|
|
|
|
|
Rain brings more chill, affects normal life in city
Dark days are here again
|
|
|
Heavy snowfall cuts off Kashmir valley
Jammu-Srinagar national highway closed after snowfall
In harsh winter, sun-dried vegetables tickle taste buds of Valley residents
Stray dogs maul 29 in 3 days in Kupwara
Job plans fail to achieve desired results in state
Amarnath yatra forms to have security features
Indo-Pak stalemate continues, 27 Indians still held hostage
Courtesy embargo, traders book calls to PoK via Saudi Arabia
Preparations for Indian Science Congress in full swing at JU
Kashmir valley’s first all-woman physiotherapy centre leads the way
Poor internet connectivity irks subscribers
BJP demands UT status for Ladakh
Crime branch opposes broker’s bail plea
Linemen seek regularisation of daily workers
Teachers submit demands to Education Secretary
Coaches’ union to merge with sports council association
95 minors among 1,325 arrested during Kashmir unrest last year
PDD workshop gutted, coils worth Rs
2 lakh damaged
Results for posts of teacher likely in 10 days
16 winners of National School Games felicitated
|
|
Rain brings more chill, affects normal life in city
Jammu, January 22 According to Met Department officials,
the rain will continue till Thursday evening, which is good for the crops, particularly wheat and vegetables. Across the city people preferred to remain indoors as the mercury plummeted to about 13°C with every likelihood that it will dip further in the next few days as the western disturbances is passing over J&K. “Strong western disturbances are passing over the state. People will have to face the chilly conditions for a few more days,” said Dr BC Sharma, a senior weather scientist at SKUAST, Jammu. He said they were expecting more rainfall in plains and snow in higher reaches in the coming days, which would further decrease the maximum and minimum temperatures in the city. "The weather condition in the upper reaches influences the local conditions. More the snowfall in mountains, more cold wave conditions will be experienced in the city," Dr Sharma said. Though it was a working day, people mostly remained in their homes, enjoying the warmth of woollens and electronic heating gadgets. However, in many localities, due to the fault in transformers and power lines, electricity remained shut for a few hours, creating further problem for residents. “The snapping of electricity is a major headache during the cold conditions, but during these times, traditional sources of heating provide some respite,” said a local resident. |
||||
|
Dark days are here again
Srinagar, January 22 The snowfall began on Tuesday night as in some areas of Srinagar and outskirts, heavy overnight snowfall led to snags in the power lines and transformers which led to power disruption for at least 12 hours. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah admitted on Twitter that the snowfall had led to disruption in road connectivity and electricity supply. He said, “It is difficult to restore the electricity and connectivity while it is still snowing and that the situation is being restored.” “People must accept that it is difficult to restore electricity and connectivity while it is still snowing. The situation is being monitored,” he added. Power Development Department (PDD) officials told The Tribune that the restoration work was underway in civil line and downtown areas of Srinagar and other districts and the electricity would be restored with improvement in weather. “It is natural that the areas in Srinagar and Budgam districts will see restoration of power supply soon as the efforts are afoot there. It is somewhat difficult to commute to high-altitude areas in other districts because of heavy snow there and initiate the repair work. People will have to bear with us,” Maroof Ahmad, a PDD official said. Valley residents, however, said, “The snapping of power supply was a regular feature this winters as the state government was not prepared to face the aftermath of snowfall and inclement weather conditions.” With the Meteorological Department predicting more snowfall in the next few days, people said they were preparing for emergency situations. “People usually brace up for the inclement weather conditions in Kashmir especially when the administration fails to address the issue. We are stocking up essential supplies and looking for alternatives to keep warm,” said Shuja Shafi, a Srinagar resident said.
