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Attack on policemen: Six detained for questioning
Security personnel stand guard in a Srinagar market on Sunday. Security has been strengthened in the Kashmir valley after the killing of two policemen by militants in Handwara on Saturday. Tribune photo: Amin War
Traffic Police grappling with shortage of manpower
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Wailing mother of Mudasir Ahmad Malla. A Tribune photograph
Fast Track Employment scheme fails to impress youth
Debate on Afzal: Congress to announce its strategy today
Minister underscores social relevance of education
Tourists and students take a stroll at the Tulip Garden in Srinagar. Tribune photo: Amin War
Diminishing credibility of legislature worrisome: Mufti
PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed addresses party workers in Jammu on Sunday. A Tribune photograph
Kashmiri film ‘Partav’ bags excellence award at Canada fest
Hurriyat, JKLF condemn student’s death
BJP-PDP alliance unholy, says Rana
BJP to support Independent candidate Dodha in LC poll
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Attack on policemen: Six detained for questioning
Srinagar, March 3 “The meeting was aimed at boosting their morale after the yesterday’s incident,” said a police officer in north Kashmir, who also attended the meeting. “The policemen were told that they should be ready to fight the enemy and not lose courage.” The meeting lasted for almost two hours where the ADGP assured the policemen that those behind the incident would be brought to justice. The police officers also advised the jawans to keep a restraint. The ADGP later chaired a meeting of the police officers to enquire about the status of the investigation. Kumar also visited the spot where 26-year-old constable Santosh Kumar Singh and 27-year-old constable Azad Chand were shot dead on Saturday morning near the old bus stand at Handwara. The police sources, privy to the investigations, said the police had detained six persons for questioning. “Those detained included the owner and driver of a red Maruti Eeco and Showkat Ahmad Rather of Tikkipora, Lolab, Kupwara, who was detained from the Langate area,” the police sources said. The sources said the militants had arrived at the old bus stand in a red Maruti car, which was without a number plate, and shot dead the unarmed policemen. The militants had reportedly fled from the spot in the same vehicle. While an alert was sounded to trace the red Eeco car across the north Kashmir yesterday, it was found at Langate by the police with its window panes broken. “The owner of the car was picked up and we are questioning him. He had bought this car two months ago. We have also detained the persons who had sold it. But so far it is yet to be established whether it was the same car that was used by the militants or not,” said a police officer. He said preliminary investigations had suggested that the attack was carried out by a Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba module, who were active in the Sopore area. “Two militant outfits, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jamiatul Mujahideen, have claimed the responsibility for the attack, but our investigation so far has revealed that the attack was jointly carried out by a module of Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba,” he said, adding they were also sifting through thousands of mobile telephone calls to hunt for those involved in the attack. The ADGP said investigations into the case were going on.
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Traffic Police grappling with shortage of manpower
Jammu, March 3 Sources said the Traffic wing of the state police was created in 1982, with staff strength of 927 officers and officials. “Despite considerable increase in the number of vehicles, the Traffic wing has been grappling with the shortage of manpower, which has not only affected its functioning but rampant gross violations also go unnoticed,” a source said. “About two years ago, the government had approved the creation of 1,496 posts for the Traffic Police in three phases and a total of over 653 posts were created as a result of which the strength was raised to 1,580,” the source said, adding that 431 additional posts in the Traffic Police had been referred to the Finance Department for consideration. Though the government claimed that overall traffic scenario would improve to a great extent with the addition of these 431 posts, the Traffic wing felt that it would require more manpower in view of the “large and continuous” increase in the vehicular population. “In 2012, there was a 12 per cent increase in vehicles as over one lakh vehicles were registered across the state during the period. The number of vehicles registered in 2011 was about 99,000, registering an increase of 11.98 per cent,” a senior traffic police officer said on the condition of anonymity. “The efforts to ease the Traffic Police do not seem enough and there is a need to take immediate steps to increase the strength of traffic policemen and enable them to function smoothly,” the officer said. The officer claimed that traffic policemen were “overburdened” and “overstressed” due to paucity of manpower. “The Traffic Police has been facing a problem in checking rash and negligent driving, overloading, over-speeding by habitual offenders, driving licences of erring drivers, which are major ingredients for fatal road accidents, particularly in hilly areas,” the officer said. Official statistics say 1,165 people lost their lives and 9,755 received injuries in 6,709 road accidents last year. In 2011, 1,120 people were killed and 10,108 received injuries in 6,644 road accidents. In 2010, 1,042 precious human lives were lost in 6,136 road accidents. The number of road accidents which took place in 2009 stood at 6,006 while 1,126 people lost their lives. Though a majority of fatal road accidents took place in mountainous Doda and Kishtwar districts, there were only 32 traffic policemen to check traffic violations in these areas.
