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Minus the ‘white’ look, Christmas celebrated with fervour in city
Away from home, Christians miss Xmas ‘festivities’
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Braving chill, residents celebrate Christmas with zest
Jammu, December 25 Braving chill and intense cold conditions, Christmas was celebrated with traditional enthusiasm and fervour in Jammu city today. Major churches in city, including St Mary’s Garrison Church, Gandhi Nagar, St Paul Church wore a festive look, as they were decorated for the occasion.
Mazdoor conference for early release of DA
Gunfight erupts again in Budgam district
Machil encounter: Victims’ families welcome Army verdict
2013 Review border conflict
Boy killed, two injured in grenade blast in Rajouri
Snow fallout: Roads blocked, no power in south Kashmir villages
JKCA livid over search of hotel
800 suicides in J&K during 2011-13
Tannery waste dumped into Rambi Ara in Pulwama
Congress failed to fulfil its promises, says BJP
Timber smuggling rampant in Kupwara’s Batpora forests
Kalachakara initiation
Guv inaugurates Jammu Festival
CCIK welcomes restoration of power, water supply to hotels
PDP nominates Para youth wing head
Minister reviews works at Tehzeeb Mahal, Tagore Hall
Workshop for women artists concludes
Student union stages protest against desecration of statue
School holds prize distribution function
Cops scan hotels for Hizb militant
Man rescued from forest after 4 days
Three die in Kulgam due to LPG leakage
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Minus the ‘white’ look, Christmas celebrated with fervour in city
Srinagar, December 25 Father Mathew Thomas, who led the prayers at Holy Family Catholic Church, said Christmas was celebrated with fervour across the Valley. He said they prayed for peace in Kashmir. A few members of the Muslim community, too, were seen on the church premises extending Christmas greetings to Christians. Two persons dressed as Santa Claus were seen distributing sweets among children on the church premises. As the weather remained dry today three days after the summer capital had received the first snowfall of this winter season, people said they missed celebrating a white Christmas. “Last year there was no snow in Srinagar on Christmas and this time too there was no white Christmas. Even though there is no let up in Christmas fervour here otherwise, snowfall only adds colour to the festivities,” said a devotee. However, tourists were able to celebrate a white Christmas at places like the Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir that is already covered by snow. Moderate snowfall was recorded in the upper reaches of the Valley three days back. However, no fresh snowfall was recorded anywhere in the Valley
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Away from home, Christians miss Xmas ‘festivities’
Srinagar, December 25 For a moment, it looked the Christians were celebrating Christmas somewhere in Europe. But that feel vanished just when one stepped out of the church - something the Christians tourists from outside missed very badly. For Joseph Oram, 24, who is from West Bengal, it is his first celebration away from his family and he is missing the hustle and bustle of Christmas here. "I miss my home and family. There is not any celebration around, no Christmas trees decorated outside shops and on roads, I feel I am at a different place. It's too cold," says Oram, who works as a domestic help of a family in Srinagar. He is in the Valley to earn and send money back home. Most of the people at Holy Family Church are from outside Kashmir - tourists or the people who have come to Kashmir for work. And all of them missed the ambiance of Christmas they are used to back home. There are no Christmas festivities on the roads, in cafes or gardens. They say that makes them feel being away from their family. In the morning, when the bell struck 10.30 at Holy Family Church in Srinagar, prayers started to mark the birth anniversary of Jesus. But before coming to the church, Oram had to finish the work at his owners place. "I finished the work, as I work as a helper here. I wanted to be on time and attend the father's lecture, but due to work I got late," he says. James D'silva, a worker from Goa, has been living in Kashmir since 1993. He works as a contractor with Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Company (JKPCC). He feels that as the situation has improved in Kashmir in recent years, the way of celebrations have changed and for good. "I have celebrated many Christmases here. I would always miss home. Now the situation has improved, the fear has gone, Kashmir is no different than home now," he says. Apart from the Christians, Kashmiri Muslims and Sikhs also came to greet their Christian friends. "I along with my children reached the church to greet my friends here and also my kids wanted to get gifts from Santa Claus," said Ranjeet Kour, a resident of Punjab, who has been living in Kashmir for a decade now and whose husbands works as a carpenter. Tourists from different parts of the country and world who have come to see snow also thronged the church today for prayers. "It's my third day here, it's very cold and I am waiting to see snow. There were less people in the church. I miss my friends back home," said Yovita, a visitor from Indonesia. Holy Family Catholic Church at Moulana Azad Road in the city witnessed a huge rush of people coming to offer prayers since early morning. |
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Braving chill, residents celebrate Christmas with zest