KU cancels exams
Srinagar: In the wake of inclement weather, Kashmir University cancelled all examinations for undergraduate and postgraduate students scheduled to be held today and tomorrow. Students taking undergraduate and postgraduate at various colleges affiliated to Kashmir University and on the university campus could not make it to their respective examination centres as public transportation remained off roads. Due to abrupt snowfall, which started on Tuesday night, there were no clear-cut instructions from the examination wing, KU, on the postponement of today's examination. Students were left confused today and were enquiring about the status of re-examination. KU officials stated that the dates for re-examination would be announced soon. —
TNS |
||||
|
Heavy snowfall cuts off Kashmir valley
Srinagar, January 22 The snowfall, which began during the night, continued for the most part of the day on Wednesday and threw life out of gear in the region. It caused widespread power cuts. A high-impact western disturbance system passing through the region caused moderate to heavy to very heavy snowfall at various places, Meteorological Department officials said. They said precipitation was likely to decrease from Thursday afternoon onwards. The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed as four-foot snow was recorded along the route, an official of the Traffic Department said. An official of the Srinagar airport said all inbound and outgoing flights were cancelled due to bad weather, de-linking the region from the outside world. In Srinagar and in north and south Kashmir, roads were blocked with snow and electricity to many parts was suspended. Many markets, including those in and around the city’s commercial nerve centre Lal Chowk, remained closed due to snowfall and less traffic was seen on slippery roads. The state government said it was monitoring the situation. “People must accept that it is difficult to restore electricity and connectivity while it is still snowing. The situation is being monitored,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote on social networking site Twitter. The Chief Minister said the administration was working to restore connectivity across all “priority” roads. The state Meteorological Department said heavy snowfall was expected at a few places in the region over the next 12 hours till Thursday morning. A MeT official said Srinagar city recorded one-foot snow till evening today. Gulmarg resort and Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir recorded three-foot snow, the official said. The official said two and a half feet of snow was recorded in the Kokernag area of south Kashmir, while one-foot snow was recorded in Qazigund town and 2.8 cm in north Kashmir’s frontier Kupwara town. Situation being monitored People must accept that it is difficult to restore electricity and connectivity while it is still snowing. The situation is being
monitored. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Twitter |
||||
|
Jammu-Srinagar national highway closed after snowfall
Udhampur January 22 Around 600 vehicles, including 400 trucks, were stranded at various places along the highway, even as the Border and Roads Organisation (BRO) pressed snow-cutting machines into service to clear the road. “Although we have pressed snow-cutting machines into service since the wee hours, it has become difficult to clear the highway due to continuous snowfall,” said a senior BRO official supervising the clearance work. He, however, said it would not take much time to clear the highway once the weather improved. “As soon as the weather improves, it will take us just four hours to clear the snow from the highway,” the official said. The traffic, which had been stopped last night, could not be restored today as around two feet of snow had accumulated near the Jawahar Tunnel, while there was one foot of snow at Patnitop. “The Meteorological Department had predicted snowfall and heavy rain for Wednesday and Thursday and all our officers and men are on the highway performing their duties. As soon as weather improves, the stranded vehicles will be cleared and thereafter convoy will be allowed to move,” said Dr Habib Mughal, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Traffic, national highway. Meanwhile, besides 400 heavy vehicles, 200 light motor vehicles stranded along the highway have been shifted to safer
locations by the traffic authorities.
|
||||
|
In harsh winter, sun-dried vegetables tickle taste buds of Valley residents
