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Anganwadi, ICDS workers seek hike in honorarium
Candidates protest delay in appointment of jail wardens
PDP leader visits Kashmiri Pandits’ localities
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Training course on juvenile delinquency held for Sub-Judges
Samaj Sudhar panel stages protest
Guv expresses grief over Ramban mishap
Office-bearers elected
Foundation stone of Kabir temple laid
Admission of 12 MBBS students cancelled
Pandits warn against dilution of shrines’ Bill
Govt left red-faced as Cong MLA creates uproar over ration scarcity
Omar praises people for restoring peace in state
India, Pakistan to discuss
cross-LoC trade today
J&K told to identify blocks with high Aadhaar enrolment
Police raided Cong MP’s house to trace Shabir
1,938 units of blood wasted by hospitals in
Jammu
Khajuria is Vaishno Devi varsity registrar
Protesters in Baramulla block highway for 5 hrs
Army organises IT course for youth
MLA cautions people against divisive elements
Show draft Bill that puts ban on demolitions: HC to govt
Sumo cabs create chaos in Srinagar
Cold wave intensifies in Kashmir valley
Deadline over, but malls still sans CCTV cameras
Two cops arrested for kidnapping, robbery
28 bottles of banned syrup seized
SPO held for ‘raping’ minor girl
Govt
introduces Bill to make anti-graft Act more stringent
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Anganwadi, ICDS workers seek hike in honorarium
Jammu, February 17 Hundreds of workers today held a demonstration and alleged that they had been suffering for a long time due to the failure of the authorities to release their salaries in time, but no consideration had been given to mitigate their problems. Addressing the protesters, Mohammed Gafoor Dar, state presidentthe J&K National Trade Union Front (JKNTUF), stressed upon the authorities of the Social Welfare Department to settle the issues of ICDS supervisors, anganwadi workers and helpers, failing which workers would be left with no alternative but to intensify their struggle. Gafoor demanded the release of pending promotion list of supervisors, amendment to recruitment rules of anganwadi workers and helpers with 100 per cent promotion quota for them, enhancement of fuel charges and carriage charges in far flung areas. The union has demanded the timely disbursement of salary and honorarium of the supervisors, workers and helpers, restoration of promotion benefits to the supervisors of the province, retrospective promotion benefits to the supervisors of Jammu and other benefits to them. The ICDS project has been running in the state for the last 35 years and there are estimated 18,000 workers and helpers associated with the project. They have been alleging that the government has exploited them for all these years. |
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Candidates protest delay in appointment of jail wardens
Jammu, February 17 The protest was led by the secretary of the All Selected Candidates of Warden in Jail Police, Prison Department, Ashwani Kumar, who claimed that nearly 40,000 unemployed youths had appeared in the selection process and nearly 1,200 candidates qualified for interview, but they were not given recruitment letters. "More than two years have passed, but the authorities have not released the final selection list of candidates. The interviews were held in November, 2010," said Ashwani Kumar. He demanded that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should intervene in the matter and final orders should be issued in favour of all the 1,245 candidates, who had appeared in the interview. |
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PDP leader visits Kashmiri Pandits’ localities
Jammu, February 17 Lone stressed upon the government to wave the "M" forms which the displaced people have to fill before casting their votes and also demanded the implementation of the Prime Minister rehabilitation package. He demanded that the government should make all essential commodities available for the coming Mahashivratri, falling on February 26-27 and keep a check on the rates of the commodities. Lone assured Pandits that they would be rehabilitated with honour at their native places of Kashmir if the PDP came to power in J&K. Lone also visited the ashram of Mast Bab at Patoli. |
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Training course on juvenile delinquency held for Sub-Judges
Jammu, February 17 Dr Manu Arora, consultant psychiatrist, Government Medical College, Jammu, and Dr Jagdish Thappa, former HoD, Psychiatric Hospital, Jammu, were the resource persons. The function was presided over by Suresh Kumar Sharma, Director, State Judicial Academy, who is also Registrar General of the J&K High Court. The topic was introduced by Suresh Kumar Sharma, who emphasised the need for organising the rerfresher course for judicial officials, especially in the backdrop of the National Legal Services Authority making it mandatory to have a judicial officer as member of juvenile boards. Dr Manu Arora in his lecture on "Juvenile disorder and psychopathology" described the various forms of behavioural and psycho-pathological disorders. He said conduct disorder has traditionally been used to characterise children who display a broad range of behaviours that bring them into conflict with their environment. Dr Jagdish Thappa deliberated on the topic, "Childhood neurotic symptoms". The topic covered various aspects, including sibling rivalry, paranoia, attention-seeking behaviours and various psychological types which in aggravated form could lead to criminality or criminal traits. Dr Shabnam deliberated on the subject, "Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)". She enlisted the various effects of the disorder, such as injuries, drug abuse, antisocial behaviour, increased parental frustration and marital discord. |
