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Over 1.5 lakh West Pak refugees can sway LS results in Jammu
Democratic reforms body appoints 2 RTI activists as state coordinators
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BJP election campaign begins on dissenting note
Congress looking towards NC for Muslim votes in
Rajouri, Poonch
NC to come up trumps with secular credentials: Omar
City areas to face power shutdown today
65 women achievers honoured
Minister reviews renovation of Mubarak Mandi complex
Lecture on water availability held
Retd paramilitary personnel allege discrimination
Selective targeting of Kashmiri students a regular affair: Mirwaiz
MC to get more vehicles for garbage collection
She is fighting all odds to get justice for husband
Protests in Kashmir over students’ suspension
Industrialists discuss problems with Principal Secretary
Cross-country tomorrow
Terms for setting up langars in Amarnath yatra area revised
Valley women techies to attend Google conference today
Political parties told to adhere to ECI guidelines in Lok Sabha elections
Rajouri residents hold protest, demand restoration of power supply
Bhat is new DIG, north Kashmir
Voter lists to be displayed in Anantnag on March 9
Special camp for polling stations in Baramulla
Drug addiction discussed at police-public meet
Two cellphone thieves held
Man held for duping jobless youth
Pakherpora shuts down, residents demand merger with Pulwama
Fruit-bearing plants in demand in Kupwara
Taxi drivers encroach upon social forest area
Police holds seminars on communal harmony
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Over 1.5 lakh West Pak refugees can sway LS results in Jammu
Jammu, March 7 Over 1.5 lakh West Pakistan refugees, who do not have fundamental and citizenship rights in J&K, play a crucial role in the two Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu province. During every parliamentary elections, all parties approach them for their votes but after the elections they are left high and dry. “Since 1947, we have been betrayed by all political parties, including the BJP and the Congress,” rued Labha Ram Gandhi, chairman of the West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee (WPRAC). “Kashmir-centric parties like the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party are opposed to granting fundamental rights to us due to fear of the Hurriyat Conference and other fundamentalist groups. Unfortunately, even the so-called ‘nationalist’ BJP has also backstabbed us a number of times,” Gandhi said. “Today, BJP leaders are approaching us, but during the NDA’s tenure, nothing concrete was done to grant citizenship to us,” he added. Realising the importance of West Pakistan refugees, Rajya Sabha member and in charge of J&K BJP Avinash Rai Khanna today visited Labha Ram Gandhi’s residence to seek his support but he failed to get any positive assurance. “This time, we will not fall into the BJP trap,” Gandhi said. During the Partition, a large number of families from West Pakistan had escaped the 1947 riots and had entered Jammu to protect their lives. More than 66 years have passed but these refugees are still treated as Pakistani guests and denied all constitutional rights. Out of the 37 Assembly segments which fall under the two Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu province, West Pakistan refugees have presence in 20 segments. Hence, political parties have reasons to woo them. With the elections round the corner, once again political parties have started making promises which they have been pledging since 1947. “Political parties will forget us after the completion of the Lok Sabha elections,” said Gandhi. “We are denied voting rights in civic bodies, panchayat and Assembly elections. This is a glaring example of human rights violation but no one cares,” he said. The majority of these “stateless” people are Dalits. Due to denial of citizenship rights to them, their children are unable to pursue higher studies as Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) is required to get admission. Incidentally, in the just-concluded Budget Session of the Assembly, legislator from the Valley Engineer Rashid had suggested that all refugees should be sent back to West Pakistan. Except for Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA Ashwani Kumar, none of the legislators highlighted the plight of the refugees in the Assembly this session. “This time we will try to bring all refugees on a common platform to teach a lesson to the political parties for betraying us,” said Gandhi, adding that a strategy would be formulated for the Lok Sabha elections. ‘Betrayed by all’ Kashmir-centric parties like the NC and the PDP are opposed to granting fundamental rights to us due to fear of the Hurriyat Conference and other fundamentalist groups. Unfortunately, even the so-called ‘nationalist’ BJP has also backstabbed us a number of times. |
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Democratic reforms body appoints 2 RTI activists as state coordinators
Jammu, March 7 Balvinder Singh of Jammu, who is also the convener of the Sangarsh RTI Movement, and Shiekh Ghulam Rasool of Kashmir, who is the chairman of the JK RTI Movement, have been appointed as the state coordinators. At a press conference, Balvinder Singh and Shiekh Rasool said a campaign, “National Election Watch”, was being launched by the
