse to deliver cylinders at home. They sell cylinders to black marketeers and the common man is left high and dry,” said Hamid Ali, a resident of Pinglain village in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Special Secretary to Divisional Commissioner Amir Ali said power cuts were rampant throughout the Valley. “It’s not just about south Kashmir. We are facing shortage of power supply throughout the Valley,” said Amir Ali. On the shortage of LPG cylinders, Kashmir Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution director Mushtaq Ahmad Mir told The Tribune, “We have not received any complaint from any of our field workers. I think you should confirm the same from
oil companies.” |
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MC to conduct raids to ensure food safety
Srinagar, January 10 These are to be sent for testing to the concerned laboratories,” SMC spokesperson Masrat Yousuf said today. She said the instructions were passed in a meeting chaired by Qasba where he laid emphasis on the need to ensure food safety. The SMC Commissioner said if a food item is found to be adulterated, the offender would be prosecuted under law. The SMC food safety officers have also been directed to conduct random checking of milk in city markets on a daily basis and to destroy it, if found to be substandard. The meeting was also attended by Joint Commissioner (Administration) Fayaz Ahmed Balla, SMC Secretary Hilal Ahmed Deewani, Senior Law Officer Qazi Ashraf and Senior Standing Counsel Bashir Ahmed Khan. |
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Fire destroys two structures
Srinagar, January 10 The fire was brought under control with the help of fire tenders and local police. The police has registered a case in this regard. In the second incident, fire broke out in a labour shed of Hindustan Construction Company at Gurez dam site, resulting in damage to the structure. The fire was brought under control with the help of fire tenders and local police. |
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Three injured in road accidents
Srinagar, January 10 The injured was shifted to a hospital for treatment. The police has registered a case. In another accident, two persons were injured when an accident took place between a Xylo (JK09/6420) and Bolero (JK09/8072) near Vadapora, Kupwara. Both the injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment. The police has registered a case.
— TNS |
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Valley student brings laurels
Srinagar, January 10 The event was inaugurated by former President of India Dr APJ Kalam. Over 700 students from India, Singapore, Malaysia and other countries took part in the event. From Jammu and Kashmir, 16 students participated under the category of senior child scientists.
— TNS |
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