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Samaj Sudhar panel stages protest
Jammu, February 17 The protesters demanded that all ministers and bureaucrats involved in corruption be punished after passing the Lok Pal Bill in the Assembly. The committee also favoured the introduction of a Bill in order to stop the menace of dowry. “Political parties with the active nexus with the government are misusing the public funds meant for the development of the downtrodden. For lodging complaints in police stations, the public is forced to pay a hefty amount,” a JKSSSC press note said. |
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Guv expresses grief over Ramban mishap
Jammu, February 17 The Governor regretted that despite recurring fatal road accidents, the police, Transport Department and other agencies concerned were yet to enforce required measures to check road accidents. |
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Office-bearers elected
Jammu, February 17 The conference was chaired by Balwan Singh Jamwal. Chaman Lal Sharma was elected president, Shamsher Singh general secretary, Tara Chand senior vice-president (rural), Yaseen Ahmed senior vice-president (urban), Jagdeep Singh vice-president (rural), Jyoti Parkash publicity secretary, Mohan Lal Sharma treasurer, Naresh Chowdhary chief organiser, Sandal Singh organiser, Yash Paul Choudhary convener, Sudershan Sharma chief adviser, Dinesh Singh Jamwal press secretary and Daljit Singh Manhas adviser. Joginder Singh Manhas was nominated working president by Balwan Singh Jamwal, president of the federation. The newly appointed working president will assist the president in day-to-day activities.
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Foundation stone of Kabir temple laid
Jammu, February 17 The land for the temple has been donated by Bansi Lal Dogra and it will be one of the biggest religious places dedicated to Kabir. Prominent among those present on the occasion included panch Ritu Bhagat, Rattan Lal Lalotra, Sham
Lal, Garu Ram Bhagat, Raj Kumar Raju, Ramesh Lal, Pritam Lal and Yashpal Bhagat. — TNS |
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Admission of 12 MBBS students cancelled
Srinagar, February 17 BOPEE said this in its status report to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, which is monitoring investigation of the MBBS scam. “BOPEE has cancelled the selection and admission of all 12 MBBS students and the Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar, has been asked to struck down their names,” the BOPEE secretary has said in the status report to the court, which is to hear the matter tomorrow. The court, in its earlier orders, had asked BOPEE to take appropriate action against the 12 MBBS students whose names were forwarded to it by the crime branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which is probing the case. During the investigation, it had figured that the 12 students had secured their admission through fraudulent means. The crime branch has named the 12 students and nine parents in its chargesheet, filed before an anti-corruption court here. Many of these students and their parents are currently in jail. The MBBS exam scam involves the sale of CET-2012 question papers by BOPEE former chairman Mushtaq Peer through his aides Farooq Itoo, Sajjad Ahmad and Haroon in lieu of Rs 60 lakh. All three have been named as accused in the chargesheet by the crime branch. Peer and Sajjad are currently in judicial custody. Case file *
The MBBS exam scam involves the sale of CET-2012 question papers by BOPEE former chairman Mushtaq Peer through his aides Farooq Itoo, Sajjad Ahmad and Haroon in lieu of Rs 60
lakh. * All three have been named as accused in the chargesheet by the crime branch. Peer and Sajjad are currently in judicial custody. Itoo has been named approver in the case. |
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Pandits warn against dilution of shrines’ Bill
Srinagar, February 17 The Hindu Welfare Society Kashmir (HWSK), which for long has been demanding the passage of the Hindu Religious Places and Shrines Bill in the House besides fighting for the rights of non-migrant Pandits, alleged that some religious bodies were trying to sabotage the Bill. “Some bodies with vested interests are trying to sabotage the passage of the Bill by demanding that those temples that have not been damaged during militancy should not come under its purview. However, all temples, shrines and the properties of their trusts should come under the purview of the Bill as that will ensure transparency,” the HWSK spokesman said. “Unfortunately, some groups want to be excluded from the Bill and are trying to dilute it as they do not want to be made accountable for the funds received by them even though they control important Pandit temples and shrines,” he added. — TNS |