ADR, which aimed at improving the governance and strengthening the democracy by continuous work in the area of electoral and political reforms. They said the state version of “National Election Watch” was also being launched in the state as “J&K Election Watch”. The objective of launching this campaign was to educate the citizens to bring election reforms in the state, keep a check on corruption and criminalisation in the political process and empowerment of the electorate through greater dissemination of information relating to the candidates and the parties. They said the focus of their campaign would also be to work for bringing greater accountability of political parties and concentrate working to bring inner-party democracy and transparency in the party functioning. “The campaign will be apolitical and will not promote or denounce any candidate. It will only provide information to the public and the media so that the voters can use their discretion and cast their votes in favour of the honest and competent candidate,” they said. |
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BJP election campaign begins on dissenting note
Jammu, March 7 BJP workers accused the party leaders of “selling” the Lok Sabha seats to “facilitate the victory” of Congress candidates in the region and warned that they would work against the designated representatives to foil the evil designs of some party leaders, whom they alleged have an “unholy nexus” with the ruling National Conference. Party’s Rajya Sabha member and in charge of J&K affairs Avinash Rai Khanna had to face the wrath of BJP workers when he reached Kathua to kick start the campaign for the coming elections. The scenes were no different at Jammu, where a large number of party cadres from Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency registered protest against the denial of mandate senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh. Supporters of Chander Parkash Ganga, who has been denied the ticket for Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat, also seized the opportunity and they too joined the protest. As soon as Khanna reached Kathua, a group of BJP workers from Billawar, Basholi and Kandi Mandal areas of the district raised protest against ignoring a “potential” and “deserving” candidate. “It is injustice with Nirmal Singh, who has been working on the Udhampur-Doda seat for the last nearly five years,” shouted Raj Ram, BJP general secretary for Kandi Mandal. His views were echoed by Devinder Khajuria of Andhar Mandal, Sham Singh, SS Billowaria and large number of other workers. Khanna tried to pacify the enraged workers saying that they will have to obey the decision of the BJP high command. However, the cadres did not pay any heed to him and left the venue without attending the function. A similar protest was witnessed at Jammu where a large number of workers from Ramban, Kishtwar and Doda had gathered at the venue. Khanna was virtually gheraoed by the workers at Jammu, who alleged that party leaders had “surrendered the Udhampur-Doda seat” to the Congress. “For the last nearly five years Nirmalhas been work ing in our constituency. I am surprised that the party has ignored him,” said Javed Iqbal, who came from Banihal to register his protest. “Dr Nirmal Singh is a link between the Muslims and the BJP. It is unfortunate that the party leadership has failed to utilise his services,” he said. The annoyed workers were pacified only after Khanna sought two days to take a decision in this regard. |
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Congress looking towards NC for Muslim votes in
Rajouri, Poonch
Jammu, March 7 As the National Conference (NC) and the Congress will be going for the Lok Sabha elections in a pre-poll alliance, their major thrust will be to overcome the Modi impact in Jammu and anti-incumbency in the Valley. For this, the NC and the Congress will need the support of each party leader, especially the sitting members of the Legislative Assembly. The NC in the Jammu region has six MLAs, representing the Kishtwar Assembly segment in Kishtwar district, Gulabgarh in Reasi district, Vijaypur in Samba district, Kalakote and Nowshera in Rajouri district and Poonch-Haveli in Poonch district. Sources in the NC and the Congress said in Muslim-dominated areas of Rajouri and Poonch districts, the Congress was eyeing the Muslim vote bank where NC MLAs and other important leaders could help them get votes. NC leaders have their vote bank almost in all seven Assembly constituencies of the two border districts, which if cashed in could help the coalition candidates. In 2009, the ational Conference and the Congress fought the parliamentary elections on a pre-poll alliance basis and both seats of the Jammu region were won by Congress candidates, Madan Lal Sharma from Jammu-Poonch and Choudhary Lal Sigh from Udhampur-Doda. “We will be forming coordination committees with the Congress in the Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda constituencies and make all out efforts to win these seats,” said Rachpal Singh, NC in charge for the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat. “We have started our process. On Saturday, a meeting of NC leaders of Rajouri and Poonch districts will be held to prepare a strategy for the elections,” Singh said. For the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency, the NC doesn’t have much stake and the Congress will be depending on its senior leader and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, a native of Doda district, to get the votes. |