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Pulwama tense over death of Kashmiri student in
Hyderabad
Srinagar/Anantnag, March 3 Malla (29) was pursuing Ph.D in English at the English and Foreign Languages University,
Hyderabad. Reports said Malla was found hanging, under mysterious circumstances, in his room at Basheer Hostel on the university premises yesterday evening. “He was rushed to a hospital by some of his colleagues where he was declared brought dead,” said Jaya
Laxmi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Zone, Hyderabad. The situation in Pulwama and adjoining Shopian and Kulgam districts worsened after conflicting reports regarding Mudasir’s death started doing the rounds. A J&K Police spokesman, quoting the Hyderabad Police, said Mudasir Ahmed Malla was a student of English and Foreign Languages University,
Hyderabad. He was putting up with a friend, Waseem, in a hostel room for some time. However, some time back
Waseem, who belongs to Maharashtra, had shifted from the room. Waseem had complained against Mudasir to the proctor of the university. The proctor had called and counseled Malla a couple of times. The Hyderabad Police has lodged an FIR against the proctor of the university under Section 306 of the IPC in the police station of Osmania University. Further investigations in the case are on and the state police is in constant touch with the Hyderabad Police, the spokesman here said. There were also reports of stray incidents of stone-throwing at few places in Srinagar city and elsewhere in Bandipore town in north Kashmir. In view of the situation in south Kashmir areas, train services between Srinagar and Qazigund were suspended this afternoon, officials said. The train services were suspended after 2.30 pm. The train scheduled to return to Srinagar later in the afternoon was halted at
Qazigund.
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Fast Track Employment scheme fails to impress youth
Srinagar, March 3 They consider entrepreneurship the only way out to address their unemployment concerns. The state government has managed to earn a revenue of Rs 5 crore by the sale of 2.5 lakh job application forms of the J&K Services Selection Board (SSB) during the first phase of the programme. However, 3,100 selected youth by the board will be given only 50 per cent of the basic pay for the first five years of their service. “The vacancies, which are to be filled under non-gazetted service cadre, require qualifications like postgraduation, B Tech and M Tech. However, the monthly salary being offered to selected candidates is in the range of Rs 3,000- Rs 6,000, which is unjustified as the regular employees, who are serving in the same position, are getting the double amount as salary. This is discouraging,” said Amir Shafi, an unemployed B Tech degree holder. Earlier, Sher-e-Kashmir Welfare Employment Programme (SKEWPY) was introduced to create job opportunities for 5 lakh youth but it proved beneficial for only 1.5 lakh youth in the past four years. Economists say the government should consider the causes of failure of the employment schemes. They should allot a sizeable budget for potential sectors like livestock, agriculture and other Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which could alleviate the unemployment. “The fact is the Fast Track Employment programme and other schemes are not showing any positive results. The state exchequer is already
overburdened with the payment of hefty salaries to government employees. Thus, recruiting more people in the government sector seems an irrational
step,” said Shakeel Qalander, former president of the Federation Chamber of Industries in Kashmir. “The government has to reconsider budget allocations to the sectors, which have a potential of growth and can generate employment as well as strengthen the state economy,” said Shakeel Qalander.
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Debate on Afzal: Congress to announce its strategy today
Jammu, March 3 Sources in the Congress said a meeting of the National Conference and the Congress ministers was held this evening to find a wayout but nothing positive emerged in the hour-long meeting. “The Congress ministers registered their protest before their National Conference colleagues for admitting an adjournment motion on Afzal Guru issue without taking the coalition partner into confidence”, the sources said and added the Congress ministers told their coalition partners that their party would announce their strategy only on Monday morning. Sources said in the meeting, the National Conference ministers tried to convince their Congress colleagues to allow a smooth debate in the House so as to stop the PDP from taking political mileage of the issue. “We will take a decision at an appropriate time keeping in view the situation in the House”, a senior Congress leader told The Tribune on the condition of anonymity. He said the party would not allow anyone to disrupt peace in the state for petty political gains. The Congress leader said their party colleagues had told the National Conference ministers that a debate on this issue would damage the party’s (Congress) image at the national level in general and Jammu region in particular. The Congress has been presenting a united face on this issue, which has landed the party into a difficult situation. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Sham Lal Sharma, Raman Bhalla, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Taj Mohi ud Din and Nawang Rigzin Jora represented the Congress in the meeting. Meanwhile, the BJP has announced to oppose any move to hold a debate on the Afzal Guru issue in the Assembly. Adjournment motions not on agenda Even as all political parties are devising their strategies regarding the debate, adjournment motions on Afzal Guru, which have already been moved by the PDP and the National Conference, are not included in the agenda of business circulated by the Assembly secretariat for Monday. As per the agenda circulated by the Assembly secretariat, question hour would be followed by a debate on thanks to the Governor’s address.