Jammu, December 25 A large number of Christians, including women and children assembled to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ and participated in special prayers, wherein pastors rendered select chapters from the Holy Bible. They exhorted the community members to be good to others and set an example. It was a busy day for Santa Claus as well, who was seen going from place to place cheering revellers. “We came here to pray for the peace and prosperity. God Jesus loves everyone and we too are showing the same spirit by greeting each other and presenting gifts to them,” Jamie, a Jammu resident said. The markets at the winter capital were decorated and traditional Christmas carols reverberated the atmosphere. ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘Oh Holy Night’ and ‘Santa Claus Is Coming to Town’ were audible throughout the city. Meanwhile, tight security arrangements were made by the administration for smooth Christmas celebrations. |
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Without traffic lights, Kunjwani Chowk prone to accidents
Jammu, December 25 The area has become prone to accidents. All inter-state and inter-district buses going towards southern districts of Jammu & Kashmir use the highway to reach their destination and heavy rush of traffic is witnessed here. Locals have to remain extra vigilant, while passing through the area, as there is no monitoring mechanism to streamline vehicles. Different groups had mooted the idea of installing a statue at the site, which is an entry point to thousands of vehicles, including that for Vaishno Devi shrine-bound pilgrims. Locals alleged that a project to construct a flyover near the roundabout to streamline traffic was also abandoned to save the interests of some land grabbers, who have illegally taken over the government land at Kunjwani. “Some political leaders, who had close proximity to the ruling parties and influential persons having residential and commercial properties on the road came in the way of the project,” said Kuldeep Sharma, a local resident. Sources said the National Highways Authority of Indian was asked by the Roads and Building Department not to pursue the project to construct the Reverse Trumpet Interchange Flyover at Kunjwani keeping in view the displacement of and demolition of several structures. Meanwhile, senior traffic police officers are still thinking what to do with the signals, which were to be relocated, as they were installed at the wrong places. The decision to shift lights was taken in December last year during a high-level meeting chaired by the then Minister for Home and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani and Kunjwani Chowk was one of the priority sites for installing these signals, but nothing has been done so far. |
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Mazdoor conference for early release of DA
Jammu December 25 Addressing a rally, Shastri said the government should take the decision in this regard at the earliest so that employees, including pensioners get the benefit. He also demanded enhancement of medical allowance to ~1,000 per month besides immediate release of the 3rd installment of the 6th pay commission arrears. He demanded removal of all pay anomalies of clerical cadre, increase in emolument of daily wagers to ~10,000 per month, issuance of regularisation orders of 180 daily wagers working in Rural Development Department, reorganisation of floriculture department. Besides this, he demanded granting technical grade to gardeners of floriculture department and release of all pending wages of labourers at PWD among other things. The demands
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Gunfight erupts again in Budgam district
Srinagar, December 25 The encounter was still on when reports last came in.
Two police officials, while confirming the encounter, said the militants trapped in Hushroo village, around 20 km from Srinagar city, had escaped from a similar cordon last night in another Budgam village. On Tuesday evening, two militants escaped from the nearby Ichkoot village after opening a barrage of fire on the security forces personnel who were laying siege to a house where the militants were hiding. Police sources had identified the two militants who escaped the dragnet as Umar, a Pakistani national, and Riyaz, a resident of Budgam. Umar was wounded in the exchange of fire. The police continued house-to-house search late into the night in Ichkoot village but the two militants managed to escape. On Wednesday, the police intensified the search for militants in several villages in the vicinity of Tuesday’s encounter site. On Wednesday evening, the security forces tracked down the two escaped militants to Hushroo village, where they had taken shelter in a house. A fierce gunfight erupted when security forces surrounded the house. Even though initial reports suggested that both militants were trapped inside the house, a police officer at the encounter site on Wednesday said one militant, Umar, was believed to be holed up. On Tuesday afternoon, the police had also arrested a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant from Srinagar’s old city. Latief Ahmad Rather, a resident of Budgam district, had recently joined the Lashkar-e-Toiba and was arrested from the Nowhatta locality of Srinagar’s old city. Security forces in the central Kashmir district have been on an alert since the killing of a police officer at a market in Chadoora town of Budgam earlier this month. Sub-Inspector Shabir Ahmad, the SHO of Chadoora police station, was hit by a burst of fire from close range at the Chadoora market on December 2 killing him instantly. There has been an increase in militant attacks this year, killing more than 50 police, paramilitary and Army personnel. The number of security forces personnel killed this year has been the highest in the last several years, when militancy had significantly receded in the region. Encounter still on