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NC to come up trumps with secular credentials: Omar
Jammu, March 7 “This is an opportunity for people to make a discernible choice between communal and secular forces,” Omar said while addressing the National Conference (NC) functionaries, including sitting and former legislators from the Jammu division, at the Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this afternoon. The elections would be an endorsement of the polices, programmes and performance of the government during the past five years, he added. Omar said the NC rank and file had been pressed into election work across the state. “The performance of my government has been inspiring and innovative, especially with respect to empowering people through Panchayati Raj Institutions, taking governance to grass-roots level and making the administration accountable and responsive by introducing the Right to Information and Public Services Guarantee legislations,” he said. Speaking on the occasion, NC provincial president for the Jammu province Devender Singh Rana assured the high command that the party rank and file was fully prepared to take the democratic exercise to its logical conclusion. |
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City areas to face power shutdown today
Jammu, March 7 As per the PDD press note, during the shutdown, power supply will remain affected in old Jammu, Gandhi Nagar, Nanak Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Channi Himmat, Narwal, Sainik Colony and areas being fed by the Gangyal Grid Station, besides the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch. However, the Bari Brahmana-I substation can be supplied power through the Bari-Brahmana-II substation during the shutdown, which will ensure supply to the Industrial Area. The repair work includes hotline maintenance, washing, puncture detection of insulators, besides preventive maintenance by using portable earthling hot tools, vibration measurement of the line, thermo scanning and pollution measurement of the equipment. Officials said the exercise was a routine repair and replacement of the critical devices to ensure safety and reliability of the system and appealed to the people to cooperate with the department as the shutdown was being enforced to ensure streamlined supply of electricity. Report of the committee for updating the best practices of transmission In the country, apart from scheduled patrolling of lines, has prescribed various techniques for protection of lines. An audit report prepared by the government has also raised question mark at the functioning of the Gladni Grid Station and concluded that the PDD was doing major grid violation at the receiving station in Jammu as it had repeatedly failed to keep grid voltage at 200 KV, as per the norms set by the J&K Electricity Grid Code. Affected areas Power supply will remain affected in old Jammu, Gandhi Nagar, Nanak Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Channi Himmat, Narwal, Sainik Colony and areas being fed by the Gangyal Grid Station, besides the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch |
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65 women achievers honoured
Jammu, March 7 The event was organised by the Nirvana Academy, a cultural club, and Federation of Indian Blood Donor Organisation in collaboration with GCW, Parade. Arunima Sinha, secretary, IAS Wifes' Association, was the chief guest and Dr Hemal Aggarwal, Principal of the college, was the guest of honour. RC Puri, secretary, IRCS, Jammu, Suhail Kazami, Vikrant Dogra, vice-president, FIBD, and Ashutosh Bajaj, business head, Bharti Infratel, J&K circle, were the other dignitaries present on the occasion. As many as 65 young women achievers of the Jammu region were honoured for their achievements in different fields under three categories —award for young woman achiever (YWA), certificate of excellence and honour and certificate of appreciation. Under the award category, 15 young women were honoured for their achievements at the national and international level. They were Tanya Gupta (music), Kusum Tikoo (film, TV and entertainment), Ifra Mushtak Kak (drama), Dr Meena Sidhu (medical), Deepika Singh Rajawat (advocate), Priya Dutta (dance), Juhi Mohan (RJ/VJ), Mansi Gupta (fashion and lifestyle), Akhila Magotra (educationist), Aarti Mahajan (heath and fitness), Seharish Javed (volunteer) and Shriya (academics). Junior young achiever awards were given to Vidhi Jaswal (Indian Idol fame) and Saishte Mahajan (President award winner-2012). |
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Minister reviews renovation of Mubarak Mandi complex
