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Put an end to internal strife, Farooq tells NC
workers
Drive to inspect fire-fighting equipment in hotels delayed
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Ahead of polls, govt revokes cases against employees
Skyrocketing airfares to hit tourism in
Ladakh
Major fire in
Pahalgam, tourists evacuated
Blaze breaks out at scrap godown
Mazdoor Conference demands release of 10% DA, 6th pay panel arrears
Slain LeT militant was number two in
group
PDP moves 2 amendments to President’s address on K-issue
INTACH Director briefs Governor on heritage conservation
Students of govt school near Srinagar protest ‘harassment’ by
principal
Ravi tawi irrigation canal project
Women, lawyers raise voice against violence
Kashmir valley witnesses
surge in mental health centres
Molestation case: Health director to sue complainant nurse
Nurse molestation case
Met Dept predicts no relief from heat till next week
616th Parkash Utsav of Sadguru Kabir
Katra villagers blame NHPC for power woes
Joint security group reviews Rajouri, Poonch security
Paramedical staff stage demonstration
Guv reviews Amarnath yatra arrangements
Students block road alleging misbehaviour by principal
Khajuria community holds ‘mel’
Girls’ batch flagged off for trekking expedition Lt Gen Hooda calls on Guv Lt Gen Hooda meets CM IITs, IIMs in every state terrible idea, says Omar Srinagar on alert after Karachi attack Guv to flag off walkathon tomorrow 3 held with 500-gm heroin Yuva Rajput Sabha organises meeting
‘Chabeels’ organised on Nirjala Ekadashi Science seminar begins in Srinagar college
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Put an end to internal strife, Farooq tells NC
workers
Srinagar, June 9 Former Union Minister Farooq made an emotional appeal to his party’s workers and leaders and asked them to stop bickering against each other and work “day and night” to strengthen the party. The National Conference, which rules the state in coalition with the Congress, lost all three parliamentary seats which it contested while Farooq also suffered the first election defeat of his political career spanning over three decades. The poll debacle demoralised the party cadre as the National Conference went into a lengthy introspection of its policies and party administration. “This party has many enemies who want to see it destroyed... you should not fight among yourself, you should not conspire against each other,” Farooq told a closed-door party function at the Nawa-i-Subh complex which houses the National Conference headquarters. The function was organised to officially nominate Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar as the party’s new general secretary and was attended by top National Conference leaders, including its working president Omar Abdullah. Sagar, who succeeded Shiekh Nazir, assumed office today after he was appointed to the new post earlier this month as the ruling party initiated the process of restructuring itself to gear up for the state elections, which are a few months away. Farooq said Sagar would continue to be a part of the state Cabinet for the rest of the tenure of the government, which ends later this year. “I want him to be general secretary only and work for the party, but the elections are nearing so he will have to continue as a minister also,” Farooq said. Farooq warned the rebellious party members to fall in line with the party’s decisions. “You have to work for the party and accept what the party decides. Those who wish to go, can go. We will not hold them back,” he said. After the defeat in parliamentary elections, Farooq has taken control of the party affairs and held a series of meetings to introspect and assess the reasons for the rout. The National Conference is struggling against strife within the party as the “old guard”, which is close to the Union Minister, and the “new guard”, which is close to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, have blamed each other for the election defeat. The Chief Minister, who also addressed the function, assured complete support to the new general secretary. He told party workers and leaders to work for the party instead of personal interests. |
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Drive to inspect fire-fighting equipment in hotels delayed
Jammu, June 9 After the devastating fire at a local hotel in Jammu on May 31, which killed four persons and left 12 others seriously injured, the government has announced to check the preparation of the commercial and business establishments to face the disasters. Sources said officials from teh Tourism Department and the police had given one week ‘ultimatum’ to the hotels to install equipment so that tragedy like May 31 could be avoided, but representative associations of traders associated with the hospitality sector refused to cooperate and have sought more time to create necessary infrastructure. “This is a ploy to delay the drive. The owners of hotels have always used political connections to thwart our efforts to act against violation of rules. Still we are under pressure to go slow in our process, but this time, the administration is committed to taking action and we are waiting for directions,” said a senior police officer on the condition of anonymity. When contacted, Director, Tourism, Sojanya Sharma said the representatives of hotels had demanded time till June 12 to upgrade their fire fighting systems. “Inspection will be carried after the due date. We have received representation from different hotel bodies that they should be given more time so we are waiting," Sharma said. However, the director, Tourism, maintained that no leniency would be shown towards the people who would be found violating the rules after the ultimatum date expires. The