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Machil encounter: Victims’ families welcome Army verdict
Baramulla, December 25 The family members, however, demanded stern punishment for the two civilians, Bashir Ahmad Lone and Abdul Hamid Bhat, who misled the victims and led them into the Army trap. Shahzad Ahmad Khan, Riyaz Ahmad Lone and Muhammad Shafi Lone, all residents of Nadihal in Baramulla, were killed in the fake encounter by soldiers of 4 Rajput Regiment and labelled as infiltrating militants to get promotions and awards. “At last, our stand was vindicated and guilty soldiers awarded punishment by the Army. We are feeling respite after three years of struggle but want stern punishment for Bashir Ahmad Lone, then working as a special police officer, as he misled our sons and got them killed by Armymen against a handsome amount,” said Mohammad Yusuf Lone, father of deceased Riyaz Ahmad Lone. “Riyaz was the sole bread earner of our family and used to work at a workshop. My soul will not rest in peace unless one of the main culprits, Bashir Ahmad Lone, is sentenced to death,” he said. As the news of the court martial reached Nadihal village this morning, about 15 km from Baramulla town, relatives and neighbours started
visiting the families of the victims. Abdul Rashid Lone, father of deceased Muhammad Shafi Lone, also demanded stern punishment for the accused, Bashir, who is languishing in jail. “Bashir pushed our sons into the death trap. He should be given death sentence. The news of the court martial has come as a respite to us but the accused soldiers deserve to be sentenced to death,” he said. In July 2010, the police chargesheeted a Colonel and two Majors among 11 people in connection with the fake encounter. The accused were Col DK Pathania, Major Maurya, Major Upinder, Subedar Satbir, Havildar Bir Singh, Sepoys Chandra Bhan, Nagendra Singh and Narendra Singh and Territorial Army jawan Abbas Hussain Shah, besides two civilians Bashir Lone and Abdul Hamid
Bhat. Case file: Machil ‘fake’ encounter
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Increased LoC violations blow to ceasefire
Azhar Qadri Tribune News Service
The first serious blow to the ceasefire was dealt in the initial days of the year when two Indian soldiers were killed, one of whom was beheaded, in a raid on their post near LoC in the Poonch sector. Pakistan army and militants were the prime suspects and the raid set a grim tone for rest of the year. Within days of the incident, as the clamour for retaliation grew louder, Army Chief General Bikram Singh termed the beheading as “unpardonable” and issued a stern warning to Pakistan. “I have given clear directions. Retaliate to firing (from across the Line of Control). Uphold ceasefire as long as adversary upholds it. When fired at, we will respond immediately,” General Singh said on January 14, a week after two soldiers were killed in the cross-LoC raid. In the following months, guns fell silent across the LoC with an occasional rattle crackling through the tense air. The ceasefire, which was implemented on November 26, 2003, had survived a “grave provocation”. India and Pakistan agreed to silence their guns on the LoC in 2003 when Parvez Musharaf did a u-turn on his country’s “traditional policies” in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the US. The attack changed the equations in the sub-continent as Pakistan became a frontal ally in the US-led “war on terror” and also ordered shutting down of militant groups and camps fighting against India. More than a decade later, as the US began to wind its operations in Afghanistan and Nawaz Sharif became Pakistan’s new Prime Minister, the equations changed once again. First week of August onwards, the LoC became an arena for daily skirmishes between Indian and Pakistan with both sides firing at each other with small arms and heavy mortars. The grave incident, which almost left the ceasefire in tatters, took place on August 6, when five Indian soldiers were killed in a raid on their post in Sabzian area of Poonch. The initial suspects behind the August raid remained the same, a joint team of Pakistani special troops and militants, infamous as Border Action Team or BAT. The untoward incident triggered daily skirmishes along the LoC and threatened to rip apart the historic ceasefire, just months before it would have completed a decade. The regular skirmishes and artillery duels between the two armies even reached Kargil, ending a 14-year lull in the region. The affected stretches of the LoC, which faced the brunt of the ceasefire violations this year, were the Poonch, Krishna Ghati, Bhimber Gali and Uri-Tangdhar sectors and sub-sectors. An obvious pattern that emerged from the gradual spike in violations along the LoC was that it reached its crescendo ahead of the India-Pakistan Prime Ministers’ meet on the sidelines of the UN General Summit in New York. When the two Prime Ministers finally met on September 29, shelving the uncertainty that surrounded the meet, the situation along the LoC took centre stage and the Director General of Military Operations of the two armies were tasked to find a road-map to ensure tranquillity on the fence. By the time the ceasefire completed its ten years, the guns had fell silent leaving behind a trail of grim numbers. Till November 26, the day that marked the decade of ceasefire, a record number of violations in a year were registered. Casualties
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Boy killed, two injured in grenade blast in Rajouri