Srinagar, January 22 A number of sun-dried vegetables such as tomatoes, turnip, brinjal, bottle guard, lotus fruits, green beans and red chillies are available in markets and some of them even sun dry them at homes during summers to prepare for harsh winters. Locals stock up sun-dried vegetables as there is always fear of highway blockade due to snow and rainfall during which the prices of fresh vegetables go up. These vegetables could be seen threaded into garlands and hung up to dry by a window all over Kashmir. Some families even dry haakh, Kashmiri spinach, the staple vegetable of the Valley. For decades, people in the Valley sun dried fruits and vegetables to preserve them for harsher winters. Drying foods, one of the oldest preservation methods, is simple and inexpensive but in other parts of the world is being overshadowed by canning. However, in the absence of a cold storage facility and canning units in the Valley, sun-dried vegetables does the job of holding the taste, looks and nutritive value of foods. Sellers say despite availability of fresh vegetables, there are traditional food lovers in Kashmir and this year they have observed increase in demand. “I work hard throughout summers to grow and dry all vegetables at my home and come here in winters to sell and earn a living,” says Sara Begum, who sells sun-dried vegetables on the Amira Kadal bridge in Srinagar. Consumption of dried vegetables has been in trend since long in this part of the northern hemisphere. All vegetables, fruits and fishes are dried in the sun and then stored in cool places. Experts are of the opinion that these foods are safe provided they are hygienically prepared and stored. “These foods are advisable in permissible limits if protected well in air-tight containers. If air goes in these bags, it can induce the growth of white coloured fungus known as nitrosamines that are in turn carcinogenic,” said Dr Showkat Zargar, head, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences. Thrusting for proper handling of vegetables and introduction of new technology in preparing dried vegetables, he said, “Primitive methods are still used here for making dried vegetables that makes the growth of fungus very easy,” Zargar said. |
||||
|
Stray dogs maul 29 in 3 days in Kupwara
Kupwara, January 22 Victim Saida Begum (37) and Shabroza (22), both residents of Warpora, were referred to the Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, for treatment. Itrat Hussian Rafique, Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, on Monday visited Warpora and directed the municipal authorities and the police to identify the rabid dogs and kill them. “A few rabid dogs in the village have injured many people, including children. I directed the police and municipal officials to identify and kill them,” the Deputy Commissioner said. Chief Medical
Officer Dr Aleem-u-Din and Abdul Gani, tehsildar, Settlement, Handwara, accompanied the
Deputy Commissioner to the village. At least 19 other victims were discharged from the District Hospital
Handwara after treat-ment today, said medical superintendent Dr Rouf Ahmad. Seven more were treated at the local Public Health Centre, Magam. The residents said stray dogs were on an attacking spree in Warpora, Magam, Waghat, Shatgund,
Palpora, Chatargund and Wadipora and people were scared to step out of their houses. A pack of dogs attacked Shabroza when she was on her way to the market. “Her screams attracted the attention of some passersby and before they could rescue her, the dogs mauled her badly,” said Riyaz Ahmad from Warpora, her neighbour. The locals urged the municipal authorities to deal with the menace. They alleged that a few unknown persons had left a truckload of dogs in Warpora a few days ago. “On Sunday, we spotted a mini-truck which let free about 30 dogs in the village around 7 pm. Our lives are in danger and we are forced to accompany children to tuition centres due to fear of attacks from stray dogs,” said
Altaf Ahmad, a local resident. Residents of Magam, Waghat, Shatgund, Palpora, Chatarggund said stray dogs were on the prowl and their
movement had become difficult. Growing menace
|
||||
|
Job plans fail to achieve desired results in state
Jammu, January 22 The statistics of the J&K Employment Department suggest that there has been nearly five times increase in the number of ‘registered’ unemployed youth in Kashmir valley alone since 2000. “The total number of unemployed youth across Kashmir valley, excluding the Ladakh region, was 56,498 in December 2000, while the registered unemployed youth, who applied for employment assistance in district employment and counselling centres in the region till 2013 was over 3.10 lakh,” the statistics said. Similarly, the number of registered unemployed youth has gone up from 1.01 lakh in 2000 to 2.80 lakh in 2013. The Economic Survey Report prepared by the state government for 2012-13 also indicated that there was an “alarming rise” in the number of unemployed youth in the recent years in Jammu and Kashmir as the state had the highest unemployment rate of 5.3 per cent in comparison to its neighbouring states, including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. The report said the highest number of 1, 82,453 registered unemployed youth were Class XII pass followed by 1, 66,152 matriculates. There were 83,255 graduates, 20976 post graduates and around 30,000 technically qualified, including ITI, youth registered in the state. