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Now, police for truck scanners at
LoC, Lakhanpur
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Poor BSNL network irks Pulwama villagers
2013 Review:
tourism
HC stays coop bank recruitment process
Azad warns people of vested interests
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad along with JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz at a rally in Anantnag district on Saturday. Tribune Photo: Amin War
No Modi wave, say Congress leaders
Member of Parliament Madan Lal Sharma addresses the gathering during the foundation day function of the Congress in Jammu on Saturday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh
Maintain sanctity of ceasefire: Mufti
13 years on, terror attack victim awaits relief
Somi Kumar on protest in Jammu on Saturday. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh
Machil court martial lacks transparency: Rights body
Currency chest of stolen ATM seized, one arrested
Security beefed-up in Doda ahead of R-Day
Arms recovered near LoC in Kupwara
NC workers thank CM for Kichloo’s reinduction
BSF soldier falls off mountain, dies
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Now, police for truck scanners at
LoC, Lakhanpur
Jammu, December 28 Pawan Anand, president of the Chamber of LoC Trade, Jammu and Kashmir, regretted that despite repeated reminders, full-body truck scanners had not been installed at the Chakan da Bagh and Salamabad trade centres so far. “We need them on priority and have been given to understand that the scanners have been sanctioned. We fail to comprehend the inordinate delay behind their installation,” Anand said. General secretary of the Chamber of LoC Trade Hilal Khan said for the past five years the traders had been demanding installation of full-body truck scanners. “Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, then Union Home Secretary RK Singh, Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were all apprised of the matter,” Khan said. He said the installation of scanners would ensure hassle-free trade. In the past, attempts were made to push in contraband from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) via trans-LoC trade routes. The police document further reads, “Twentythree highway patrols are required for their deployment on the Lakhanpur-Srinagar highway and the Jammu-Poonch road to increase the presence of the police all along the routes and take care of road accidents and other crimes related to highways.” “Similarly, five critical-care ambulances are required for Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch districts. These roads witness frequent accidents and at least one critical-care ambulance in each district is urgently required.” Contraband seized
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2013 Review:
tourism
Srinagar, December 28 While the tourist arrivals had picked up in the spring this year, a series of militancy related incidents and the Uttarakhand tragedy contributed to the decrease in the inflow. “The year (2013) was not good for Kashmir tourism. The year started with the execution of Afzal Guru that sent a wrong signal and then the Uttarakhand floods also proved to be a dampener for the tourism sector. Besides, India’s economic growth remained weak that affected the inflow of tourists,” said chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance (JKTA) Faiz Ahmad Bakshi. Stakeholders say a spurt in militancy related incident such as the attack on March 13 near Bemina in Srinagar which left five CRPF jawans and two militants dead and the June 24 attack, in which eight Armymen were killed near Hyderpora also sent a wrong signal. However, the Valley, during the last two years, had seen a boom in tourism as over 13 lakh tourists had visited the Valley in 2012. The tourism industry had revived after three consecutive years of unrest in the Valley. The sector had been hit hard by violent street protests owing to the Amarnath land row agitation, the infamous Shopian incident and the summer unrest in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Even as 2013 was not so volatile, a few incidents left a bearing on the tourism sector. While the government had to postpone the Gurez tourism festival after the killing of two youths in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district in June this year, the killings of youths in south Kashmir’s Shopian also made news in September. Tourism Department officials admitted to the decline in the tourist inflow this year. However, they remained tight-lipped over the figures. “Yes, comparatively lesser number of tourists and the Amarnath pilgrims visited Kashmir this year,” said a senior
official of the Tourism Department. On the other hand, the stakeholders said there had been a major decline. The JKTA chairman claimed that only 30 per cent of the total tourist inflow of 2012 was witnessed this year. He said the last three months remained the worst period for the tourism sector due to the row over installation of individual sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the hotels. Several hotels in Srinagar and in Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir were directed by the government to stop commercial activities due to the lack of individual STP. The hoteliers, who have been demanding setting up of common STPs under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission scheme, said several tourist bookings were cancelled as a result. Following the row, no major festival was organised by the Tourism Department this winter. Places such as Gulmarg usually used to come alive with festivals organised by the government, especially around Christmas. The Valley’s tourism sector is now praying for another boom in 2014
as was seen in the last two years.
