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Register FIR against minister: CJM to police
NHAI-state govt conflict over toll plaza reaches Centre
Security beefed up in Anantnag
Kabir’s verses in 20th century Kashmiri prayer tops music charts
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Separatists have a right to call for poll boycott: Mufti
Sapphire mines in Padder vulnerable to smuggling
Jammu traders, hoteliers oppose shifting of bus stand
Close to Vaishno Devi shrine, Shiv Khori cave cries for attention
MLA Ansari meets Governor
College students bring out unmanned aerial vehicle
A group of college students display a flying machine made by them, in Srinagar
on Monday. Tribune photo: Amin War
Quake hits tourist footfall in Doda district
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Register FIR against minister: CJM to police
Jammu, June 3 Kichloo had allegedly slapped the Chief Executive Officer of the Kishtwar Development Authority, Riaz Ahmed Choudhary, in full public view at Tourist Reception Centre in
Kishtwar just hours before Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s visit. Choudhary, who feared threat to his life and
family, had moved court seeking action against the minister. Choudhary had also claimed that despite a written complaint, the police did not register an FIR against the minister. The CJM, Kishtwar, Ajay Gupta, today directed the SHO, Kishtwar, to register an FIR and conduct an investigation into the allegations against Kichloo. The CJM also directed the DIG, Kishtwar-Doda-Ramban range, Ashkoor Wani, and the SP, Kishtwar, Kulbir Singh, to monitor the investigation and ensure that the rule of law was complied with in letter and spirit. The counsel for Choudhary had submitted that under Section 156 (3) of the CrPC it was mandatory and obligatory for the SHO, Kishtwar, to register the FIR and investigate the matter. The statement of the complainant was allegedly not recorded by the SHO concerned during investigation but on the contrary the SHO came to the conclusion that no offence as alleged by the complainant in his application had been proved. On April 18, when Choudhary had tried to resist the slapping by holding the minister’s hand, National Conference workers present there had allegedly given him a severe thrashing. The CEO had invited Kichloo’s ire for reaching late for a meeting convened by the latter just before the arrival of the Chief Minister. At 9.55 am, the District Development Commissioner of Kishtwar had asked Choudhary to reach the Tourist Reception Centre as Kichloo was reviewing preparations for the Chief Minister’s visit. As soon as Choudhary reached there, Kichloo allegedly started shouting at him and then repeatedly slapped him despite repeated pleas of Choudhary, who tried in vain to convince the minister that he was busy in an important assignment in connection with the Chief Minister’s visit. The unwarranted and unprovoked act of the minister had drawn widespread criticism. Omar Abdullah had also condemned the behaviour of his minister. |
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NHAI-state govt conflict over toll plaza reaches Centre
Jammu, June 3 Sources said the new toll post was to function from March 21 but there the move was being opposed by traders and political leaders, who were expressing apprehension of public unrest. The bone of contention is the user charges and the distance of the toll point from the Lakhanpur toll plaza run by the Commercial Taxes Department, which is the only entry point in the state. As per the guidelines, the distance between two toll points should be at least 60 km. However, the distance between the Lakhanpur and Rajbagh toll plazas is less. The highway, constructed at the cost of Rs 400 crore, was one of the main Centrally sponsored project approved in 2002 by the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to connect the state via an all-weather road with the rest of the country. The four lanes of the 90-km-long Jammu-Lakhanpur National Highway were completed 2011. NHAI director projects RP Singh said, “The state authorities are opposing its (plaza’s) functioning but we have taken up the issue at an appropriate level. It has been discussed with state officials also.” Officials said Chief Secretary Iqbal Khanday would chair a meeting with officials of the NHAI, though no date had been fixed so far for the meeting. However, the Chief Secretary was not available for comments. The toll post was to recover the capital cost through the user toll tax, which will be reduced to 40 per cent of the rates when the recovery is made. Till then, all the commercial vehicles, including trucks carrying essential commodities, will be charged the fee. The highway has changed the travelling experience for people as 12 new concrete flyovers and bridges have also been constructed over rivers such as the Ujh and other seasonal nullahs at Baribrahamana, Vijaypur, Samba, Hiranagar, Rajbagh, Kalibari etc to make it an all-weather road. Earlier, during the monsoon season, disruption of traffic flow on the highway was a routine affair. The National Highway Authority of India Act 1988 says that the driver of a commercial light motor vehicle, light goods vehicle and a mini passenger bus has to pay Rs 1.05 per km. The operators of these vehicles will have to pay Rs 94.5 as the fee for using the Jammu-Lakhanpur highway. The driver of a bus has to pay Rs 2.20 per km. A bus operator will have to pay Rs 198 as the user fee while the operator of a three-axle commercial vehicle will have to pay Rs 2.40 per km. |
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Security beefed up in Anantnag