Rajouri, December 25 Two others received splinter injuries in the incident. But they are out of danger,” Superintendent of Police (SP), Rajouri, Mubassar
Latifi said. The injured have been identified as 8-year-old Kapil Singh and 7-year-old Rohit. “As today was a holiday we were playing together when Meena Kumari, mother of Kapil, asked us to follow her to fetch water from nearby spring. Gaurav saw something (grenade) on the roof of the water body and picked it up saying he will show it to her mother,” Rohit told the police. “While we were approaching back to our respective homes the object fell from the hands of Gaurav, who was walking few metres ahead of us and exploded,” he said. Latifi, meanwhile, said the police have started investigation into the matter it will take some time to identify whether it was a Chinese or a Russian made grenade. Earlier, a deputation of residents of ward number five led by Shahbaz Khan had informed the police about the presence of unidentified persons in the area, following which the SP instructed the SHO, Rajouri, not to allow the tempo traveller agents to operate from the area. DSP, Operations, Aiaz Sheikh initiated the inquest proceedings into the incident and headed the search of ward number five and its adjoining areas to find any clue about the presence of anti national elements. Additional Deputy Commissioner SA Mughal, meanwhile, announced an immediate relief of Rs 40,000 to the family of the deceased and Rs10,000 each to the families of the injured. He also instructed the hospital authorities to
provide free treatment to the victims. Ward number five is situated in a highly protected area and houses an Army unit and a Brigade
Head Quarter. |
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Gulmarg records season’s coldest night
Srinagar, December 25 “Gulmarg witnessed the coldest night of the season yesterday,” he said. “Pahalgam recorded a minimum of -1.4°C while Srinagar city saw a minimum of 0.6°C last night,” the official said. “Jammu city recorded a minimum of 5.7°C,” he said. The weather is expected to remain cold and dry during the next 48 hours in Kashmir, he said. Kashmir has been reeling under intense cold wave as the harshest 40-day period locally called 'Chilai Kalan' began on December 21. The authorities have issued avalanche warnings for higher reaches of the Kashmir valley, including the Sonamarg and Keran areas in the north, and the residents have been advised not to venture out of their homes during the nights.
— IANS |
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Heavy jam on highway as traffic leaves from Jammu to Srinagar
Udhampur, December 25 “Due to slippery conditions at the hill resort of Patnitop and Banihal, vehicular movement on the national highway was stopped at 9 pm on Tuesday and it was resumed only at 5 am today. As a result number of vehicles on the highway increased manifolds, which resulted into a traffic jam,” a traffic police official posted along the highway near Udhampur said. The national highway remained closed for two days before the one-way traffic was restored from Srinagar to Jammu on Tuesday. “I left Jammu at 5 in the morning and reached Garhi, which is just 10 km away from Udhampur, by 6:30 am. However, it took me nearly three hours to travel the 10 km distance as there was a massive traffic jam between Garhi and Jakhani Chowk on the national highway,” Jagdish Prashar, a senior government official posted at Doda, said. Meanwhile, a senior traffic official admitted that commuters had to face problems due to long hours of the jam. “We managed to clear the jam by 10 in the morning by diverting heavy trucks to the Udhampur bypass, but even then commuters had to suffer for few hours,” DTI, Udhampur, said. |
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Snow fallout: Roads blocked, no power in south Kashmir villages
Anantnag, December 25 “Most of the roads in our area are blocked, restricting traffic movement,” said Saleem Ahmad, a resident of the Daksum area of Anantnag. People of the Damhal, Hanjipora, and Devsar areas in Kulgam district also said they had been facing problems due to blocked roads. The worst affected have been patients as there is no transport available to ferry them to hospitals. While some of the villages have local health centres, people in some villages have to travel longer distances to avail themselves of the medical facilities. “The primary health centre in our village has not yet been made functional and we have to ferry patients to other places on our backs as the roads have been blocked by snow. The administration has been doing nothing,” said Ishtiyaq Ahmad, a resident of the Kapran area of Anantnag. Villagers rue that they have to walk miles on foot to fetch drinking water as the supply is interrupted during the winter. “The power supply has not yet been restored in our village,” said Mukhtar Ahmad, a shopkeeper from Damhal village in Kulgam. |
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JKCA livid over search of hotel
Jammu, December 25 “I heard the news from someone in the morning that a police party searched the hotel in Jammu late night where our Ranji team is staying,” said Manzoor Wazir, JKCA Treasurer. “It may be a routine security exercise for the police in the winter capital, but such surprise searches and that too in late hours would definitely disturb the mindset of players who are focusing on their game,” he said. Jammu and Kashmir is currently playing against Hyderabad at the GGM Science College Hostel Ground. The matter came to the fore when Samiullah Beig, one of the members of state cricket team, alleged that the hotel where the team was staying was searched and the players were questioned by the police. “Could not sleep the whole night. The Police came to search our hotel at midnight and questioned us for hours. We did not lock our doors as only our team stays in that hotel,” Samiullah Beig posted on social networking site Facebook. “We are still feeling the shock and horror of finding uniformed people with guns surrounding us. Whether deliberate harassment or routine check up, surely this is not the way to treat a bunch of guys with national and international repute, especially when you are playing the most important match,” Samiullah said. “Honestly, I am not expecting any wonders today. We may easily lose the game and hence the chances of our qualification to the quarterfinals may vanish,” Samiullah said. |