Fire and Emergency Services Department conducted a Fire Safety Audit on the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, after the tragic AMRI hospital incident in Kolkata on December 2011, which killed 90 patients, has not been taken seriously even by the government. Despite the chief minister’s personal directive to strengthen fire fighting mechanism in hospitals, nursing homes, cinemas, malls, heritage buildings and hotels in Jammu and Kashmir, the audit report has expressed shock over the preparation of these buildings to deal with the disasters. It had revealed that 157 hospitals and nursing homes, backbone of health care sector in J&K are without emergency fire safety mechanism. This includes Government Medical College in Jammu and Srinagar and its associated hospitals. “It remains just a case study and like hundreds of other projects, no follow up action has been taken on the recommendation which include building of water reservoirs, revamping equipment and getting blue prints of building plans to the Fire Department,” said a senior administrative officer on the condition of anonymity. Sources said that disaster management was given least consideration by the planner and even the Fire Department did not have building layout plans or blueprints of government buildings and hospitals. |
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Ahead of polls, govt revokes cases against employees Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service
Jammu, June 9 Furthermore, the government decided to take a “lenient view to unauthorised absence” of a section of employees from duty while “participating and instigating” employees during protests and strikes. The government announced to treat the period of unauthorised absence from duty of such employees as “leave period”. On September 30 last year, the General Administration Department (GAD) issued a circular, wherein the period of unauthorised absence of government employees instigating or participating in protests and strikes was treated as “dies-non or break in service”, besides invoking provisions of ESMO. “On the basis of representations received from employees’ unions and associations, the matter was placed before the competent authority, which decided to take a lenient view while treating such period of absence from duty and withdrawing cases under ESMO registered against them,” said a GAD order. The order stated that instructions were brought to the notice of all concerned for immediate compliance. The instructions comprised “treatment of the period of unauthorised absence from duty of employees involved in instigation or participation in protests or strikes during 2013-14 as leave and revocation of cases registered against government employees”. On June 3, the state Cabinet had approved enhancement in retirement age of its employees from 58 to 60 years. The government cleared increasing the upper age limit for applying for government jobs from 37 to 40 years. In yet another GAD issued on Monday, the state government constituted a high-level committee headed by Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey to examine the demands raised by employees in the memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Other members of the committee comprised the Principal Secretary, Planning and Development Department; the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Finance Department; and the Secretary, General Administration Department.
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Skyrocketing airfares to hit tourism in
Ladakh
Jammu, June 9 Concerned over high airfares and their impact on the tourism potential of the region, newly elected Member of Parliament from Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang has knocked on the doors of the BJP-led NDA government in New Delhi, seeking additional flights for Ladakh, regulation of airfares and special concessions for students and patients from the region in all airlines. The rates of air tickets are rising. “Owing to the limited number of direct flights between Jammu and Leh, one-way air tickets via Srinagar and Delhi-Jammu-Leh will cost between Rs 22,000 and Rs 36,000. Similarly, one-way direct flights between Delhi and Leh cost between Rs 9,000 and Rs 16,000,” sources said. They said the rates of air tickets might go up further in view of the expected heavy rush of tourists and other visitors to the Ladakh region this summer. “In the 33rd Ladakh Kalchakra festival, between 2 and 2.5 lakh visitors are expected to reach Leh,” they said. Given the tough geographical terrain, the landlocked Ladakh region remains cut off from the mainland for more than seven months a year. There had been a long pending demand of the Ladakhi people that additional flights with reasonable airfares should be operated to provide relief to students, patients and visitors to the region. The local MP met Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju on June 2 and requested him to seriously consider the demand for additional flights with reasonable airfares to the Ladakh region. Later, he had submitted the government order dated March 4 about air transport services to and within remote and strategic regions. Voicing his concerns over high airfares, the MP said a serious patient with two or three attendants could be transported one way at a cost of Rs 25,000 each and a student’s cost of travel between Leh and Delhi four times a year amounted to Rs 1 lakh. He had requested the Centre to ensure more regular flights to Leh and Kargil in Ladakh, the country’s largest parliamentary constituency. The sources said the Centre had assured “best possible solutions” to the local MP to deal with the situation and decided to call a high-level meeting of civil aviation officers and representatives from Ladakh.
