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HC tells govt panel to follow rights panel suggestions
Azad loyalists want adequate representation in new JKPCC
Planning Commission puts off meeting for J&K’s annual plan
Fresh tremors jolt Doda, Kishtwar
districts
Quake victims line up to receive government aid
in Bhaderwah. A Tribune photograph |
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Mahila Congress begins anti-NC campaign on panchayat empowerment
A soldier patrols along the Line of Control in Jammu. A file photograph
Army holds 305 acres in Gulmarg against the allotted 130
All-woman post office to be inaugurated today
Army starts probe into security breach at Srinagar airport
Cabinet okays 8% hike in DA
Grenade defused in Kupwara
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1991 ‘mass rape’ case
Srinagar, May 15 On April 29, while raising questions over the maintainability of the petition, the court had asked if a matter could be agitated 22 years after it had happened, and, if the PIL was a medium to implement the SHRC verdict. Subsequently, it had reserved its final decision for May 8. “On account of the pendency of the statutory process for implementation of the recommendations made by the SHRC in its report and also the pendency of the proceedings before the magistrate (at Kupwara), we are not inclined to entertain this petition at this stage,” a division bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey said in its orders announced on Friday. In October 2011, the SHRC had passed a judgment on the incident, demanding reopening of the case and filing a case against the then Director, Prosecution, for “deliberately scuttling” the investigation into the matter. Hoping that a “high-level committee” constituted by the government would examine the recommendations made by the SHRC, the court has asked the said committee to “seriously debate the suggestions and take a decision expeditiously, preferably within four weeks”. The bench in its orders further observed that the magistrate (at Kupwara) would also “do well” by deciding the issue pending before him “expeditiously.” “We close the instant PIL, leaving it open to the petitioners to approach this court as and when any final decision is taken, if so advised,” the bench said while keeping the option open for the petitioners to agitate the matter afresh before the court. What the PIL sought?
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Azad loyalists want adequate representation in new JKPCC
Jammu, May 15 Azad loyalists, as part of their new strategy, have decided to approach Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi to apprise them about the alleged game plan of the JKPCC chief to “politically kill” his “detractors” by projecting “traitors” and “turncoats” in the party. Sources in the party said Azad loyalists met him this morning and thoroughly discussed the political situation, especially the affairs of the Congress, in the state. “During our meeting, we told Azad that the JKPCC chief was deliberately ignoring those party leaders who were known to be his loyalists”, a senior Congress leader who met the Union Health Minister this morning told The Tribune on condition of anonymity. “We told our leader that his supporters were totally demoralised due to the attitude of Soz and his faction.” “Many Congress leaders, who had contested last Assembly elections as rebels against official party nominees, are being deliberately projected by the Soz faction as part of the game plan to politically eliminate dedicated Congress workers who have been long associated with the party,” he said. “We gave Azad a list of turncoats who have been given importance by the Soz faction at the cost of dedicated workers,” he added. In the present executive committee there are a good number of Azad loyalists but now Soz’s supporters are trying to accommodate their faction in the new committee, sources said. Some leaders who met Azad this morning made it clear to the Union Minister that proper adjustment of their faction was must to keep the flock together. “We told our leader that formation of the new executive committee was an appropriate opportunity to show our strength to the JKPCC chief and his supporters who have virtually hijacked the party,” the Congress leader said. Insiders said Azad loyalists had also decided to approach Sonia and Rahul on the issue. Soz was reappointed as JKPCC chief on April 4 and he will be soon announcing the new executive committee and office-bearers of the party. Azad, who arrived
in Jammu last evening, met his supporters this morning before leaving for New Delhi. Factionalism in Congress
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Planning Commission puts off meeting for J&K’s annual plan
Jammu, May 15 Omar was supposed to seek a Rs 8,000-crore plan outlay for the state for current fiscal in his meeting with Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia. “In a letter to the state planning department, the Planning Commission has postponed Omar’s meeting with Montek Singh due to ‘unavoidable circumstances’. The fresh date for the meeting has not been mentioned in the letter,” said a highly placed source in the civil secretariat. Ajay Sadhotra, Minister for Planning and Development, also confirmed that the meeting had been postponed by the Planning Commission. “No specific reason has been given for the postponement of the meeting. The Planning Commission might have fixed the date (May 20) for finalising the annual plan of some other state. This could be the reason behind the deferment of Chief Minister’s meeting,” Sadhotra said. Sadhotra, Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather, Principal Secretary, Finance, B B Vyas, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, B R Sharma, and other senior officers of the state administration were supposed to accompany the Chief Minister during his meeting with Montek Singh. Sources said the ruling dispensation had earmarked Rs 8,000 crore for the current financial year (2013-14) and the Chief Minister’s meeting with Montek Singh Ahluwalia was aimed at seeking sanction of the entire amount and its early release for proper utilisation of funds. “Before getting the sanction and release of the amount, the state government was to highlight its achievements made during the last fiscal, 2012-13. With the deferment of the meeting, there is a possibility of slight delay in sanctioning the annual plan and release of funds for carrying out various development activities in the state,” a source said. Except for the slow pace of utilisation of funds released under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP), various government departments were able to spend almost all the funds allocated to them in the last financial year. This would enable the state government to make a “strong presentation” before the Planning Commission prior to the finalisation of this year’s annual plan, the source added. |