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Govt left red-faced as Cong MLA creates uproar over ration scarcity
Jammu, February 17 “A majority of the poor population is on the verge of starvation and this government is still in deep slumber,” he shouted as he trooped towards the Speaker’s chair. NC and Congress legislators were stunned and sat red-faced when Saroori trooped towards the well shouting slogans against his own government. While no Congress member came forward to stop Saroori, NC MLA Abdul Gani Malik tried to pacify the agitating member but to no avail. Buoyed by the criticism of the government by its own member, legislators of the PDP, BJP, Panthers Party and JSM created a furore over the non-availability of subsidised ration. When Saroori, MLA from the Inderwal area of Kishtwar district, was slamming the coalition, opposition members were thumping their benches in his support. After lambasted the government for “pushing the poor towards starvation deaths”, Saroori walk out of the Assembly. As soon as Saroori staged a walkout, opposition members resorted to raising slogans. There was pandemonium over shortage of ration with the Opposition remaining undivided in exposing the government on the issue. Legislators pointed out that ration was still being supplied to people as per the 2001 Census. PDP member Abdul Rehman Veeri said 3.02 lakh families in the state were facing shortage of ration. “During the last five years, even after consistent demands, the provincial government has failed to give subsidised food grains to the deserving beneficiaries. It is being provided keeping the 2001 Census in mind. A young man with kids is not eligible for subsidised ration while his old father is,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said. Later, the entire opposition later staged a walkout on the issue. The government in its reply admitted that since the Union Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs was not allocating the food grains quota on the basis of the 2011 Census, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department was not in a position to provide ration as per the 2011 Census. The government informed the House that the Food Security Act would be implemented in stipulated time in the state. |
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Omar praises people for restoring peace in state
Jammu, February 17 “Many attempts were made and conspiracies hatched to disturb the law and order situation in the state and create hurdles in the delivery of governance but the people of the state defeated the elements behind these attempts and helped in maintaining calm and carrying forward development in all fields of life,” Omar said. Replying to the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the joint session of the two Houses of the legislature, the Chief Minister rejected the false conception being sold by a group of people, dubbing the prevailing peaceful situation in the state as deceptive and by force. Omar said there had been significant improvement in the security situation and human rights violations had come to a zero level. He said militancy had declined by 71 per cent during the last five years and no collateral damage to civilians had taken place in militancy- combating operations conducted by the security forces. He appreciated the security forces for exhibiting restraint even in challenging situations. He referred to the militancy attack on an Army convoy on the bypass national highway and on the BSF at Bemina and said despite loss of precious lives, the forces did not resort to indiscriminate firing and applied restraint to save the lives of innocent civilians. Omar lauded the sacrifice of the Army and BSF jawans and hoped that attacks on security personnel would reduce and come to a zero level with the improvement in the situation and restoration of permanent peace. He criticised the opposition for talking high and loud about the institutions and democratic methods but indulging in tarnishing the democratic institutions. “Those (PDP) who talk of institutions and democracy are seen disrupting the Governor’s address, breaking furniture in the House and riding on tables in the well of the House,” he said. He lauded the Upper House for conducting the discussion on the Governor’s address in a conducive and palatable environment and highlighting the issues of public interest. Omar said instead of raising public issues in a democratic and peaceful manner, when legislators indulge in breaking furniture and disrupting proceedings of the House, they are degrading the dignity of the legislature and disappointing people who have voted for them. “How can you give lessons on democracy and institutions to others when you yourself defame these,” he questioned the opposition.