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800 suicides in J&K during 2011-13
Jammu, December 25 During the period, in Jammu region alone, 384 persons took the extreme step of ending their life, off these 201 were males, while 183 females. According to figures available, in 2011, 287 people in J&K committed suicide. In 2012, the figure had reached 400 mark. "Though actual figures are not available yet, but it has crossed 200 cases this year. Scanning through the past data, it was found that the male suicide rate is higher in Jammu region, while in the Kashmir valley more females commit suicide," said Dr Raminder Jit Singh, Director, SARA, an NGO. SARA is working with the Police Department in an awareness campaign in the state. With depression and anxiety-related disorders among the youth emerging as a major concern, the Health Department had started mental health OPD clinics at district hospitals in the state since 2010 to provide psychiatric help to patients. For implementing the programme, Bangalore-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) had trained nearly a dozen doctors. "In the Kashmir valley, doctors are dealing with the patients having depression, post-traumatic stress disorders and anxiety related disorders from the medical point of view. The main reason is depression and conflict, which have been engulfing the state since 1989," said Dr Arif Magribi, a psychiatrist based in Srinagar. Before the advent of insurgency in J&K, incidents of suicides, especially in Kashmir, were virtually zero. Because of lingering violence over the years, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) are fast gripping the people. Added to this is the vices of modern living and materialism, which is driving people to take extreme steps. The J&K Police has already involved several NGOs in its civic action programme and directions have been passed to all the police stations to coordinate with the social activist to reach out to the youth and deal with the domestic issue cases in a scientific manner. |
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Tannery waste dumped into Rambi Ara in Pulwama
wama, December 25 Rambi Ara, the dumping ground for solid waste, including sheep fur, hair of cattle and rotten meat, is becoming a threat to the residents downstream. Villages that have been affected by the dumping of the industry waste into the nullah include Achan, Patipora and Panjran, as they are located downstream. The industry units produce two types of wastes, solid waste and liquid waste, which are to be treated in the primary treatment plant and the secondary treatment plant. The solid waste is to be treated by the unit holder while the liquid waste, as per law, is to be treated in the common effluent treatment plant. Locals said the dumping of waste in the water body had created a lot of problems, including bacterial diseases in human and animals. “We have faced the repercussions of the waste disposal in the water body which is causing water-borne diseases. Many cattle died last year in the village after drinking polluted water,” said a resident of Achan. The Rambi Ara mostly has a low water level. “Generally it does not affect us but when it rains, the water level in it raises and it starts overflowing, bringing all garbage to the surrounding villages,” said another Achan
resident. District officer of the Pollution Control Board (PCB), Pulwama, Fiaz Ahmad said they had started taking action against the erring persons. “A legal notice has been sent to the unit-holders through the Pulwama District Development Commissioner. If they (unit holders) fail to give an answer, their units will be shut down,” the PCB
official said. |
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Children seeking alms a common sight in holy town of Katra
Katra December 25 Begging menace continues unabated at Katra bus stand, as they beggars give a tough time to devotees. The authorities too have failed to keep a check on it. Though the practice is banned in state, the administration has turned a blind eye towards the menace. It has failed to take effective steps against the syndicate running it as a business in the town. From kids to teenagers, most of these beggars are girls, who with tattered clothes and unkempt hair, seek alms and cash in on the temple premises. The holy town stays abuzz with local and foreign tourists because of its heritage and religious importance and these people do not leave until they get money from them. Perturbed Sonu Kholi, a tourist operator at Katra, said beggars risk their lives as they run after tourist vehicles. ey often start cleaning cars and ask for money. They keep tapping the windowpanes unless one shells out some money. "Some of them are handicapped and some are blind. They will not even fear a policemen and