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HC stays coop bank recruitment process
Srinagar, December 28 Peer is at present under arrest in the scam involving the sale of common entrance test-2012 question papers. He was a part of the three-member selection committee which interviewed candidates. While issuing notices to the respondents, including Peer, in the petition filed by two aggrieved candidates, who did not figure in the final selection list, the High Court directed the authorities concerned not to give effect to the appointment of the selected candidates against these posts. “Respondents shall not give effect to the appointments made in respect of the posts of cashier-cum-clerk till further orders. List them after the service is completed,” Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey said in his order made available today while admitting the petition and issuing notices to the respondents, including the Managing Director of the bank, Mohammad Ashraf Bhat. In the petition to the High Court by Sameer Ahmad Magray and Bilal Hassan Bhat through their counsel Aijaz Chesti, it had been alleged that “the selection list of the candidates” for recruitment to the 30 posts of cashier-cum-clerk advertised by the JKSCB was issued “clandestinely” by the respondents (authorities), who appointed “their favourites by taking money” from the candidates. “The candidates to these posts were appointed illegally by committing a fraud not only on all eligible candidates, but also on the candidates who had been appointed by taking money from them when the bank authorities had no power or authority to appoint any one of their own without having a proper selection committee as envisaged,” it had been submitted in the petition. Stating that Rule 6 of the SRO-23 envisaged the constitution of a board for selection process, it was further submitted by the petitioners that the advertisement notice for recruitment to these posts was issued in violation of the rules. “In order to extort money from the aspirants, the Managing Director issued the advertisement notice illegally and appointed scores of persons without having any power or authority by involving the most infamous Mushtaq Ahmad Peer in the recruitment process,” the petitioners had further alleged. Stating that Peer, who was a member of the selection committee which made the “dubious recruitment process” in the bank, the petitioners submitted that Peer already stood indicted in the sale of CET-2012 question papers as Chairman of the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE). Terming selections and appointments made as “illegal and fraudulent”, the petitioners had prayed for quashing the entire selection list and appointments made on this basis. They had sought directions for investigating the “dubious recruitment process” and the conduct of Managing Director Bhat and Mushtaq Peer by the crime branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which were already probing the CET paper scam. ‘Dubious’ recruitment process
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Azad warns people of vested interests
Anantnag, December 28 Without naming Pakistan, the Union Minister said some countries had been misleading the people of Kashmir and added that the people of Kashmir should be aware of such forces and think rationally. “We are lucky to have the best democratic set-up in Kashmir,” Azad said. He said the Congress-led Central government’s liberal funding to development projects in Kashmir was an attempt to reach out to the Kashmiri people. “The money that New Delhi has been spending here is more than the countries, which mislead the people of Kashmir against India, afford to spend on their own people,” Azad said. “We should keep our eyes and ears open to propaganda.” He said the people should not pay heed to those who try to create wedge between the people in India and divide them on religious and regional basis. While addressing the gathering, Azad said some political parties in Kashmir had been busy with a misinformation campaign against the Congress. He said these parties had managed to rule Kashmir only because of the trust deficit they had been able to create against the Congress. “The common notion that the Congress does not belong to Kashmir has been eventually misspelled by the transparent governance we have been able to bring to the people of Kashmir,” Azad said. The Congress leader said the people in Kashmir had realised that the future was with the Congress. He termed the governance of the Congress from 2005 to 20008 as transparent, which led to breaking the ice between the Congress and the people of Kashmir. “There has been a strong bond between the Congress and Kashmir since the time of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru,” he said. The Congress, Azad said, had always been concerned about strengthening democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. “The process will not stop. The Congress will always be committed to strengthening democracy in the state.” When asked about the pre-poll alliance with the National Conference, Azad said a decision about that was yet to be taken. “It has been seen in some sates that a coalition has weakened our party so the party interests have to be put first.” Besides, Azad said our workers do not want a pre-poll alliance and their wishes had to be taken into consideration.