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on completion of his five years in office had recently claimed that his government had provided job opportunities to nearly one lakh youth. “All major initiatives taken by the Centre and the state government to generate employment opportunities in the state over the years have not yielded desired results. For instance, the Central government’s much-hyped job plan Udaan was envisaged to provide skills and enhancing employability to 59,000 youth of Jammu and Kashmir in five years. The plan has received a lacklustre response from unemployed youth so far,” official sources said. Another job plan, the Jammu and Kashmir State Self Employment Scheme, which provides ‘margin money, capital and interest subsidy assistance’ to the educated unemployed youth of the state for establishing their own employment generating units since 1995-96, has not yielded desired results on ground. “The number of units established under the scheme in 2001-02 was 1965 and this number has increased up to 30,111 in the past 13 years notwithstanding alarming rise in number of unemployed youths in the state,” the sources said. Under the Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth launched in December 2010, the state government has disbursed a total of Rs 107 crore as voluntary service allowance for providing social security to nearly 1.55 lakh registered educated unemployed youth in the age group of 26 to 37 years with annual family incomes below Rs 1.5 lakh. “The scheme, too, has failed to come up to the expectations of the state government. The government will have to revisit its strategy for generating employment avenues for unemployed youth,” an official of the Employment Department said. The state government has now set a target to train over 9 lakh youth under the Skill Development Policy during the 12th Five Year Plan from 2012-13 to 2016-17. A maximum of 2.77 lakh youth would be trained in vocational and technical education, followed by 1.5 lakh in horticulture and 1.34 lakh in micro and small scale industry. Sorry state of affairs
|
||||
|
Amarnath yatra forms to have security features
Jammu, January 22 The SASB in its meeting held on January 20 that was presided over by Governor NN Vohra, who is chairman of the Board, had approved the new design of the registration forms, which now have a number of high security features. The CEO of the SASB, Navin K. Choudhary, said a number of complaints had been received about unscrupulous elements duplicating the yatra permit forms, which till last year were being printed by the banks designated by the Board to undertake the registration of pilgrims. In this background, the Governor had directed that the existing format of the form be made pilfer-proof. The CEO had got in touch with Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd. (SPMCIL), which is a public sector undertaking under the Union Ministry of Finance and handles the printing of currency notes, passports and stamp papers and minting of coins. SPMCIL has rich experience of printing papers and documents which have high security features. At the CEO’s request, SPMCIL had proposed certain security features in the form, some of which were modified on the instructions of the Governor. The revised form contains several security features, for example the Ashoka Pillar ‘Water Mark’ is printed on the form in the same manner as in currency notes; ‘Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board’ is printed in the background relief tint along with the Shrine Board’s logo; and the logo of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board in fluorescent blue ink is visible only under ultraviolet light. The printing has been done with chemically sensitive security ink. With such high security features and printing method, it will be next to impossible to duplicate the form. An expenditure of approximately Rs 75 lakh is being incurred on the printing and transportation of the new yatra forms. The CEO said the permits for the 2014 yatra would be in different colors for each day and each route (Baltal or Pahalgam). This will help the enforcement agencies at the access control gates to quickly identify the pilgrims who are not registered for a particular day. The Governor has directed the CEO to ensure timely distribution of the forms to the 422 bank branches designated to undertake registration of pilgrims. This year’s pilgrimage is scheduled to begin from June 28. Checking fakes
|
||||
|
Indo-Pak stalemate continues, 27 Indians still held hostage
Srinagar, January 22 A senior government official here said the trade between the two sides also remained suspended for the second trading day of the week. The
cross-LoC trade on the Salamabad-Chakoti route as well as the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service have remained suspended since the standoff began last week. “It is a stalemate,” Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar said, adding that the crisis was being handled at the “highest level” between the governments of the two countries. India had yesterday summoned Pakistan’s Acting High Commissioner as the standoff had aggravated with Pakistan stopping the
trans-LoC trade and travel. “It is being dealt with at the highest level and we hope it will be resolved in a few days,” Kumar said. Another government official said 75 drivers were stranded on both sides of the