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Minister underscores social relevance of education
Jammu, March 3 Speaking at the 40th annual day function of Tiny Tots Higher Secondary School, Jammu, today, Rather said though knowledge explosion had necessitated to equip
students with modern science, IT and digital creativity, the moral and spiritual aspects of the education system could not be overlooked. He added that a blend of modern and moral education only could make the system relevant for society with the objective of universal peace and welfare of mankind.
“Modern science has made teacher’s role all the more significant and pivotal in exploiting the talent of children optimally,” Rather said, adding that a teacher should be a role model for student to ensure his or her character building, physical and mental development alongside full academic exposure.
While highlighting the role of a teacher in personality development of students, Rather said a child is the future of the nation, who is to be taught and nurtured, so that he becomes an asset for society and is able to withstand all competitions and tests in practical life. “We shall have to build a capacity among students to enable them to fight with fortitude against all evils confronting society,” Rather said. He underscored the importance of sports and extracurricular activities in the personality development of a child and said a healthy and strong physique was imperative for a sound mind. School kids presented a variety of cultural programmes on the occasion, which enthralled the audience, comprising parents. Inspector General of Police (SSG) Hemant Kumar Lohia; Regional Director, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs; dramatist Balwant Thakur; Chairman, SOS International, Ravi Chuny; Deputy Excise Commissioner S Manmohan
Singh and Dr Kum Kum Sharma were present on the occasion. The function started with the lighting of a traditional lamp by the minister.
Chairman, Tiny Tots groups of schools and Honda college of Education, Veena Handa presented a memento to the minister.
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24 new flower varieties to woo tourists at Tulip Garden
Srinagar, March 3 “This year, we will put on display around 24 new varieties of tulips. We have also added more flowerbeds. The beds have been specially arranged and the same will
be more attractive as compared to last year,” Shah told The Tribune. While a record number of 1.4 lakh visitors had thronged the garden last year, where around 3.30 lakh tulips had been put on display, he said visitors would be able to see more flowers this year. Last year, the garden, which is spread over 35 hectares, had put on display around 70 varieties of tulips. However, Shah said it was difficult to predict the exact number of tulips that would bloom as it was subjected to favourable weather conditions. He said the garden would be thrown open towards the end of this month. The Tulip Garden, which was first opened for the public in 2008, has been a success story as thousands of tourists throng it every year even though the tulips can be seen in full bloom for a few weeks only. The garden has also
been attracting visitors in large numbers from outside the Valley in advance as the prime tourist season usually starts by April-end. Shah said finishing touches were being given to the garden and they had put in more efforts to arrange flowers in “Silsila pattern”. He said visitors to the garden expect tulips to be seen like in the famous Bollywood song ‘Dekha ek
khwab’ of ‘Silsila’ fame. The Tulip Garden was also visited by celebrities like industrialist Anil Ambani and his wife Tina Ambani last year. Well-known Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan shot a song sequence for a movie ‘Kaash Tum
Hote’ at the garden last year. In 2008, a song of Bollywood movie,
Sadiyaan, was shot at the garden. A few scenes of a Tamil movie were also shot at the picturesque garden in the same year.
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Diminishing credibility of legislature worrisome: Mufti
Jammu, March 3 Senior leaders, Rangeel Singh, Naeem Akhtar and Daman Bhasin, addressed the meeting. Speaking in detail about the efforts that had gone into reviving people’s faith in the democratic process, Mufti said all parties, including the congress and the BJP, under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had contributed to it when he led the PDP-congress coalition government. “But, now it is different as the Assembly which is the ultimate authority in a democratic set up is facing a crisis of credibility in view of the ruling coalition’s inability to tolerate dissent and debate,” he said. “Where do we discuss issues of public importance?” he asked. He said surely streets or use of force are no options but it seems this government is pushing people out of the institutional debate. Referring to the stonewalling of efforts to discuss the aftermath of Afzal Guru’s secret hanging by the ruling combination, Mufti said this attitude would disenchant people from the system once again after some semblance of faith had been restored in them. He said the government was repeating the same tactics that were adopted when a resolution was moved in the House, seeking clemency for Afzal two years ago. “Running away from the debate is no answer. Democracy is not just an exercise to cast vote every five or six years but is a constant process of scrutiny, discussion and engagement in forums like Parliament and state legislatures. That alone is the answer even to those who do not have faith in our democratic system and institutions,” he said. During the last four years, not a single serious debate on any important issue has been allowed by this government, he said.