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No Modi wave, say Congress leaders
Jammu, December 28 Today’s function was the first official gathering of the Congress after Modi’s Jammu rally. Every speaker tried to give the impression that there was no Modi wave in the region. Lok Sabha member from
Jammu-Poonch constituency Madan Lal Sharma termed Modi as a “madari” and observed that people usually turned up to see his tricks. “Some party workers are saying there is a Modi wave in Jammu. I want to make it clear that the Congress is a strong force in the region and the party will win both Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu region hands down,” Sharma said. He asserted that the people had realised that only the Congress could protect their interests. Trying to play down the gathering at Modi’s rally, another party leader said those who attended the ‘lalkaar rally’ on December 1 were paid and a majority of them were brought from outside the state. “There is a no need to be worried because the so-called Modi wave is nothing but a creation of the media. On the ground, the Congress is strong enough to face any challenge,” a party leader said. He added that instead of giving importance to
Modi, there was a need to highlight achievements of the 10-year tenure of the Congress-led government at the
Centre. To boost the morale of party workers, some leaders said whosoever formed the next government in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress would be a part of the government. “Given the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir, we will be a part of the next government in the state,” a senior Congress leader said. Speeches were a clear indication that Congress leaders and workers were gripped with Modi
‘phobia’. Mainul Haque, secretary of the AlCC, came from Delhi to attend today’s foundation day function. Some leaders said the Congress was the sole party which could ensure equitable and balanced treatment for all three regions of the state. “The Congress will emerge stronger in the next Assembly elections in all three regions and party workers must carry out the programmes and achievement of the UPA government to the masses more vigorously ahead of the elections,” they said.
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Poor BSNL network irks Pulwama villagers
Pulwama, December 28 Residents of Ratnipora and other adjoining villages alleged that despite several complaints against poor BSNL connectivity, the BSNL authorities had paid a deaf ear to them. “Subscribers of the BSNL most of the time face no access to network. And, if luckily, one is able to talk, the calls drop in a few seconds,” said Firdous Ahmad, a resident of Ratnipora. Firdous said villagers were contemplating legal action against the company in the consumer court for failing to provide quality service. Subscribers said though the company offered many economical and low-rate recharge packs and services, they became more expensive as one had to call several times to complete a call. “These services and offers are of no use until the BSNL focuses on improving network service in the area,” said a resident. With subscribers getting no respite from the service provider, they have now started switching to private telecom companies. “We have no other option but to change the service provider,” a villager said. Charan Das, BSNL general manager, said in Pulwama there was poor connectivity. He said nine towers had been erected, of which five had been serving from the last month and the other four would start functioning soon. He said one tower had been approved for Ratnipora village.
— OC
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Maintain sanctity of ceasefire: Mufti
Jammu, December 28 “The DGMO-level meeting between India and Pakistan, with a commitment and focus on maintaining truce along the Line of Control, is a praiseworthy move,” Mufti said while addressing a public meeting at Arnia in Bishnah Assembly segment of Jammu. He, however, stressed on evolving a mechanism to avoid ceasefire violations and hostilities along the borders in the future. Emphasising that the meeting was a follow-up to the interaction between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UN Security Council meet in USA earlier this year, Mufti said: “Both the countries have realised there is no alternative to peace.” “The truce should be maintained at any cost for the safety and normality of lives of people
living along the borders,” he said. Insisting that normalisation of Indo-Pak relations was in the interest of both the countries and particularly the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP leader said: “People of Jammu and Kashmir have high stakes in peace as they are the worst sufferers of hostility between the two neighbouring countries.” “Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, who has been elected for five years, is an ardent supporter of improved relations with India. I am confident that who so ever forms the next
government in the country, will take effective steps to further strengthen relations with Pakistan,” Mufti said. “To emerge as an economic power, India has to normalise relations with Pakistan,” he added.