LoC. Pakistan continued to hold 27 Indian drivers, who had crossed the LoC with their trucks, hostage for the sixth consecutive day as it seeks the return of its driver, who was arrested last week with a huge haul of contraband. The 27 drivers are held at the Chakoti trading facility, while 48 Pakistani drivers, who Pakistan is refusing to take back without the 49th driver who has been arrested here, are at the Salamabad trading facility. The standoff began on Friday evening, the last trading day of last week, when 114 kg of brown sugar worth Rs 114 crore was seized from a Pakistani truck. The truck, which was part of the
cross-LoC trade convoy entering Kashmir from the Pakistani side, was seized and its driver arrested by the state police. Trade remains hit
|
||||
|
Courtesy embargo, traders book calls to PoK via Saudi Arabia
Jammu, January 22 “While our counterparts in PoK call us directly on our phones from Lahore,
Rawalpindi, Karachi, Rawalakote, Kotli, Mirpur, Hajira and any other city of their choice, we cannot call them because of an embargo on direct ISD calls to Pakistan from J&K,” said Krishan Singh, general secretary, Chamber of LoC Trade, Jammu and Kashmir. “If a trader from Jammu and Kashmir has to make a call to his counterpart in the PoK to discuss trade, he has to either travel to Punjab or book an ISD call via Saudi Arabia,” Singh alleged. He added that despite assurances by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and the then Union Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology, Sachin Pilot, nothing was done in this regard. “During their separate visits to the trade facilitation centre at Chakan da Bagh in
Poonch, RK Singh (the then Home Secretary), Sushil Kumar Shinde and Sachin Pilot had promised to provide direct ISD facility to the Jammu and Kashmir traders. But unfortunately the words have not been translated into deeds,” he regretted. The traders also dubbed the claims of the state administration about five ISD lines each being provided at Poonch and
Barmulla, where the Salamabad trade facilitation centre is situated, as a “cosmetic exercise”. “The administration’s claim of having ISD facility for the traders is nothing more than a joke. No trader would ever discuss his trade secrets, including rates of merchandise to be exchanged, in front of government officials,” Singh said. “We had conveyed it to the Union Home Minister during his visit in 2011. He had endorsed our view point and had assured us of providing direct ISD facility,” he said. The ISD facility to Pakistan was withdrawn following the onset of insurgency in the state over two decades ago. However, the service was partially restored to facilitate the trade. A state home department official said the issue had been reported to the Union Government, but so far no decision has been taken on it. |
||||
|
Preparations for Indian Science Congress in full swing at JU
Jammu, January 22 The science congress is being organised under the patronage of Governor and Chancellor of the university NN Vohra and Chief Minister and Pro-Chancellor of the university Omar Abdullah. The authorities are busy giving a new look to the campus, while security has been tightened in view of the participation of VVIPs in the event. Metal detectors have been installed on all entry points, while all the visitors are being frisked thoroughly by the security personnel guarding these points. The Gymnasium Ground, where the Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the event, has been sealed for the students and other people. Labourers have been issued identity cards to enter the ground, while the state-of-art "pandaal", having features like water-proofing, auditorium-like chairs, acoustics, stages, IT equipped and adequate fire-safety measures, was being set up and it will be ready by January 25. It will have the capacity to accommodate nearly 10,000 delegates, who are likely to participate in the mega event. So far, around 7,000 delegates, including Noble laureates and top scientists of the country and foreign nations, have registered themselves for
the event. The authorities have finalised the ground near Priyadarshni Hostel for setting up of a food court, where all the delegates would be served food, snacks and tea during the five-day event. The food expense per delegate per day would be Rs 576. In a goodwill gesture, the Army has constructed two iron bridges to connect the main campus with the food court. The university has created new parking spaces for the vehicles of VVIPs near General Zorawar Singh Auditorium, while new footpaths are being constructed to give a new look to the campus. Sources said the university authorities had been facing difficulties in