Anantnag, June 3 According to sources, police personnel in Anantnag were briefed to be on alert and carry out searches of vehicles and people. “It’s a natural outcome. A police post was attacked yesterday and it’s only logical to tell your policemen to be alert,” said a senior police official from the area, requesting anonymity. Meanwhile, the police raided several places in the town, including some restaurants and bakeries, and have detained more than a dozen youths for questioning, sources said. “Most of the detained youths work in these restaurants and bakeries,” a source said. Some search operations were going on even when the report was being filed. The police, however, refuted reports of the arrests made. “There was a grenade attack yesterday and as a precautionary measure, some checking was conducted here and there,” said Anantnag SP Operations, Zahid Malik, “We have not made any arrests,” He said officials at the police station might have summoned some people for questioning, but no arrests had been made. Some unidentified person had lobbed a hand grenade at Sherbagh police station on Sunday evening. The grenade had exploded on the premises of the police station. There were no casualties or injuries reported but some seized civilian vehicles parked inside the police station were partially damaged. Over the last 15 days, the south Kashmir region has witnessed an increase in militant activity. Four Army personnel were killed on May 24 in an ambush laid by militants in the Tral area of Pulwama district, while two militants were killed on May 31 in an operation conducted by the security forces in the Wachi area of Shopian district. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir, today termed the operation in Shopian a great success for the security personnel. “The slain militants have been involved in many killings in the region,” said the IGP while briefing mediapersons at District Police Lines in Shopian. |
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Kabir’s verses in 20th century Kashmiri prayer tops music charts
Srinagar, June 3 A Pune-based sufi rock band High Way-61 performed the song ‘Sahibo’ on MTV’s Coke Studio programme. The appeal of the lyrics penned by Kashmir’s most celebrated poet of the 20th Century, Mehjoor, called given the title of ‘Shair-e-Kashmir’ (poet of Kashmir” seems endless. The poet addresses the Almighty and prays for guidance, strength and knowledge and honour in the world. The song is receiving endless reviews from fans both young and old on the Internet. It has registered the second highest number of hits on the Internet. Muhammad Muneem, an engineer- turned-musician, the lead singer of the band Highway-61, and six of his band members have sung the song. Muneem hails from the Valley and lives in Pune. Muneem has added ethnic rock touch to the song and his strong vocals have infused a lot of energy into the classical poetry. The band has achieved a synthesis of poetry by Mehjoor and Saint Kabir’s verses sung by Pune’s Shruti. Muneem, the lead vocalist who hails from Hyderpora of up-town Srinagar says his band has given more than 500 performances in the metros especially in the colleges. “Ours is a different genre of music that leaves a calming effect on the audience. Our idea is to connect to the soul of the listener, that’s why we chose Mehjoor’s prayer for our performance for MTV Coke studio,” Muneem said. Muneem’s band also performed for Sofar Sounds, a London based Music group recently besides making regular appearance on the café and college circuit. As for a performance in Kashmir, where the band has a huge fan base, Muneem says he is not averse to the idea of performing in Kashmir and would look out for opportunities to perform in his home town. |
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Separatists have a right to call for poll boycott: Mufti
Srinagar, June 3 However, he said they should be engaged politically through a dialogue process for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. Mufti said all issues facing the state should be resolved democratically and within the ambit of the Constitution. Terming Kashmir as the biggest issue of the subcontinent, he said the PDP would continue to play a positive role in the resolution of the issue. Mufti also underscored the need of creating a conducive atmosphere for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. He said he had urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a recent meeting that India should work seriously with Pakistan for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, especially after the successful conduct of elections in the neighbouring country. He said it was encouraging that Pakistan had overcome its internal contradictions through democratic process while expressing hope that the neighbouring countries would soon restart the dialogue process. The PDP patron was addressing a function that was held to welcome former employee leader Khurshid Alam to the party-fold. |
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Sapphire mines in Padder vulnerable to smuggling
Jammu, June 3 While a top official of the JKML expressed dissatisfaction over the lax attitude of the police in protecting the mines spread over 6 km, a top police officer said the security
of mines called for a joint effort. The mines were leased out to the Jammu and Kashmir Minerals Limited in mid-1960s. “Though the terrain is difficult but considering the commercial value of the mines, the police should check smuggling of the rare sapphire corundum without further delay. They (police) just have makeshift arrangements… posting six or seven cops for three-four months every year and then the mines become a playground for smugglers,” said the