will continue to beg," Kholi added. Besides harassing tourists, they also pose a grave threat to traffic. “Beggars in Katra are mostly from other parts of the country that are brought here under a well-planned strategy not only to fleece people but also to commit petty crimes. The government, however, seems to be sleeping over the issue,” said Amit Sharma, a local resident. The other aspect of the menace is involvement of drug addicts, who are also involved in selling narcotics. Also, there are begging-rackets, in which beggars take advantage of poverty and migration of people from other states and induce them to adopt this 'lucrative business'. Sanjay Singh, a shopkeeper, said though these beggars could be found at the bus stand, Main Bazaar and Darshani Dowadi, their presence in high number around Ban Ganga road sullied the image of the holy town, which is thronged by tourists from all around the globe. The district administration had envisaged various plans from time to time to eradicate the menace, including implementation of anti-begging law. But it too has failed to change beggars’ attitude, who again hijack streets for alms. Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary admitting the growing menace and said that a strict implementation of law to eradicate the menace and rehabilitation of beggars was required to address the issue. |
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Congress failed to fulfil its promises, says BJP
Jammu, December 25 The party dismissed the claims made by the Congress ministers in the National Conference led coalition government that they were treating people of the Jammu province at par with the people of the Valley as “hollow” and “misleading”. “It is a crime against man and god to make hollow claims in its desperate bid to justify the unjustifiable. The truth is that the Congress has subverted the mandate the people of Jammu province gave to it in 2002 and 2008,” BJP leader Prof Hari Om said in a statement here. The BJP leader said in 2008, the Congress contested the Assembly elections on four Jammu-specific planks — establishment of the regional development board, implementation of the Wazir Commission report, constitution of the delimitation commission and the reversal of discriminatory policies. “But it did nothing to fulfil even one of these solemn promises,” he said. He added that the Wazir Commission report, which was implemented by the coalition government, was executed in the wrong way by establishing four districts in Kashmir and four in Jammu region. The Commission had recommended setting up of three new districts — Samba, Reasi and Kishtwar — in the Jammu region and one in Kashmir, he said. The government also turned down the demand for establishment of the regional development board, saying district development boards were already there across the state and, hence, there was no need to establish regional development board in Jammu, Prof Hari Om said. “As for its commitment on the Delimitation Commission and a fair dispensation to the Jammu province, the Congress government did nothing whatsoever,” he said. “Its (Congress) utter failure to honour any of these four commitments should lay bare the disparities between wrong assertions and the ground realities,” the BJP leader insisted. Prof Hari Om also flayed the Congress for failing to protect the interests of the minority communities. The Congress also did not fulfil its commitment that if voted to power, it will give full protection to the minorities, do everything possible to safeguard their rights and constitute a minority commission to look after the minority communities,
he said. |
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Seminar highlights flaws in Article 370
Jammu, December 25 In a seminar, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Study Centre, a group comprising researchers and academicians, on the topic “Article 370-Reality and Myths”, speakers pointed out that the Article was against every section of society in general and the weaker sections and women in particular. Speakers especially highlighted how the Article had been misused by some families of Jammu and Kashmir just to enjoy power. Eminent lawyer Sunil Sethi, who presided over today’s seminar highlighted the legal aspects of the Article and argued that it encroached upon the power of Parliament so it was against the basic structure of the parliamentary form of government. Sethi said instead of indulging in reactionary politics on the Article, there was a need to educate countrymen on how the Article had been discriminating against the people of Jammu and Kashmir and only served the interests of the ruling class. Calling for a debate on the Article 370 to expose those who have been abusing the Article to get undue benefits, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader (RSS) Arun Kumar, who is also the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Study Centre, said the Article was nothing but an additional legislative mechanism to make some laws when the Constituent Assembly was not constituted in Jammu and Kashmir. “The Article 370 is a temporary arrangement and political fraud has been committed by rulers of Jammu and Kashmir by abusing it as they want to accomplish their petty personal agenda by using the Article unconstitutionally,” the RSS leader said. Kumar said it was high time to take the issue to its logical conclusion because the people of Jammu and Kashmir had suffered a lot due to the Article. Taking a dig at those who claimed that the Article granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, he said instead of giving any benefit to the people of the state, the Article has rather discriminated against the weaker sections, women and the minorities of Jammu and Kashmir. To substantiate his argument, Kumar cited examples of the Other Backward Classes of the state, who have been deprived of their constitutional rights. Maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir has been “misquoted”, “mishandled” and “miscarried”, he said nationalist forces all over the country had decided to highlight issues which remained unheard due to a vicious campaign launched by some forces of the Kashmir valley. Former head of the department of law, University of Jammu, Prof KL Bhatia, and eminent columnist Daya Sagar also spoke on the occasion. |