finalising the arrangements as the state government was yet to release the “sanctioned” Rs 6 crore to the varsity. “We have been facing difficulties in finalising the arrangements due to non-availability of funds. The state government has not released Rs 6 crore, which it had sanctioned for the event, so far. We are hopeful of getting all arrangements in place before February 2 if we are provided with sufficient funds,” a senior official of Jammu University said. The official said the university authorities had issued a notification cancelling all holidays, except Sunday, to ensure the smooth conduct of examinations. “The class work will remain suspended during the five-day event. It is a prestigious event for us as it is being organised for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir,” the official added. Vice-President of India Mohammad Ansari will attend the valedictory function on February 7, while President Pranab Mukherjee may attend the “Local Innovators Exhibition” during the science conference. Former Presidents Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Pratibha Patil, several Union ministers, Chief Ministers of various states, Indian-American NASA astronaut Sunita Williams and others are also expected to take part in the event. |
||||
|
Kashmir valley’s first all-woman physiotherapy centre leads the way
Srinagar, January 22 Despite working as a business analyst in the US, where she also did her MBA, Taizeena had always longed to start a venture of her own at her motherland. Finally, after more than a decade of stays of varying periods in the US, the UK and Bangalore, she left her US job and started “Red Letter Phyline” (RLP) – a state-of-the-art physiotherapy centre, exclusively for women, which also happens to be the first-of-its-kind in the Valley. The USP of the centre, which also has a gym and offers wax therapy among other services, is that it caters exclusively to women and is also run by a group of seven women. A resident of uptown Sanatnagar area, Taizeena, who also has a degree in physiotherapy, said she founded the RLP mainly because there was lack of awareness on physiotherapy here especially amongst the womenfolk. At a place where joint, neck and other pains, besides neurological and physiotherapy-related problems are common, she said physiotherapy could do wonders. There are other problems that can be tackled through physiotherapy unknown to the common masses, Taizeena says and to create awareness in this regard, she also writes a blog and her articles can be regularly found in local newspapers. Among other “unknown” physiotherapy aspects, the RLP founder is specially focusing on providing care to pregnant women by starting a course – “Plan your Pregnancy”. “Women generally are unaware as to how they can deliver healthy babies and avoid many gynaecological problems through physiotherapy,” she added. The main reason why the centre is meant for women only is that Taizeena feels that women need privacy while sharing their personal problems. The RLP also provides counselling to women – a concept that is not so widespread here. The centre started in October last. As the ongoing winter months are deemed not so good for business here, Taizeena is full of hope that once spring sets in, her dream of transforming the lives of women through physiotherapy will paddle forward. USP of the centre
|
||||
|
Poor internet connectivity irks subscribers
Srinagar, January 22 According to subscribers, they had to face difficulties since 5pm yesterday due to poor internet connectivity. “I am not able to connect internet on my phone since yesterday. It has put me in trouble,” said Sameer Ahmed of Srinagar. The customer care executive of the company while admitting to snapping of services said the problem was due to system breakdown. “The company is working on it and it will be restored in the next four hours,” said the customer care executive of the company. The mobile internet services were snapped in the past by the state government in the wake of uprisings and turmoil in the Valley. The snapping of internet services on Tuesday came as a surprise to customers, some of them even verifying about the situation in the Valley. “I thought there is some problem in the Valley and it is due to the government order that the services have been stopped,” said a university student from south Kashmir, who later came to know from his friends that the problem was only with some Airtel pre-paid connections. However, the executives of the cellular company promised to restore the internet services soon. “I cannot work without internet on my phone. The company takes heavy internet charges from customers and in return provide poor services,” said another subscriber Shaniya Farooq. — OC
|
||||
|
BJP demands UT status for Ladakh
Jammu, January 22 The demands were made in a political resolution passed on the second day of the party’s state executive committee meeting here. The resolution was moved by Prof Hari Om, seconded by Prof Nirmal Singh and Ashok Khajuria and passed with a unanimous voice. The party said the UT status was the long-pending demand of the people of the Ladakh region. It further said out of the total 46 Assembly segments of the Kashmir valley, at least three seats be reserved for displaced persons from the Valley so that due representation was given to all communities. The meeting was today chaired by state party president Jugal Kishore Sharma and presided over by Delhi MLA RP Singh.