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Fresh tremors jolt Doda, Kishtwar
districts
Jammu, May 15 Neesa Begum (72), wife of late Ghulam Rasool Malik, a relative of
Azad, suffered a cardiac arrest when she was fleeing her house to save herself after fresh tremors yesterday. This time the grief has stricken Azad’s Soti village in Gundoh tehsil of Doda district. A couple of days ago, Azad had made a visit to the area to review the quake relief and rehabilitation process. Three moderate intensity tremors, ranging from 3.8 to 4.8 magnitude on the Richter scale, had jolted Doda and Kishtwar districts on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. In addition to this, many small tremors are continuously being felt in the area. When first tremor was felt at 1:28 am on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, people in
Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar rushed out of their houses to save their lives. The intensity of this tremor was recorded as 4.4 magnitude and within a couple of minutes, a 4.8 magnitude quake again jolted the region, leading to fear among people. Thereafter, small intensity tremors kept people outside their houses and at 2.31 am a 3.8 magnitude tremor forced the people to spend night out in the open. When people were offering early morning prayers in mosques, two small tremors were again felt. The day passed off peacefully and in the evening a small intensity tremor was felt
again. Khudaysun curfew (God’s curfew), a term used in the 1990s when people in Srinagar spent hours on streets near the Lal Chowk not because of curfew imposed by the authorities, which used to be a regular affair those days, but by the earthquake, is imposed in Doda and Kishtwar districts since May 1, when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake jolted the entire region. Few people have shifted their families to safer places like winter capital Jammu but many are still putting up in their homes facing the nature’s fury. Meanwhile, many people held protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Doda against pick and choose policy adopted by the administration in the distribution of tents to the affected families. They raised slogans and
also blocked a road in front of the DC’s office later dispersed. Centre okays Rs 334-cr relief package Jammu: The Central government this evening announced Rs 334 crore relief package for the May 1 quake-hit areas in Doda. This announcement came a day after Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad made a second tour to the quake-hit areas where 80 to 90 per cent of the structures have been damaged. |
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Mahila Congress begins anti-NC campaign on panchayat empowerment
Jammu, May 15 After the Pradesh Youth Congress (PYC), the Mahila Congress is the second frontal organisation which is on a warpath against the NC on the issue of empowerment of panchayats and holding of the urban local bodies elections. Earlier, the PYC had organised street protests against the state government all over the state. Now, it is the turn of the Mahila Congress to take on the coalition regime in which the Congress is a partner. Mahila Congress president Indu Pawar has taken charge of stepping up the campaign against the NC, especially on the issue of delay in incorporating the 73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution in the existing J&K Panchayati Raj Act. As the BJP and other parties are attacking the Congress for befooling the people on the issue of the 73rd Amendment, the party has deputed the Mahila Congress to counter the campaign by launching a direct attack on the NC. Indu
Pawar, while addressing a meeting of party workers at the Rehari area today, launched a direct attack on the NC, saying the ruling party is deliberately creating a hurdle in the process of panchayat empowerment. “For the last six months, the NC, with one or the other excuse, has been opposing the extension of the 73rd Amendment to Jammu and Kashmir, which is a reflection of the mindset of the leadership of the party,” she alleged. She added that the NC was deliberately delaying empowerment of the panchayats to weaken the Congress. She further alleged that NC ministers had given directions to officials not to fulfil any demand being raised by Congress leaders for their respective constituencies.
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Post-Pak elections, Army, BSF wary of flare-up on LoC
Jammu, May 15 “After the January 8 brutal killing of two of our troops in the Balnoi sector, the Pakistan Army and Rangers have by and large remained dormant at the borders so far,” said a top BSF source. “After the new government takes over in Pakistan, we feel that there would be no major shift in their approach vis-à-vis the Kashmir issue,” he said. Despite Sharif wanting good ties with India, Pakistan’s covert plans would remain the same, said the source. “Due to dismal economy (3 per cent growth rate), electricity crisis (with power cuts ranging from 18 to 20 hours) and a chaotic internal security scenario (because of Tehreek-e-Taliban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi), any elected government in Pakistan cannot afford to last long by annoying the Army and radical outfits. And, to both of them (Pakistan Army and radical outfits) Kashmir means everything,” said the officer. “If Pakistan wants to improve its fiscal health, it has to give the most favoured nation (MFN) status to India, but at the same time reposing trust in Islamabad because of Sharif, a man who though pleaded innocence, was actively involved in the Kargil war, would be amateurish on our part,” he said. We anticipate that after the new government takes over, a recce by subversive elements in tandem with the Pakistan Rangers would become the order of the day on the other side of the international border followed by a major incident (intrusion bid), said the source. A top Army officer also echoed similar views and said India should not expect a sea-change in Pakistan’s policy towards India. After the new government takes over in Pakistan, there are inputs that the LoC may flare up again, he said. “The Army is keeping tabs on the situation unfolding in Pakistan. We have been getting inputs that 42 terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir would go full throttle after the new government settles down. The ISI had slowed down its activities in the wake of the elections,” he said.