JKML official. A top police officer said, “After every winter, we send at least eight policemen to protect the deposits. They go there (mines) in April and come back in September before the harsh winter sets in.” We have also restricted the movement of civilians in the 3-sq km area around the mines, he added. However, the officer reacted sharply to the JKML’s allegations of the police being lax in protecting the mines from smugglers. “For the past almost two months our men are there but not a single staff of the JMKL has reached there so far. If the JKML is serious about protecting the mines then their staff should be there when the snow level comes down to 2 feet in summer and they should return from the mines with the first snowfall of the winter,” said the officer. “This way the police could also stay there,”
he added. The mines spread over 6.65 sq km are situated atop snow-clad mountains at an altitude of over 4,327 metres above sea level. The police officer said it was difficult to set
up a permanent police picket there because of the harsh winter. “The mines have an immense commercial value and can certainly change the fortunes of this cash-starved state. They can be protected effectively if the government comes up
with igloo huts and air support to replenish our supplies,” he said. At present, the policemen who are sent every year during summer put up a makeshift picket by the side of a boulder. cases of smuggling *
On January 19, 2009, the crime branch of the police arrested a government employee Surjit Singh of Kundal Padder from Jammu and
recovered sapphire corundum worth Rs 10 lakh
to Rs 15 lakh. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he had been indulging in smuggling sapphire in connivance with some government
officials entrusted with the “extraction and protection” of mines *
On April 29, 2011, the police recovered at least 129 pieces of sapphire worth several lakhs of rupees from four persons, including a policeman, from Kishtwar *
On July 15, 2011, the police busted an international gang of sapphire smugglers by arresting four persons, including three Sri Lankans, near Sumcham, an area on way to the mines. Sapphire worth lakhs of rupees was recovered from them. Some officials of the JKML had also come under police scanner |
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Jammu traders, hoteliers oppose shifting of bus stand
Jammu, June 3 The delegation, led by Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) president YV Sharma and former President of J&K High Court Bar Association BS Slathia, comprised of office-bearers of Jammu Paraytan Vikas Mandal, All J&K Hotels and Lodges Association, Shopkeepers Association, General Bus Stand, Traders Welfare Association, General Bus Stand, Hari Market Traders Association and Jammu Swarankar Sang. The delegation apprised Azad that during his tenure as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, it was decided that the general bus stand would be developed into a multi-storey parking and would serve as a terminal point for the buses of all routes entering Jammu. The members of the delegation said the bus stand was an economic centre
for the entire city, providing business facilities to the surrounding markets
of Jammu. They requested the union minister to take up the matter with the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah so that any such move is shelved. During the meeting, Azad assured the delegation that he would take all the necessary steps to ensure that the General Bus Stand become the terminal point. |
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Close to Vaishno Devi shrine, Shiv Khori cave cries for attention
Ransoo (Reasi), June 3
The cave shrine has been fast emerging as the second most popular major Hindu pilgrimage site after Vaishno Devi in Katra. However, there are some ills that plague the pilgrimage which the locals say are due the fact that Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board (SSKSB) is without a full-time official to look into the matters. “The SSKSB has no full-time official. Officials from the civil administration are members of the board but still there are deficiencies. However, there is no denying the fact that this pilgrimage site can shore up the state’s economy in a big way,” said Pravin Gupta, a local. “On an average 3,500 to 5,000 pilgrims visit the cave shrine every day. Last year, more than 19 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine and this year, we are expecting the figure to go beyond 25 lakh,” SSKSB manager Rakesh Sharma told The Tribune. During the three-day Shivratri festival, over 3.55 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine, which is located 128 km from Jammu via Katra and 110 km from Jammu via Bhambla. Considering the ever-expanding influx of pilgrims from all parts of the country, the state government in 2003 had constituted the board but it remained almost defunct compelling its reconstitution in 2008. Despite constraints, pilgrims from as far as the country’s tail end, Kerala, today visited the sacred site. “We have come here for the first time and we are overwhelmed by the divinity in the atmosphere here. The facilities are quite good but they can be improved. The four-km-long track needs more sheds and water facilities. There should be an alternate track for the ponywallas, who pay little attention to the safety of pilgrims. They make their horses move haphazardly in the middle of the track,” said Pradish from Kerala, who was at the shrine with his family. He said they came to know about the shrine from one of their friends who had visited it last year. Another pilgrim Rahul Kulkarni from Delhi said the shrine should be promoted by the state government. “This shrine of Lord Shiva is so close to the Vaishno Devi shrine. It needs to be promoted by the government. Apart from other facilities, the nine-km-long link road from Kanda to Ransoo needs to be widened and blacktopped. The shrine area has no proper parking place for vehicles,” he said.