|
||||
|
MBBS SCAM
Srinagar, January 22 Sajjad along with main accused and former BOPEE head Mushtaq Peer and others was produced before Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Mohan Lal Manhas on January 18, who had directed the crime branch to file objections to his bail plea. The crime branch in its objection filed before the court today opposed the fresh bail application of broker Sajjad moved last week. The investigating agency had submitted that Sajjad, who was also named as an accused in the charge-sheet, had produced no fresh grounds for seeking bail. Sajjad’s earlier bail plea was rejected by the court in December 2013. In its objection, the probe agency had submitted that Sajjad might try to destroy the evidence as the case was of public importance. It has further said the investigations into the scam are continuing and the agency is probing further evidence against the accused. After taking the objections on record today, the anti-corruption court, Kashmir, adjourned the hearing of Sajjad’s bail plea till tomorrow, when it is also scheduled to take up the bail plea of prime accused and former BOPEE head Mushtaq Ahmad Peer. In the chargesheet filed before the special judge on January 12, the crime branch had named 25 persons as accused, including Peer, Sajjad, 12 students who got admission in the MBBS course by fraudulent means in 2012 and nine parents. The charges against Peer is that he sold CET papers through his aide Farooq Ahmad Itoo and in
turn received around Rs 60 lakh. |
||||
|
Linemen seek regularisation of daily workers
Jammu, January 22 The union held a meeting under the chairmanship of its president, Vijay Gupta. Several resolutions were adopted, which included early reorganisation of the Power Development Department (PDD), release of pending instalment of DA due since July, 2013, besides third instalment of te Sixth Pay Commission arrears, technician grade for linemen as per SRO 381 and immediate deduction of CP Fund subscriptions of the casual labourers of the PDD. The union also demanded grant of uniforms to the linemen of the PDD, besides washing and risk allowances. Suresh Chand Anthal, who presided over the meeting, appealed to the Chief Minister to personally intervene and direct the PDD authorities to accept the demands of the union on priority basis. |
||||
|
Teachers submit demands to Education Secretary
Jammu, January 22 The deputation, led by Maheshwar Prasad and Kuldeep Singh, discussed various important issues of the teaching fraternity. These included adjustment of newly promoted principals and headmasters, confirmation orders of EV teachers, strict compliance of the ban on transfers in the School Education Department, filling of vacant posts, release of salary of deployed teachers, etc. The Secretary informed the deputation that the confirmation orders of EV teachers would be given on February 10 during a formal function in this regard. |
||||
|
Coaches’ union to merge with sports council association
Jammu, January 22 The decision was taken in the 39th general body meeting, held under the chairmanship of Vikramjeet Singh, president of the Sports Council Employees Union. In the meeting, union members discussed demands, including implementation of the Government Employees Pension Scheme in favour of the council employees, regularisation of casual labours, proper transfer and promotion policy, stoppage of harassment to council employees, release of the Sixth Pay Commission arrears and release of the pending Class IV promotion list. — TNS |
||||
|
95 minors among 1,325 arrested during Kashmir unrest last year
Srinagar, January 22 At least 501 law and order incidents were recorded in the past 11 months, a confidential police document has revealed. The 95 minors arrested from the Kashmir region included 29 from Srinagar, 25 from north Kashmir’s Baramulla and 16 from another north Kashmir district of Bandipora. Eight minors were arrested from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, six each from south Kashmir’s Shopian and central Kashmir’s Budgam districts and four from Ganderbal district, according to the document obtained by The Tribune. In the past few years, when the region was hit by a wave of streets demonstrations, the authorities concerned here had arrested many minor boys for participating in protests and booked them under stringent Acts. The state government has also come under sharp criticism from human rights groups, including Amnesty International, for arresting teenaged boys and locking them up in facilities with no special childcare support. Out of 1,325 persons arrested over a period of 11 months last year, 307 have been identified in the document as students. While most of the arrests have been made under different laws, a few have been arrested as a preventive measure, according to the document. The confidential document is a compilation of stone-throwing incidents and action taken against stone throwers in the region from February 9, when Guru was hanged, till December 20, 2013. The Kashmir region witnessed a spell of unrest in February and March, following Guru’s hanging. Another major period of unrest was in June and July, which was triggered by the killing of two civilians in alleged Army firing in north Kashmir’s Markundal village and in September when five persons, one of whom the police claimed was a militant, were killed in south Kashmir’s Shopian town. The security forces personnel injured in the stone-throwing incidents last year include 1,124 members of the Police Department, 345 CRPF personnel and five army personnel. Most of the 501 law and order incidents, a reference to stone throwing and protests, took place in Baramulla (140), Srinagar (85) and Bandipora (60). Numbers speak