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Kashmiri film ‘Partav’ bags excellence award at Canada fest
Srinagar, March 3 Partav, which is a low-budget film, has been written and directed by Dilnawaz Muntazir, a 35-year-old dental surgeon-turned filmmaker. He made his directorial debut with the film. The award would be presented to Dilnawaz on April 3 at Vancouver, Canada. He calls the first international success of his film as a victory of the Kashmir valley where cinema halls were shut down when militancy began two decades ago. Struggling to get his film completed in three years, Dilnawaz says he managed Rs 75 lakh to make the film and got some financial help from other associates. “A filmmaker’s choices are really limited in this place (Kashmir). We cannot expect any revenue by releasing our movie in theatres here. I had arranged for a free screening of my film on January 13 in Srinagar, but it got delayed due to some law and order problems which prevailed in the Valley,” Dilnawaz told The Tribune. The film brings a change as it is different from movies which stereotype Kashmir and show violence. The main character of the movie plays the role of a professor, who shuns his family and social life to pursue his career, only to find years later that his son is a far better person than him, although not as qualified as him. “This man forsakes everything for the elite education and at the end has nothing to cherish in his life. There are many lessons to be learnt from the film,” says Dilnawaz, adding that he is planning to premiere the film in Delhi and the United States. The two feature films, which have been made in Kashmir, are Manzi Raat (Mehendi Raat) in 1964 and Habba Khatoon in 1970. The trailers of the movie were released in January on Facebook and YouTube and the film is expected to revive Kashmiri cinema, which hit its all time low in 1990s when militancy led to the closure of cinema halls. |
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Hurriyat, JKLF condemn student’s death
Srinagar, March 3 A statement of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference said the death of the student under mysterious circumstances was condemnable, adding that the safety and security of the students and businessmen in different parts of the country was the responsibility of the respective state governments. The spokesman claimed that the mysterious death of the student put a question mark on the role of the state government. Acting chairman of the JKLF Bashir Ahmad Butt condemned the “brutal killing” of the Kashmiri scholar, Mudasir Ahmad Malla, and said the innocent Kashmiri, who was a budding scholar, was killed because he protested against the illegal hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Butt said Malla was “being constantly harassed and threatened of dire consequences by the Hyderabad Police and goons working with them”. The JKLF leader told the people to adhere to the protest programmes of the Mutahida Majhlis Mushawarat. While paying tributes to Malla, Butt conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
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BJP-PDP alliance unholy, says Rana
Jammu, March 3 He said the BJP has of late upped its ante for the abrogation of Article 370. This latest deal of the BJP with the PDP was a quid pro quo for the PDP’s assured support for the abrogation of Article 370 to the BJP high command, he asserted. The Provincial president of the NC said the PDP had no political ideology and was a B team of the BJP and for the sake of power it could go to any extent. He said the PDP had always played with the destiny of the people of the state for their petty political ends and can barter the interests of the people for their personal gains. He said the BJP, which had been claiming that it was going to abstain from the Legislative Council elections because it was not in a position to support either the National Conference or the PDP because of ideological differences with the two parties, today took a U-turn and ended the drama, exposing their clandestine designs and unveiling their real face. Rana said it was common knowledge that the PDP was a creation of the BJP, which funded and supported the PDP to weaken the National Conference, thereby weakening the cause of Jammu and Kashmir. He says this has also proved that both the BJP and the PDP has been befooling the people of the state by taking different stands on various issues though they are one behind the curtains. |
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BJP to support Independent candidate Dodha in LC poll
Jammu, March 3 Sharma said the party had considered the fact that Dodha belonged to the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community and for their cause, the BJP has been constantly struggling and will continue to do so in the future.
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The Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order), K Rajendra Kumar, today met colleagues of the two policemen who were shot dead by the militants yesterday, at the Police Lines in
Kulangam.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today stressed that democracy was the only way to tackle problems the state was facing. He expressed concern over the diminishing credibility of institutions like the legislature.
Mufti was addressing a meeting of party workers where he said the present government had emerged as a serious threat to democratic institutions.