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India, Pakistan to discuss
cross-LoC trade today
Srinagar, February 17 The trade has remained stalled since January 17 after 114 kg of brown sugar worth Rs 114 crore was allegedly recovered from a truck coming from Pakistani-occupied Kashmir (PoK). After the recovery of the contraband drugs, 75 drivers were held up on either side. The drivers were exchanged last week after the intervention of the Foreign Offices of the two countries. The meeting of the Trade Facilitation Officer of the two sides is scheduled to be held at Zero Point at the Kaman post in the Uri sector, 125 km from Srinagar, to decide the dates for the resumption of the trade. “We will be meeting tomorrow first time after the exchange of the drivers last week,” said Showkat Ahmad Rather, custodian of the cross-LoC trade at Salamabad. “The meeting will discuss the dates for the resumption of the trade,” Rather said. Meanwhile, the J&K Government will file a report on the bail application of detained Pakistani driver Mohammad Shafiq Awan tomorrow. The bail application was filed last week. The judicial remand of the PoK driver, lodged in Srinagar Central Jail, ends on February 18. The cross-LoC traders had last week engaged a lawyer for Awan. In a related development, Principal and District Sessions Judge, Baramulla, Rashid Ali Dar has extended the custodial remand of two traders Tariq Ahmed Sheikh of Baramulla and Showkat Habib of Bandipora till March 3 who have also been detained in the drugs case. The court directed the police to lodge the duo in Kupwara Jail. The police investigation into the massive drug haul case has so far found that the consignment was to be unloaded in Punjab and to be given to an Amritsar-based smuggler who is at large. Decision on trade soon *
A meeting of the Trade Facilitation Officer of the two sides is scheduled at Zero Point at the Kaman post in the Uri sector on Tuesday to decide the dates for the resumption of the trade. *
The trade remained stalled since January 17 after 114 kg of brown sugar worth Rs 114 crore was allegedly recovered from a truck coming from PoK. After the recovery of the contraband drugs, 75 drivers were held up on either side. They were released last week. |
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J&K told to identify blocks with high Aadhaar enrolment
Jammu, February 17 The Ministry has proposed to operationalise the mobile interface in selected blocks of the gram panchayats. Sources said the Ministry had communicated to the state Rural Development Department the provision of mobile interface to NREGASoft for real-time data entry at the gram panchayat level. The initiative was taken by the Ministry to ensure that the Management Information System would accurately reflect the field-level realities. The sources claimed that mobile applications for seeding of Aadhaar and other MGNREGA activities had been developed and were ready for deployment but the state was yet to initiate the process of procurement of mobiles. They said the Ministry would also provide tablets to the department. The state government would identify the blocks where it intends to use tablets for Aadhaar seeding. The state government has been directed to convey the list of blocks along with the number of gram panchayats where the scheme will be operationalised before February 24. — TNS |
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Police raided Cong MP’s house to trace Shabir
Srinagar, February 17 Police teams, which were dispatched to search the ex-minister soon after registration of an FIR against him on February 6, suspected that Khan was hiding at the residence of Congress leader and Member of Parliament Choudhary Lal Singh in the Jammu region. Apart from looking for Khan at many places in and around Jammu, the police team also checked with security guards posted at the MP’s residence to know if he was hiding there, police sources said. The sources added that the police had also an input that the former minister was hiding at the residence of a retired senior police official from Jammu region, who is a close relative of the ex-minister. “Though the residences of the MP and the former senior police officer were not physically searched, but we enquired at their houses to check whether the minister was hiding there or not,” said the police sources. Meanwhile, carrying forward its investigation into the matter, the police have questioned the personal staff of the former minister. Besides, the police have sought call detail records of the personal staff of the former minister who had made calls to the woman doctor and asked her to meet the minister at the Civil Secretariat. While the minister has pleaded innocence and told the police that the doctor was seeking out of turn promotion, the investigators have so far recorded the statement of over 12 people during the investigations. The minister before surrendering before the police on February 13 had said he was not hiding and pleaded that he was innocent and was not evading arrest. “I am innocent and I am sure that I will get justice from the court,” Khan had said before surrendering before the police. |
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1,938 units of blood wasted by hospitals in Jammu
Jammu, February 17 Deepak Sharma had sought information under the RTI Act regarding the utilisation of blood and functioning of blood banks in these hospitals. “A total of 1,140 blood units were wasted in GMCH, Jammu, while 796 blood units were wasted in SMGS hospital in the past three years,” the documents accessed under the RTI Act revealed. Deepak alleged that people faced several hardships in arranging blood for patients as they were denied blood from the hospital blood bank. The GMCH authorities said 183 units of blood were discarded in 2011, 536 in 2012 and 421 in 2013. “In SMGS, as many as 235 units of blood were discarded in 2011 and 247 units in 2012. The number rose to 316 units in 2013,” the reply stated. One of the major reasons behind the wastage is the absence of proper mechanism to maintain the temperature of blood while shifting it from the blood bank to the recipient department, he said. “There seems to be lack of proper storage, handling facilities and qualified technicians at the hospital which leads to the wastage,” the activist said. He said the SMGS hospital had been waiting to get its blood bank licence renewed from the past one year. The license reportedly expired in December 2012. Sharma appealed to the government to devise a mechanism to interconnect all blood banks of state hospitals. He also appealed to the government to conduct regular audit of blood banks to minimise the wastage of blood. —TNS |
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Khajuria is Vaishno Devi varsity registrar