|
||||
|
PDD workshop gutted, coils worth Rs
2 lakh damaged
Kupwara, January 22 “The fire broke out around 9.30 am due to a short circuit,” a Power Development Department (PDD) official said. “Coils of seven transformers, which needed repairs, were damaged in the fire. The tin shed housing the workshop was locked from outside when the fire broke out. Four transformers were of 100 KV capacity while the others were of 63 KV capacity,” the official said, adding that coils of all the transformers were damaged incurring a loss of about Rs 2 lakh. He said a fire tender from Kupwara was rushed to the spot and the fire was brought under control. “Highly flammable oil lying scattered all over the workshop intensified the fire, but we managed to bring it under control in just ten minutes,” Assistant Director Fire and Emergency Services, Kupwara, Bashir Ahmad Shah said. |
||||
|
Results for posts of teacher likely in 10 days
Jammu, January 22 Over 2 lakh candidates had appeared in the screening test conducted under the fast-track recruitment process to fill more than 1,200 vacancies. “The evaluation of answer scripts and declaration of result is a lengthy process. We have already announced results of some posts to be filled in various government departments. We are in the process of compiling results for the posts of teacher and it may be announced within the next 10 days,” Shagufta Parveen, chairperson, JKSSB, said. The state government had announced to go for fast-track recruitment to fill vacancies advertised between December 2012 and May 2013. |
||||
|
16 winners of National School Games felicitated
Jammu, January 22 He was speaking at a felicitation function to honour the medal winners of the 59th National School Games in the discipline of newly introduced game "Silambam" at the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, MA Stadium, here. Aggarwal said the state government was committed to promote sports and games and the department would leave no stone unturned to enhance sports infrastructure in every nook and corner of the state. Lauding the efforts of the medallists in national competitions, Aggarwal said the players could do much better with the improvement in infrastructure. Aggarwal felicitated 16 medal winners. The winners in the girls' section included Muskan of Dewan Devi Higher Secondary School, Jammu (silver); Savita of Shastri Memorial Higher Secondary School, Jammu (bronze); Tanisha of Shastri Memorial Higher Secondary School, Jammu (bronze); Khushi of Shangrilla Public School, Jammu (bronze); and Kanshika of Shangrilla Public School, Jammu (bronze). The medal winners in the boys' category included Sahil Sharma of Shastri Memorial Higher Secondary School, Jammu (silver); Yudhvir of BSF, Paloura, Jammu (silver); Sourab of BMJN Higher Secondary School, Jammu (bronze); Mohit of Dewan Devi Higher Secondary School, Jammu (bronze); Shreesh of Shangrilla Public School, Jammu (bronze); Pranav Jasrotia of Shangrilla Public School, Jammu (bronze); Dheeraj of BSF Higher Secondary School, Paloura, Jammu (bronze), Neeraj of BSF Higher Secondary School, Paloura, Jammu (bronze); Abid Lodhi of Shangrilla Public School, Jammu (bronze); and Nishant of BSF Higher Secondary School, Paloura, Jammu (bronze). Madan Lal, Joint Director Youth Services and Sports, and Deputy Directors Kanchan Bala and Mirza Hussain were also present. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Ending a month-long dry spell, the city received 55 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hour with chilly weather conditions affecting normal life.
Heavy snowfall once again disrupted the power supply in a majority of areas in Kashmir, putting residents to inconvenience amid freezing temperatures.
The Kashmir valley received heavy snowfall today, blocking roads, closing the critical
Jammu-Srinagar national highway and grounding air traffic.
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway today remained closed for traffic following continuous snowfall in the Jawahar Tunnel and Patnitop areas since last night.
Around 600 vehicles, including 400 trucks, were stranded at various places along the highway, even as the Border and Roads Organisation (BRO) pressed snow-cutting machines into service to clear the road.
Growing population of stray dogs is posing serious danger to people in Warpora and few adjoining villages of Handwara tehsil of Kupwara district. In the recent spate of attacks, dogs attacked and injured 29 people, including four children and six women, during the last three days.
Preparations for the five-day mega event of the 101st Indian Science Congress, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on February 3, have picked up pace on the University of Jammu
(JU) campus here.
In its endeavour to streamline the Amarnath pilgrimage, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has approved the new design of “yatra permit registration forms” having multiple high security features to ensure against the forms being duplicated by unlawful elements.
Unemployment in the Valley has turned quite a few youths into entrepreneurs. But not many have left their lucrative jobs abroad to start entrepreneurial ventures of their own in Kashmir. City girl Taizeena Khan is one among the few.