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13 years on, terror attack victim awaits relief
Jammu, December 28 He has since then approached various politicians and ministers. “I have knocked at all doors, met ministers and politician, but got nothing more than assurances. Many of the ministers and politicians refused to meet me,” said Somi. “I was just asking for a small job or some compensation so that I could feed my family. I don’t even have a house. Now, I am left with no other option but to sit on a protest in this severe cold. I will sit on a dharna till the administration gives me some compensation,” he said. Somi fails to forget the day which destroyed his life and ended his happiness. “It was the darkest day for my family when six militants carried out an attack in our village. I lost my hands and one leg in the blast. My father also received a head injury in the incident,” said Somi. “I am getting a handicap pension of Rs 200 per month from the Social Welfare Department but is it sufficient to feed a family of five?” he asked. He says his father was feeding the family by working as a labourer but due to his old age and poor health he is unable to do so now.
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Machil court martial lacks transparency: Rights body
Srinagar, December 28 Six Army men, including two officers, have been subjected to court martial for the Machil fake encounter in which three youths were killed. Terming the court martial proceedings as a “futile exercise”, the association said: “The Army courts cannot be trusted for lack of transparency.” “The civilian victims cannot avail the opportunity of being represented by a lawyer in a court martial and neither do they have the right to challenge the court martial judgements in higher courts,” APDP spokesperson Tahira Begum said in a statement here. “Such courts cannot be trusted as the Army has institutional mechanisms of impunity like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act,” she said. Flaying the media for hyping the decision of the Army to court martial the accused personnel, Tahira said: “The law and order is a state subject, but in Jammu and Kashmir the insistence of the Army to not allow prosecutions in civilian courts is an attempt to undermine the judicial processes and also a manifestation of distrust on the police investigations.”
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Currency chest of stolen ATM seized, one arrested
Jammu, December 28 He added that six to nine people were involved in the burglary. “It seems six to nine people were involved in the robbery. Some of them have previous criminal records. The currency chest has been recovered intact. Cash is safe in the box and it can only be opened by the engineers of the bank,” Goel said. A gang of burglars stole the Punjab National Bank ATM from sector seven area of Nanak Nagar on Thursday night, police said, adding that the machine contained Rs 4,01,700. In the raids that followed the incident, the police arrested one of the gang members namely Kalla and on his disclosure the currency chest of the ATM was recovered from the outskirts of Jammu, it said. The chest was hidden in a heap of cow dung outside the hut of another accused namely Chedu at Meen Sarkar near Sarore Adda in the outskirts of Jammu, the police said.
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Security beefed-up in Doda ahead of R-Day
Doda, December 28 “There is information about the presence of militants in the state. Though the militancy in Doda and rest of the state has gone down, some of the ultras are still active,” newly appointed Superintendent of Police (SP), Doda, Mohammed Sharif Chowhan said during a Police-Public Durbar here today. He, however, said the police and intelligence agencies were alert to any untoward incident and were capable of foiling any nefarious design of militants. ? “Our intelligence agencies are very much active. We have also intensified our security grid. We are competent enough to foil any of their nefarious designs,” the officer said. He added that the Jammu and Kashmir Police was soon going to install CCTV cameras at sensitive places across the district.
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Arms recovered near LoC in Kupwara
Srinagar, December 28 “A total of 40 brand new weapons, including 20 AK- 47 rifles and 20 pistols, along with a huge amount of ammunition, hidden one kilometre inside the LoC were recovered,” it said. It added that the search operation being undertaken on the morning of December 28 led to the recovery arms and ammunition from a place between the LoC and the Anti Infiltration Obstacle System. “Inputs were being received over the last few days by the Army from sources about the likely bid for infiltration or pushing the arms across the LoC. The troops were put on high alert and searches were being carried out in the suspected areas,” it said.
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NC workers thank CM for Kichloo’s reinduction
Doda, December 28 Participants extended their gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other senior National Conference functionaries for reinducting Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo into the Cabinet. The meeting also appealed to the Chief Minister for early redress of their decade-old grievances which include construction of a road from Dangdoro to Sirshi Dachhan, electrification of Chicha, Tringee and Sirshi villages, installation of BSNL towers and creation of niabat for Dachhan, education zone and munsif court for Dachhan.
— OC
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Anantnag, December 28
Jammu, December 28
Jammu, December 28