Jammu, February 17 The notification to appoint Khajuria has been issued by Prof Sudhir K Jain, Vice Chancellor of the university, with the approval of the Chancellor of the university, Governor NN Vohra. — TNS |
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Protesters in Baramulla block highway for 5 hrs
Srinagar, February 17 The protest call was given by the Narwav Welfare Comittee from Sheeri and adjoining villages. “We welcome the decision of the government to create new administrative units, a community development block and naibat for the Narwav area of Baramulla but we want that the two administrative units be headquartered in Sheeri,” said president of the Narwav Welfare Committee Abdul Jabbar Lone. A shutdown was also observed in the Sheeri village, 60 km from Srinagar. The local authorities in Baramulla assured the protesters that their demand would be put forward to the government. “On the assurance of the officials, the protest was called off,” said a protester. People from various areas of south Kashmir also staged protests in Srinagar over the alleged discrimination in the distribution of administrative units. |
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Army organises IT course for youth
Rajouri, February 17 The training programme was inaugurated today and will be conducted by the Rashtriya Rifles unit of the Romeo Force based at Thanamandi under the Youth Employment and Guidance Node of the Army. Students from boys and girls higher secondary schools and government PG colleges have enrolled themselves for the training. While appreciating the efforts of the Army for spreading IT awareness among the youth of neglected areas, Rahul Sharma, director, NIIT, urged the participants to treat it as a stepping stone for their struggle in attaining further expertise in the field. Uzma Parveen, a student, said the course was a golden opportunity for her to learn computers as there were no facilities of this standard available in the area. The Thanamandi tehsil administration appreciated the efforts of the Army. — OC |
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MLA cautions people against divisive elements
Jammu, February 17 “I have been working for the last more than 11 years and as elections are coming nearer some people will come to you with fake promises to seek votes. But you should remain alert and vigilant against such elements,” Sharma said while addressing a rally at Bishnah. He said, “My constituency has seen all round development in every spheres of life. Be it two grid stations of 2x50 MVA capacity, which improved the electricity scenario in Bishnah tehsil or education sector as new schools have been opened while various other schools have been upgraded.” Thousands of people of the Bishnah Assembly constituency of Jammu district participated in the rally. The MLA said Arnia had been given tehsil status only after he had put forth the case in front of the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) on creation of new administrative units. “Now, I am trying to get sub-district status for Bishnah,” Sharma said.
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Show draft Bill that puts ban on demolitions: HC to govt
Srinagar, February 17 The Bill, which was cleared by the Cabinet on Sunday, puts a moratorium of one year on the sealing and demolition of the buildings and other structures that have come up in violations of the Srinagar master Plan. As the PIL on the master plan violations came up before a division bench comprising Justice Hasnain Massodi and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, it asked government advocate Shah Amir to make a statement about the policy decision of the government with regard to the demolition and sealing of illegal structures. However, Amir sated that he had no instructions in this regard from the government. The matter was adjourned and taken up again in the post-lunch session. In the post-lunch session, the government counsel, after receiving the instructions from the government, submitted that the Cabinet had already given its nod to a Bill putting moratorium on the sealing and demolition. He further submitted that the Bill would be introduced in the Assembly during the ongoing session. However, the Bench was satisfied by the statement made by the state counsel and directed the government to produce a copy of the Cabinet order and the draft Bill before it tomorrow, when it would again take up the matter. In the PIL, the petitioners had prayed that the high court should take “note” of the constructions made illegally without permission from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and in violation of the master plan in Srinagar city and pass directions to the authorities concerned for demolishing such structures in the interest of the public. The high court in its orders dated October 21, 2013, had observed that it had been informed by the government that over 3,000 violations of the Srinagar Master Plan have been noted. It had also asked the government to come clean on the issue and state whether it intended to take any policy decision with regard to these violations. However, since then, the government has been showing its reluctance to take action against the structures and the buildings which have come up in violations of the master plan in the city over the years. The Bill ‘legalises’ the illegalities The Bill - Civic Laws (Special Provisions) Bill-2014 - cleared by the Cabinet, which was chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on February 16, puts one-year moratorium on sealing and demolition of buildings which have come up in violation of the Srinagar master plan. The state counsel today informed the high court that the government intends to introduce the Bill for its passage before the state legislature during the ongoing session. The Bill mandates the government to formulate a policy till March 2015 for regulating such unauthorised buildings and also puts a ban on sealing or demolition drives. What the PIL says In the PIL filed by Mujeeb Andrabi through his counsel Firdous A Parray, it was submitted that the respondent authorities had failed to promote the living conditions of the people of Srinagar city. The PIL prayed that the authorities concerned be directed to remove all illegal structures, erected in violation of the Srinagar master plan and without building permission from the SMC. The PIL had also alleged that there was mismanagement of the traffic and civic responsibilities by the authorities concerned. “This petition is filed to clear the hawker menace, which has made the life of the residents of the city miserable. Traffic slows down on roads, which are already facing heavy vehicular movement,” the PIL had stated.