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Timber smuggling rampant in Kupwara’s Batpora forests
Kupwara, December 25 Timber smuggling is rampant in these compartments in the absence of effective monitoring of the forests by the field staff, locals alleged. They alleged that some smugglers were using ponnies to transport logs of Keil and Deodar. “If timber smuggling continues, forests will soon be transformed into barren land. The smugglers are having a field day in the forests as officials concerned have failed to curb smuggling,” said Ali Mohd, a local resident. Another resident, Bashir Ahmad Poswal, said, “Smugglers are looting the green gold during night hours as well. We often hear noises of timber being transported to villages during nights. It appears that the forest officials are hand-in-glove with the smugglers as
nothing is being done to stop the menace.” Forests conservator, north circle, Main Javid said he would send a team of the forest protection force to the affected compartments to check smuggling. “If the reports of smuggling are found to be true, officials of the forest protection force will be sent to deal with the problem,” said
Javid. |
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Leh to have signboards in Bhoti
Our Correspondent
Leh, December 25 The campaign has jointly been organised by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh-Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), All-Ladakh Gonpa Association and Merchant Association. The Kalachakara initiation is scheduled to be held from July 3 to 14 next year at Jiwestal Garden in Shey village, 8 km from Leh town. It is being considered as the largest gathering of people in Ladakh. The LAHDC in its executive council meeting has made it mandatory to have the signboards of both government and private establishments in Bhoti language. It also issued a circular to government departments that one of the languages of their signboards should be Bhoti. Language experts of the publication wing of the LBA are helping people to translate their signboards in Bhoti language. General secretary of the Merchant Association, Leh, Tsewang Rigizin said, “Members of the association with officials of the Leh Municipal Committee have started collecting the list of every shop and their names which are being handed over to the publication wing of the LBA for translation in Bhoti language with correct spellings.” He said the replacement of old signboards with new ones written in Bhoti language was targeted for completion by May as painting in winter was not possible.
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Guv inaugurates Jammu Festival
Jammu, December 25 The Governor hoped that the people of Jammu would enjoy all the programmes in the next five days and the festival would be a memorable experience for them. Earlier, the Governor inaugurated the six-day-long Jammu Festival at the General Zorawar Singh Auditorium at the University of Jammu. His wife Usha Vohra was also present on the occasion. Mir, meanwhile, explained that the Jammu Festival was being organised by the Department of Tourism to promote culture and also attract the tourists from within and outside the state. He said the event will provides an opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. Mir also appealed to the private sector to participate in the infrastructure building in the tourism sector to provide quality services to visitors. Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma enthralled audience with his scintillating performance. Member of Legislative Assembly Chaman Lal Gupta, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu, Principal Secretary to the Governor Navin K Choudhary and Secretary, Tourism, Zaffar Ahmad were also present on the occasion. |
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CCIK welcomes restoration of power, water supply to hotels
Srinagar, December 25 In a statement, the CCIK welcomed the move to allow hotels not having individual sewage treatment plants (STPs) to operate up to 19 rooms in their establishments in the first instance. The CCIK had earlier suggested that the hotels having up to 30 rooms should be allowed to operate without STPs as it was a permissible limit in many other states, the statement added. President of the CCIK Mohammad Shafi Khan said they were confident that the chemical treatments and common STPs that would be installed by the government would put to rest this problem faced by the hotels. The power and water supply to several hotels had been snapped for not following the standard procedures of the STP installation. The hoteliers have been demanding the installation of common STPs by the government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) scheme. |
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PDP nominates Para youth wing head
Srinagar, December 25 He has also been awarded peace scholarship by the SIT Graduate Institute Vermont, USA. A statement issued by the Peoples Democratic Party said Waheed-ur-Rehman Para had
been involved in various youth-related activities in the state and had spoken at multiple national and international forums. |
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Minister reviews works at Tehzeeb Mahal, Tagore Hall