Jammu, March 7 Mir, who is also the chairman of the committee, reviewed the renovation and repair works being undertaken on the historic Mubarak Mandi complex, besides taking stock of the pace of work of the new developmental projects started this year. The meeting discussed the shifting of high-transmission and low-transmission lines, renovation of Central Courtyard (Dewan-e-Aam), illumination of the complex, development of alternative parking site and other issues. The meeting also sought views of a Rajasthan-based consultancy firm, which has expertise in restoration of historical monuments. It was decided that a team of society members would visit Rajasthan to get the firsthand appraisal at the historical monuments renovated by the agency. Secretary, Tourism, Zafar Ahmad, Executive Director, MMJHS, Soujanya Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Rehana Batul, consultant, Tourism Department, KA Qadri, executive members Zahuruddin, Narinder Singh Jamwal and Zafar Javid Ahmad Khan and other senior officials of the Tourism Department and Heritage Society attended the meeting. |
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Lecture on water availability held
Jammu, March 7 The lecture was delivered by Devinder Singh Raina, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University of Jammu. The Principal of the college, Prof Anita Sudan, welcomed the resource person and applauded the efforts of the Science Club for organising the event. Sangeeta Sudan, convener, Science Club, introduced the expert and topic to the audience. Prof Raina deliberated on the role water has played in the cultural, religious and physical spheres. “The changing practices in water consumption and uses have posed the danger of depletion of this resource for the future generations,” he said. |
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Retd paramilitary personnel allege discrimination
Jammu, March 7 Addressing a press conference, president of the J&K Paramilitary Forces Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association JS Bajju castigated the state and Central government for its lackadaisical approach to recognise the services of retired paramilitary personnel at par with the Defence forces. The J&K Paramilitary Forces Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association presented a charter of demands to the Central and state government for immediate consideration in order to improve the post-retirement lives of paramilitary personnel and their wards.
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Selective targeting of Kashmiri students a regular affair: Mirwaiz
Srinagar, March 7 Mirwaiz made this statement during his Friday sermon at the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar today. “This is not a case in isolation but reflective of a mindset loaded with bias and hatred towards Kashmiris,” Mirwaiz said in his Friday sermon. He claimed that the harassment of Kashmiris, whether students, traders or travellers at the hands of the authorities, agencies and communal extremists had become a regular affair. “Intolerance towards Kashmiris is being encouraged as a policy by unscrupulous politicians to improve their political prospects,” Mirwaiz said while castigating the UP government and the authorities for slapping sedition charges against Kashmiri students for supporting the Pakistan cricket team. “Though the charges have been withdrawn now, the slapping of such charges at the first instance reflects a lot,” he added. He also urged the countries of south Asian region and OIC to provide chance to Kashmiri students for pursuing education in a tension-free atmosphere. |
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MC to get more vehicles for garbage collection
Srinagar, March 7 Additional 20 hoppers are being procured by the SMC to bring more efficiency in cleaning up exercise of garbage from the city. The SMC is aiming at good services and plans to provide machines to all wards for swift deliverance of services on sanitation front, said GN Qasba, Commissioner, SMC. Currently, 12 hopper vehicles for door-to-door garbage collection are operational in 12 wards of the city. The city has got a total of 34 wards. “A hopper vehicle costs around Rs 4 lakh, has a capacity of 1.8 cubic metres and can move in narrow lanes. It reduces manual intervention directly and improves effectiveness of work delivery mechanism, efficiency and productivity,” an SMC official said. Meanwhile, Qasba during a meeting took stock of status of the sanitation in Brari Nambal lagoon. He directed the chief enforcement officer to ensure solid waste management effectively and efficiently. "This lagoon is a lung for the Dal lake and ornamental for the environs of Srinagar," Qasba added. The Commissioner also took note of the sanitation measures being taken at the Achan dumping ground. Qasba further reviewed the progress of actions taken to address sanitation issues of the city. He said the SMC had also pressed into service 11 compactors to cater to the needs of the city. |
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She is fighting all odds to get justice for husband