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Sumo cabs create chaos in Srinagar
Srinagar, February 17 Sumo cabs, which have a contract carriage permit and are allowed to ply in any part of the Valley, have become a nuisance for commuters as they have no proper timing and place for departure. “Sometimes they just appear randomly at Dalgate and other times we have to wait for hours for it. During late hours of the day, they should have a proper parking place so that commuters find it easy to get a cab,” said Haneef Ahmad, a daily commuter from Srinagar to Anantnag. On the other hand, authorities while admitting the problem blamed lack of infrastructure as the reason for putting them in trouble while dealing with these contract carriages. “They are in thousands and they don’t have a registered stand. We can’t legally do anything against them because they have a permit to ply in the Valley. It has become difficult for us to control them. We can only impose fine on them whenever we find them wrongly parked,” said Superintendent of Traffic Police, Srinagar city. He said the problem arises in winters mostly as all these vehicles come to Srinagar city from other districts and overburden the roads. The official said there should be an increase in parking capacity and infrastructure in the city that could lessen traffic burden and make it easy for them to handle the traffic mess. Unregistered Sumo stands have come up in many parts of the city mostly Dalgate, Lal Chowk, Iqbal Park and Jahangir Chowk. |
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Cold wave intensifies in Kashmir valley
Srinagar, February 17 Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a drop of over three degrees in the minimum temperature as the mercury settled at a low of minus 3.3 degrees Celsius last night, compared to 0.3 degrees Celsius the previous night. An official of the MeT Department here said the mercury in Qazigund - the gateway town to Kashmir valley - dropped by two degrees to settle at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, as against the previous night's minus 1.2 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam resort, which serves as base camp during the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 12.4 degrees Celsius, a drop of over eight degrees from minus 4.2 degrees Celsius the previous night, the official said. He said the night temperature in the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg dipped by over one degree to record a low of minus 10.3 degrees Celsius as against the previous night's minus 8.8 degrees Celsius. The mercury in Kokernag in south Kashmir went down by two degrees from the previous night's minus 2.6 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius last night. Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a minimum temperature of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, a drop of over three degrees from the previous night's minus 0.7 degree Celsius. The minimum temperature at Leh town in Ladakh region registered a decline of over four degrees as the mercury settled at a low of minus 15.2 degrees Celsius as against minus 10.7 degrees Celsius the previous night. The nearby Kargil town recorded a low of minus 21.8 degrees Celsius, the official said. The MeT Department has predicted mainly dry weather over the state and said there would be fall in the night temperature and rise in the day temperature over the next few days. —PTI |
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Deadline over, but malls still sans CCTV cameras
Srinagar, February 17 The authorities concerned had given a deadline to the shopping mall owners after incidents of burglary in the offices of three national media channels located in a hotel here came to light in the first week of January. The authorities had asked the shopping mall owners to install CCTV cameras on the mall premises to ensure the safety of the public. Srinagar DC Farooq Ahmad Shah said, “They have asked the police stations concerned to submit a report to the government to check if they have implemented the orders. All those malls that fail to provide proper facilities should not be given permission to run.” — OC |
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Two cops arrested for kidnapping, robbery