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MLA Ansari meets Governor
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College students bring out unmanned aerial vehicle
Srinagar, June 3 Shuaib Shafi Koul (21) and Shahnawaz Shafi Koul (18) of downtown’s Khayam locality and Basit Riyaz Zargar (18) of the Buchpora locality today demonstrated a successful take-off of the quadcopter UAV named SBS-659 at a parking lot on Residency Road here. The SBS-659, which weighs 830 gm and has been built at a cost of Rs 18,000, may not be a breakthrough in the aviation industry but is a major accomplishment from youths of the militancy-hit region. “We used our pocket money and saved bus fare by going to college on bicycles to meet the expenses of making the UAV,” said Shuaib Shafi Koul. The three youths, who are students of Kashmir Government Polytechnic College, were assisted by three other classmates in the making of the project. “The frame and the propellers of the SBS-659 have not been imported. They have been made by us. The propellers rotate at 12,000 rpm and we have used the Bernauli’s principle to make it. We used cricket balls to make a landing gear to keep it light. It can be controlled up to a distance of 1 km,” Shuaib said. He said it took the team one month to build the machine. “The SBS-659 can be modified as per the need and requirement. We can fit a camera on it to track the lifestyle of endangered wildlife species of the region such as the Hangul,” Shuaib said. Shuaib said they did not use flight-control board, auto-pilot mechanism, sensors and stabilisers in their flying machine. “These are necessary for a UAV but we have managed to make the SBS-659 operational without them,” Shuaib claimed. |
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Quake hits tourist footfall in Doda district
Jammu, June 3 However, after the earthquake, the tourism festival in Bhaderwah, which received a great response in past few years, was postponed. Locals who spent weekends and holidays at nearby tourist spots are abstaining from the practice. Sajid Hassan, a bank employee in Doda, said, “It was our routine in summer to spend weekends at tourist spots in Bhaderwah and on its outskirts. With the temperatures rising, we were planning to start the weekly routine but the earthquake disturbed our plans.” “We are constantly in fear and hesitate to leave our homes,” said Rita Devi, a resident of Bhaderwah. The Bhaderwah area of Doda district was the epicentre of the earthquake and most of the tourist spots are around this town. This is one reason why visitors are hesitating about heading towards Bhaderwah. The earthquake had led to widespread damage to houses and government buildings. “Our infrastructure was damaged during the earthquake and the situation thereafter has forced tourists to stay away from this place. The tourism festival was also postponed. At a time when people are demanding relief, focusing on tourism is not possible,” said Soujanya Sharma, director tourism, Jammu. Sharma said when things are back to normal, they would shift focus
on tourism.
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The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kishtwar, today directed the Jammu and Kashmir Police to register an FIR against Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo for allegedly slapping a government officer on April 18.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the separatists had the right to call for a poll boycott. Addressing a party function here, Mufti said the separatists had a right to call for election boycott as dissent was the essence
of democracy.
Three college students have built a rudimentary and indigenous prototype of an unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV), becoming the first Kashmiris to do so. They said the vehicle could be modified to monitor the movement and lifestyle of the region’s endangered wildlife species.
The earthquake on May 1 in Doda district has not only thrown life out of gear for locals, it has also brought down the tourist footfall in the region.
Bhaderwah and other parts of the district were coming up as popular tourist destinations with thousands of tourists from within and outside the state visiting the region.
Srinagar, June 3