Srinagar, March 7 Masooda’s husband Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Rego, an advocate, was allegedly killed in custody in 1998. Since then she has been fighting his case. After eight years of trial, the case was dismissed due to lack of evidence by the Supreme Court. But her journey for justice did not stop there. In 2009, she took her case to the Geneva Human Rights, where it is still going on. “It was never an easy decision for me to fight and that, too, for so long,” she said. “It was difficult to go to Delhi or any other place when I had a hearing in the Supreme Court. At times I had gone without food and sleep for days, but I didn't lose hope,” she said.? Masooda, who raised her two sons in a rented accommodation for 15 years, is a proud mother today as her sons are well settled. Her elder son is a doctor, while the younger one is a gold medallist in agricultural sciences and has done MBA from a London university. “Everyone left us. I had to take care of my sons. I worked hard to give them the best education. Though I was struggling hard, I didn't compromise on their education. I worked as a teacher and also took tuitions to pay their school fee. Today, I feel proud as a woman,” she said. Being an international human rights defender, she recently attended conferences in Paris, England and Ireland. “I want to create an example. I want to show that women are not weak. They have courage to run their families and seek justice as well,” she said.
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Protests in Kashmir over students’ suspension
Srinagar, March 7 The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) held a protest in Maisuma locality of Srinagar in solidarity with the students. JKLF protesters, who were also joined by several lawyers, attempted to march towards Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of the city. “It is the duty of the Indian state to provide protection to these students and no Kashmiri will tolerate any harm or injury of any kind to them,” JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik told reporters at the protest site. Malik along with several of his party members were later detained by the police as they attempted to march ahead. A protest was also held by the students of the University of Kashmir. Dozens of students marched on the campus and raised slogans in support of the suspended students. The Uttar Pradesh Government yesterday slapped charges of sedition against the students who had cheered Pakistan when its cricket team beat India in the Asia Cup match last Sunday. The charges of sedition were, however, dropped late last night following widespread condemnation. The students now remain booked under Sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc) and 427 (mischief and causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code. A banned students’ group, Kashmir University Students’ Union (KUSU), which had organised the protest on the university campus here, in a statement urged the Pakistani players to wear black bands in the final of Asia Cup against Sri Lanka on Saturday to show “solidarity” with the suspended students. “KUSU, once again, expresses solidarity with the students deported from India,” it said. Paramedical students at Government Medical College in the city here also held a protest to show solidarity with the suspended students. The police said several stone-throwing incidents happened in north and south Kashmir but no one was hurt. A police spokesman said “stray incidents” of stone-throwing were reported from Garage in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, Naidkhai and Hajjan in north Kashmir's Bandipora district, at Cement Bridge in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and Gagran in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. A statement by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association alleged that the “purpose behind the lodging of the FIR is virtually to muzzle the people of Kashmir”. The suspension of students and charges of sedition have drawn widespread condemnation. |
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Industrialists discuss problems with Principal Secretary
Jammu, March 7 During the interaction with the Principal Secretary, Annil Suri highlighted the problems being faced by the industrial sector, which included non-release of pending amount of Rs 47 crore on account of VAT refund through the Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (SICOP) and introduction of cashless entry wef April 1, 2014, modification in the process of annual assessment of raw material/finished goods for toll tax exemption and formulation of guidelines in respect of 55:45 labour issue. He also talked about creation of new industrial estates, improvements in single-window system, industrial power infrastructure, common effluent treatment plant and the working of District Industries Centres (DICs) such as delegation of powers to General Manager, DICs, as per the government order, creation of DICs' own website, shortage of technical staff, time-bound clearance of files, export obligation incentives for existing export-oriented units, etc. The Principal Secretary gave a patient hearing and assured the delegation that he would take up the matter with the officials concerned to further improve the delivery system and put in place entrepreneurs' grievance redressal mechanism on priority basis. |
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Cross-country tomorrow
Jammu, March 7 The cross-country will be held in both boys and and girls' categories. It will start at 7.30 am. Interested athletes can get themselves registered for the cross-country competition on or before March 8. |
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Terms for setting up langars in Amarnath yatra area revised