Srinagar, December 25 The minister was told that the state-of-the-art cultural complex was expected to be completed by April 2016, an official spokesman said. The minister also inspected the renovation work on Tagore Hall, Srinagar, which is being carried out by the JKPCC. He was informed that Rs 12.46 crore were being expended on the project. Later, the minister took stock of the ongoing construction work on the SPS Museum building in Lal Mandi, Srinagar. He was informed that the project is coming up at the cost of Rs 66.64 crore, out of which Rs 31.74 crore have been released so far. The minister was
accompanied by the District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, Deputy Secretary,
Cultural Academy, officials of the JKPCC and some other officials. |
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Efforts on to promote Hindi in offices
Srinagar, December 25 Chief Postmaster General, Department of Posts (DoP), J&K circle, Chandra Prakash said every office of the city would be provided with the Hindi learning software besides training programmes would also be organised. He said this while chairing a meeting of the Town Official Language Implementation Committee (TOLIC) of the Central government offices on Tuesday. The Chief Postmaster General, who is also the TOLIC (Srinagar) chairman, said competitions like Hindi typing/short hand, drafting and quiz would also be organised half-yearly. More than 30 members from various Central government offices participated in the meeting. The meetings are held periodically to review the implementation of Hindi language in the Central government offices, a DoP official said while adding that the last meeting was held on February 7 here. He said the TOLIC chairman was pleased to know that all the Central government offices were enthusiastic about increasing the usage of Hindi in their respective offices. |
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Workshop for women artists concludes
Jammu, December 25 Conducted by Sunanda Khajuria, a Jammu-born freelance painter based in New Delhi, the workshop provided an opportunity to young artists to work together and exchange concepts, working methods and also to strengthen their resolve to continue the pursuit of creative painting. Sunanda Khajuria, Massarat Mehboob, Shahana Parveen, Siresh, Shakti Kumari, Anuradha Devi, Nusrat Zahoor Shah, Renu Bala and Jitendra Kour were some of the participants. Today’s function was attended by well-known artists and teachers, including Harsh Vardhan, Rohit Verma, Bhushan Kesar and Dr Sanjay Sharma. Several art students and members of the civil society were also present. |
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Student union stages protest against desecration of statue
Jammu, December 25 Addressing mediapersons, the activists demanded immediate restoration of the damaged portion and identifying the culprits. Union state president Partap Singh Jamwal warned the administration to restore the statue to its original form otherwise they would be forced to start an agitation against the administration, they said. |
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School holds prize distribution function
Jammu, December 25 Prizes were given to toppers of Class X, XI and XII in academics, IIT workshop and different Olympiad. prizes and gifts were also awarded to students, who brought laurels to the school in Northern Command Volleyball championship for boys and girls, basketball championship for girls and hockey championship for girls in Jammu. The best teacher award was given to Manoj Kumar, TGT maths. International players Manika, Smaksh in speedball and Tarannum in golf were honoured. The chief guest advised teachers to make school child centric and give special attention towards special children. She appreciated the school management for providing quality education and sending students to participate in state, national and international competitions. School chairman Brigadier SK Dey, Sumita Dey and principal KCS Mehta were also present on the occasion. |
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Cops scan hotels for Hizb militant
Jammu, December 25 Acting on a tip-off
provided by the Army about the mobile location of a Hizbul commander, Kaman Asghar, who recently escaped a cordon in Kashmir, the men from the special operations group started checking hotels in Talab Khatikan around 10 pm. The search went up to 2 am, a souce said. “They also questioned some inmates, especially in Nilgiri Hotel, where one of the inmates raised a suspicion because of some inaccuracies in his address reflected in the hotel log book,” the source said. “The SOG men, however, could not find the
militant,” the source added. Meanwhile, security forces are looking for the Hizbul militant, who escaped the cordon in Kashmir a few days ago. |
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Man rescued from forest after 4 days
Doda, December 25 Afzal Ali Beig, a resident of Udhyanpur in Doda, along with six other persons had gone for hunting in the area on December 21. While five of them returned home safely, Afzal lost his way. The police and the Army sent teams to look for the man. On the directions of Minister for Roads and Buildings Abdul Majid Wani, a helicopter was pressed into service to search for for the man, sources said. |
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Three die in Kulgam due to LPG leakage
Anantnag, December 25 “The bodies were retrieved,” said a senior police officer. He said the postmortem on the bodies would be conducted tomorrow at District Hospital, Kulgam. The deceased have been identified as Soni Jan (30) and her daughters, Taranum Jan (5) and Rahi Jan (3). Soni’s husband is a labourer and was out of state for work at the time of the incident. |
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Srinagar, December 25