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Army holds 305 acres in Gulmarg against the allotted 130
Srinagar, May 15 The court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Mohammad Rafiq Zargar wherein he had sought intervention of the high court in safeguarding eco-sensitive areas of Gulmarg and Tangmarg from illegal constructions. The matter was listed before a division bench today. The court has already banned construction at Gulmarg and put a stop to grant of fresh leases. “With regard to the details of the land in possession of the Army, the ex-CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Gulmarg development Authority (GDA), stated that the measurement of the said land has been made by the Settlement Officer, Kashmir, through the ETS( electronic total station) during 2005,” Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shalindara Kumar has submitted in the status report. “The printout of the demarcated land was called from the Settlement Office, Srinagar. It has also been informed that the Army is in possession of 305 cares, 5 kanals and 13 marlas (a total of 2,445 Kanals) of land as compared to 130 acres allotted to them (at Gulmarg),” the report said. In the status report, it has also been revealed that a total number of 84 cases (persons) have been granted lease hold rights from time to time at Gulmarg, out of which the lease period has expired in 26 cases. A public notice has been issued through print media and another copy has been delivered to all the lease holders advising them to submit their original lease papers in the office of CEO, GDA, in order to construct the records and arrive at a correct picture. |
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All-woman post office to be inaugurated today
Jammu, May 15 Official sources said the post office will have three counters, two would offer multi-purpose services such as booking of speed post, registration, booking of money orders and sale of IPOs, while the third counter would be kept for sale of stamps. “The post office will be manned by women staff and the working hours will be from 9 am to 5 pm. The post office will offer all modern services such as e-money order, Western Union Money Transfer, e-payment and speed post articles, besides savings bank transactions,” a source said. Sources said Jammu and Kashmir was the third state in the country which would have a post office manned exclusively by women staff of the Department of Posts. The first all-woman post office was started at Shastri Bhawan, the hub of the Central government offices, in central Delhi on March 8, while the second such post office was opened at Delhi University on April 11. On April 14, the first ‘Mahila Dak Ghar’ (all-women post office) outside New Delhi was started
in Mumbai.
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Army starts probe into security breach at Srinagar airport
Srinagar, May 15 “A court of inquiry ordered into the security breach has already started,” said Defence spokesman of the Northern Command Col Rajesh Kalia. “The inquiry is being headed by an officer of the rank of a Colonel,” the spokesman said. On May 9, two persons from Kupwara district, Mudasir Ahmad and Pervaz Ahmad, drove up to the runway of the Srinagar airport to receive their guests. They had entered the airport through Rangreth which is out of bounds for civilians and even for state government functionaries. The entrance through Rangreth is controlled by the Army and is only used by the Army, Air force and VVIPs. Sources said after making an entry at the main gate, the Army had kept Parvaiz’s driving licence. The vehicle was not checked at all and the duo managed to drive up to the runway. As the two walked towards the aircraft, the anti-hijacking police realised the security breach and the two were detained for questioning. The duo was questioned by the police and intelligence agencies but were later released after nothing adverse was found.
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Cabinet okays 8% hike in DA
Srinagar, May 15 The DA arrears would be paid in cash to state government employees in May, an official spokesman said. The Cabinet met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The Cabinet also accorded sanction to forest clearance for use of some stretches of forest land in various forest divisions for undertaking several development projects, including construction of a road from Gandala to Jakhar, Delhar to Amroh, Sulgar to Ruabagh, Nabna to Chungan, Majva to Resan, 400 KV Uri-II to Wagoora Transmission Line, 400 KV Kishanpur-New Wanpoh-Qazigund Transmission Line, university campuses at Wuyan, Kupwara and Bagla, Samba, Parnai Hydro Electric Project, Railway Tunnel T-I of the Udhampur-Katra section and the Naigund canal in Kishtwar.
— TNS
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Grenade defused in Kupwara
Srinagar, May 15 This was the third explosive that was defused in Kupwara district since Sunday. On Sunday, the police and Army averted a major tragedy by defusing an improvisedexplosive device (IED) on the Kupwara-Handwara road near Tooti Gund. Five kilograms of IED hidden in a pressure cooker was defused on the Lolab-Kupwara road yesterday. Meanwhile, troops carried a search in the forests of Kupwara for the ninth day today. The troops have failed to trace a group of militants which had infiltrated from Pakistan. The operation was launched on May 7.
— TNS
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Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s relative became the second victim of earthquake in the Doda-Bhaderwah region yesterday night when Neesa Begum died due to a cardiac arrest while fleeing her house during fresh
tremors.