Jammu, March 7 The decision has been taken to address various concerns, including maintaining of hygiene in the langar area and environmental protection, said Preet Pal Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer of the SASB. “Several binding clauses in this regard have been incorporated in the revised terms and conditions,” Singh said. He also said this year the number of langars have been suitably revised, keeping in view the recommendations made by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other security agencies. In this regard, a number of representations received from various organisations, including the Shri Amarnath Barfani Langars Organisation led by Vijay Thakur, were considered in several rounds of discussions with the Chief Executive Officer of the SASB, Navin K Choudhary, the official said. Choudhary said number of langars during this year’s yatra will be less as compared to that in 2013, in view of the recommendations made by expert bodies. He, however, maintained that only those langar organisations that do not have any disciplinary proceedings pending against them will be eligible to set up langars during the forthcoming yatra. Besides Barfani Langars Organisation, the CEO also received representations on varied grounds from other langar organisations like Shri Amarnath Yatra Bhandara Organisation. During his meetings with the langar organisations, the CEO impressed on them to take all necessary measures to provide hygienic food, as per the approved menu, to the pilgrims. He has also cautioned langar organisations not to use plastic materials, which are banned in the J&K state. The representatives from Barfani Langars Organisation presented several constructive suggestions regarding yatra management which are being considered by the CEO, Singh said.
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Valley women techies to attend Google conference today
“The one-day conference titled Women Techmakers Kashmir will be held at the University of Kashmir and is aimed at increasing visibility, community and resources for Kashmiri women interested in technology,” said Zaid Hakak, event coordinator and Community Manager, Google Developers Group (GDG). Hakak said the conference was a global event. “Google strives to cultivate a wholly inclusive workplace around the globe. A key component of that vision is to empower women so that they can pursue their dream and build tools that change the world,” he said. The online page of GDG, Kashmir, read: “The event is expected to be attended by at least 250 techies who will participate in the day-long summit. The participants would have live discussions with women technology during its technical hangout session by Chelley Gray, based in Google, Philippines, and Dhatri Mishra, based in Google Developer Group, Indore.” “We are expecting 60 per cent audience to be women, especially those who want to start their own technology-based venture.” The event has been divided into many sessions which will be chaired by scientists, professors and engineers from the University of Kashmir, National Institute of Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and government polytechnic colleges. “We are also expecting women technology entrepreneurs to show up in the event. They will share their experiences with the aspirants who wish to start their own ventures in the technology sector. Among these include Aliya Khan — owner of a graphic and web design firm, Hamida Khanam and Safia Shabir, technology entrepreneurs,” he said. |
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Political parties told to adhere to ECI guidelines in Lok Sabha elections
Jammu, March 7 Narula requested the representatives of political parties to cooperate with officials and adhere to the ECI guidelines on poll expenditure, publicity, election manifesto and campaigning. He was addressing politicians at a meeting here. The Chief Electoral Officer said the Commission had made elaborate arrangements for ensuring effective implementation of the Model Code of Conduct guidelines. He said the instructions issued in this regard should be read and understood by all political parties, contesting candidates and their agents/representatives to avoid any misgivings or lack of information or understanding/interpretation. He said the expenditure observers would keep a watch on the election expenditure of the candidates and ensure that no inducement was offered to the electors during the entire election process. He further said the political parties for any kind of publicity during the elections, including advertisements in the form of posters, TV ads, paper ads, would require prior certification. He said the ECI had created media certification and monitoring committees to deal with any paid news and other media-related violations, besides carrying out the existing provisions of pre-certification of political advertisements. Narula said to facilitate the voters, the ECI had said voter slip along with photo would be given to all enrolled voters by the District Election Officer. The voter slips would also be accepted as the identity proof at the polling stations. He said all electoral rolls would be exhibited at the polling stations on March 9 for addition of any left-out voters to the list. — TNS |
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Rajouri residents hold protest, demand restoration of power supply