Srinagar, February 17 By arresting the two, the police have solved the robbery case within 48 hours of the incident. The two policemen were arrested following a complaint lodged by two employees of a mobile phone company, who alleged that they were kidnapped by two gunmen, who were in their civvies, and forced to withdraw money from two automated teller machines (ATMs). The two were allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint from Regal Chowk, located in the heart of the city, and taken to two ATMs at Munawarabad and Lal Chowk, within 2 km from the site of kidnapping, sources said. After allegedly looting Rs 37,000 from the two, the cops set the victims free at Residency Road. The incident took place on February 14. Following the registration of a complaint, the police launched a hunt to trace the car that was used in the alleged kidnapping. On Sunday, a team led by the SHO of the Kothi Bagh police station intercepted the car near Polo View here, following which the two policemen were arrested, sources said. The car was owned by one of the policemen. The accused have been identified as selection grade constable Mushtaq Ahmad and head constable Altaf Ahmad, both residents of north Kashmir’s Uri town. They have been booked under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint) and 392 (robbery) of the Ranbir Penal Code. Blot on khaki The accused identified as selection grade constable Mushtaq Ahmad and head constable Altaf Ahmad have been booked under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint) and 392 (robbery) of the RPC. They allegedly kidnapped two employees of a mobile phone company and robbed them of ~37,000
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28 bottles of banned syrup seized
Rajouri, February 17 A police party from Rajouri police station raided a house in Bela Colony in the city and recovered the banned drug from the room of Nadeem, a resident of Shahjahanpur (UP). The accused has been booked under the NDPS Act and further investigations are on.
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SPO held for ‘raping’ minor girl
Doda, February 17 According to reports, a resident of Thathri tehsil has registered a complaint with the police that his deaf and dumb sister was allegedly raped in the cattle shed by Krishan Lal of Padhar Balgran, who is an SPO posted at Kishtwar. Taking action over the complaint, the Station House Officer, Gandho, registered an FIR and arrested him. "We have arrested the accused and the victim has been sent for a medical examination,” he said.
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Govt
introduces Bill to make anti-graft Act more stringent Jammu, February 17 The amendment Bill was moved by Finance and Ladakh Affairs Minister Abdul Rahim Rather on behalf of the Chief Minister. As per amendments proposed by the government, all punishable offences under the existing Act shall be cognisable and non-bailable. The Jammu and Kashmir Government has taken the decision to make the anti-corruption law more stringent at the time when corruption has become a big political issue at the national level. Introducing the amendment Bill, the minister said the existing Act provided for prevention of corruption and bribery in the state but there was need to make the Act more stringent. The amendment aims to bring some more offences within the ambit of the existing anti-corruption Act. “As such the government had constituted a committee for suggesting amendments to the Act. The government, after considering these suggestions, has decided to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act to meet its commitment to tackle corruption in the state with a firm hand,” the minister said. The amendment Bill aims at making the offences under the Act cognisable and non-bailable, inserting fresh provisions to prevent exercise of personal influences with public servants to show favour or disfavour to any persons or to influence the decision making by such public servants or for authorising payment in respect of contracts for execution of a work. Harsher steps * The state government on Monday introduced a Bill in the Assembly * The amendment Bill aims at bringing some more offences within the ambit of the existing anti-corruption Act. * The Bill also aims at making the offences under the Act cognisable and non-bailable. * Inserting fresh provisions to prevent exercise of personal influences with public servants to show favour or disfavour to any persons. * Enhancement of punishment of offences under the Act.
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The Jammu and Kashmir ICDS Supervisors Union today demanded enhancing the honorarium of anganwadi workers to 9,000 per month and streamlining the salary system so that the workers get it every month.
The National Conference-Congress coalition today faced embarrassment in the Assembly when Congress legislator G M Saroori created an uproar over scarcity of subsidised ration. He accused the government of pushing poor people towards starvation.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today gave credit to the people of the Jammu and Kashmir for gradual restoration of peace and improvement in the security situation in the state. The Chief Minister said sustained efforts by the government in this direction had yielded fruitful results, with the wholehearted support and commitment of the people towards normalcy and tranquility.
With
some government servants exploiting the loopholes in the Prevention of
Corruption Act to their advantage, the state government today introduced
a Bill in the Assembly to make the existing anti-graft Act more
stringent. 