Rajouri, March 7 Yesterday, a team of the Power Development Department (PDD) headed by JK Raina, AEE, on the directions of the executive engineer (XEN), Maintenance and Repairing (M&RE), reached Budhal to conduct the inspection. The team members during the inspection of electric load started breaking bulbs installed outside shops and other business establishments, which irked the residents. It led to a verbal dispute and exchange of hot arguments between both parties. The residents have been protesting against the department for supplying electricity for only 4-6 hours a day and regular bills carrying huge amounts under flat rates. Due to which, they refused to pay the electricity bills. The people led by Farooq Inqalabi, a social activist, said the residents of Bathan village had been receiving regular bills on flat rates while no electricity was supplied to the village for the past more than seven months due to some technical fault. Farooq said the power supply to Phalini village was snapped about 45 days ago due to damage to the transformer, but the villagers were given bills for that period also. After the allegations levelled by the residents, JK Raina, AEE, asked them to reach the PWD Dak Bungalow to sort out the problems. When the residents led by Farooq, sarpanch of Budhal, and others reached Dak Bungalow, they kept waiting for PDD officials. When no official came out of the room to meet them, the residents got agitated. They locked AEE, JE and other officials and started raising slogans against them. On getting information, Sameer Malik, SHO, Budhal, rushed to Dak Bungalow. He rescued the PDD officials after an interaction with the agitators. Later, the officials regretted the incident and assured the people that they would solve their problems soon. The residents threatened to launch a massive protest if the transformer was not installed at Phalini soon and the power supply was not restored to Bathan village. |
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Bhat is new DIG, north Kashmir
Srinagar, March 7 After assuming the charge, Bhat had a brief interaction with the police officers, including Superintendents of Police, Additional Superintendents of Police and Sub-Divisional Police Officers of the north Kashmir. “During the interaction, Bhat took stock of the overall situation in the area including, law and order, security, crime and election preparedness. He stressed upon the officers to maintain good public relations in their respective areas,” an official spokesman said. |
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Voter lists to be displayed in Anantnag on March 9
Srinagar, March 7 The District Election Officer of Anantnag has told the booth-level officers to be available on the given date for suggesting last-time additions and deletion in the electoral rolls, an official statement said here. The Anantnag parliamentary constituency comprising four south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam will go to the polls in the third phase on April 24. “In connection with the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, a high-level meeting at Anantnag was held (on Thursday) to review the election preparedness and adherence to the model code of conduct by the District Election Officer, Anantnag, Swagat Biswas,” the statement said.
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Special camp for polling stations in Baramulla
Srinagar, March 7 He also said voter lists of the concerned polling stations will be available during the camp, adding that voters are requested to check their names in the voter list. “Form 6 will also be available at all the polling stations for inclusion of names in the electoral rolls. The said camp shall be held in the personal supervision of concerned booth level officers,” Lone said. Elections for Baramulla-Kupwara segment are scheduled to be held on May 7.
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Drug addiction discussed at police-public meet
Srinagar, March 7 "About 200 people of mohalla masjid committees, senior citizens, representatives of trade and transport, besides people from all walks of life attended the meeting,” the spokesman said. "The people thanked the SSP for holding such meeting at a public place rather than a police establishment as it gave them more confidence. They impressed upon the SSP to fight against drug addiction and other social crimes like eve-teasing,” he said. The SSP assured them that most of the issues would be addressed in a week’s time and the issues pertaining to other departments would be taken up with the department concerned. The meeting was attended by others, including SP City North, Tahir Saleem Khan, SDPO, Khanyar, Sajad Khaliq Bhat, SHO, Khanyar, Manzoor Ahmad, |
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Two cellphone thieves held
Srinagar, March 7 A police spokesman said numerous complaints were received regarding theft of mobile phones of many patients and their attendants on the premises of SMHS hospital. The investigation team led by Mohammad Issaq, SHO, Karan Nagar, arrested two suspects Showkat Ahmad Jogi, a resident of Bemina, and Saaqib Rafiq, a resident of Pampore. “During questioning, the duo confessed their involvement in stealing many mobile phones in the hospital. The police recovered many mobile phones from them,” the spokesman said. A case has been registered and further investigations are on. |
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Man held for duping jobless youth
Udhampur, March 7 The Military Intelligence Unit of the Northern Command received complaints about Balwant Singh of Udhampur that he had taken lakhs of rupees from local unemployed youth promising them jobs in the Army. After receiving written complaints, Army personnel along with the police laid a trap and nabbed him. “We have received about a dozen complaints about him and it was with the help of unemployed youth that he was arrested,” said a senior police officer. The accused had taken money from many people promising jobs in the BSF and the CRPF. A case has been registered. — OC
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Pakherpora shuts down, residents demand merger with Pulwama
Pulwama, March 7 The protesting residents alleged that their long-pending demand was turned down because of the political considerations. “There are some political interests that are hampering the move. But we will not stop till our demand is fulfilled,” a local said. People from Pakherpora and adjoining villages of Chraripora, Shankarpora, Mohanpora and Karpora are demanding merger with Pulwama district as it is just 18 km away from Pakherpora. Budgam on the other hand is 53 km away from Pakherpora. It is not a new demand, people have been asking for merger with Pulwama district since 1975, the villagers said. The residents flayed the Omar Abdullah led government for ignoring their “just demand”. We were expecting the merger when the new administrative units were being carved out. But it did not offer any respite,” said Bashir Ahmad Khandey, chairman, Syed Ali Committee,
Pakherpora. |
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Fruit-bearing plants in demand in Kupwara
Kupwara, March 7 The activity is generating a good income to people, who are selling the plants in major towns. The most commonly plants sold include fruit-bearing plants such as apple, cherry and walnut and non-fruit bearing varieties such as poplar. “Since Tuesday, I have sold around 300 plants mostly fruit-bearing such as grapes, apple and walnut. The demand for plants is picking up and I am hopeful that the business will improve in the coming days,” said Shabir Ahmad, a plant seller in Kupwara town. In the spring, people in the Valley plant lakhs of saplings every year. “I planted about 45 saplings, including apple and walnut, during the past few years,” said Mohammad Ashraf Malik, a farmer from Bohipora village near Kupwara town. In Handwara, Baramulla and Bandipora towns of north Kashmir people are busy with plantation, reports said. Plant sellers said ornamental plants such as strawberry tree and rose red, used for decoration of gardens or placed in sunny apartments, were also in demand. “Trees are important for sustenance of life. They help in conservation of energy, which in turn helps reduce global warming,” said Gulshan Iqbal, who teaches environmental science. |
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Taxi drivers encroach upon social forest area
Srinagar, March 7 Residents of Azad Gunj in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, 55 km from here, alleged that the taxi stand, housed on the bank of the Jhelum, created a lot of nuisances for them. “The Sumo drivers have also cut the nearby fencing of the social forest nursery on which the government has recently done a plantation,” said a resident, Aijaz Ahmed. The residents demanded that the taxi stand be shifted immediately. “Our locality is a residential area and the government should relocate them to some other place,” said another resident. — TNS |
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Police holds seminars on communal harmony
Doda, March 7 The aim of the seminar was to create a spirit of secularism and communal harmony among the people of Kishtwar and to disseminate the message of peace and secularism among the people. Ashkoor Ahmed Wani, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban range, and Mohammed Javed Khan, District Development Commissioner, Kishtwar, were the guests. Sanjay Kotwal, Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, welcomed all participants and people from the civil society. DIG Ashkoor Wani appealed to the participants to disseminate the message of peace in Kishtwar. He also requested to people to coordinate with the police and provide information regarding activities of anti-social elements so that they could be dealt under the law. He also urged the people of Kishtwar to maintain communal harmony, peace and brotherhood. Meanwhile, a seminar on measures to prevent road accidents was held at Bus Stand, Kishtwar, which was attended by people, leaders of the transport union, drivers and commuters. The objective of the seminar was to educate the people, drivers and transporters about the rules and regulations of motor vehicles. Wani directed the district police, Traffic Police and the Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Kishtwar, to take action against violators of the Motor Vehicles Act and book them under appropriate provisions of the law so that accidents could be controlled in the hilly district. |
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