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Major fire in
Pahalgam, tourists evacuated
Anantnag, June 9 The firefighters were finding it difficult to control the blaze as strong winds in the area were fanning the flames. Moreover, the buildings in the area are mainly built of wood which makes them more vulnerable to fire. There were no reports of loss of life or injuries to anyone so far. Tourists staying in various hotels in the vicinity along with the locals and other people have been evacuated to safer places. The area has been marked out of bounds for the public. “Additional fire tenders have been sought from the district headquarters and other nearby fire service stations,” said a fire service official from the area. “Hopefully, we will be able to control the blaze soon.” Locals who witnessed the blaze from a distance said they had heard more than a dozen blasts. Gas cylinders at the hotels are probably going off with a bang,” said a local.
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Blaze breaks out at scrap godown
Jammu, June 9 According to the Fire Department, a major fire broke out at a scrap and old tyres godown near the Balole bridge in the Bari Brahmana area at around 2.30 pm today. The reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained. No one was injured in the incident. “A total of 10 fire tenders and extinguishers — five from the Gandhi Nagar fire station, two from Gangyal and three from Bari Brahmana — rushed to the spot. It took around four and a half hours for firemen to control the fire,” a Fire Department official said. The firefighters were assisted by jawans of 157 TA Sikh, Jammu Terriers of Army unit, policemen and local residents in dousing the flames. “We saw high flames and dense smoke billowing out from a residential colony. As Bari Brahmana is an industrial area, we had apprehensions that the fire could cause colossal damage in the area if it was not controlled in time. We rushed our jawans and vacated the nearby areas as a precautionary measure,” a senior Army officer, who was supervising the fire-control operation, said. He disclosed that three water tankers of the Army, along with fire extinguishers of the Fire Department, were pressed into service to control the fire. The officer said old tyres and some chemicals, lying inside the godown, caught fire suddenly. “Before the godown employees could take measures to control the fire, it spread to the entire godown,” he said. Local residents alleged that some hazardous chemicals were also stored in the godown which
created difficulties for firemen in dousing the flames. |
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Mazdoor Conference demands release of 10% DA, 6th pay panel arrears
Jammu June 9 Shastri stated that in view of the inbuilt provisions in the current year state annual budget, there should not be any hitch for the state government in releasing these incentives. He said several state governments had already released the 10 per cent DA instalment since long. An early decision in this regard would be a genuine measure to provide some relief to them, he added. Expressing concern over the continuance of pay anomalies in the clerical cadre of the state government, Shastri also urged Omar Abdullah for immediately addressing most genuine demand of the affected employees. Shastri said the clerical cadre being the pillar of the administrative sector needed to be encouraged by way of removing pay anomalies, which had been persisting since long. 'Since the state government has already removed the pay anomalies of various cadres, the removal of pay anomaly of the clerical cadre has not been done so far, he said, adding that "as a goodwill gesture" the state government should take an early decision in this regard so that the clerical cadre got some relief. Among others who spoke on the occasion were Rajan Babu
Khajuria, Sunil Kochhar, Mohammad Shafi, Angrez Singh, Suraj Parkash, Barkat Ram, Ragu Pal, Yog
Raj, Darshan Lal Bawa, Madan Lal Bhagat, Surrinder Kumar, Jentoo Ram and others. |
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Slain LeT militant was number two in
group
Srinagar, June 9 The police said he was involved in the killing of noted cardiologist Dr Sheikh Jalal, former Director of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, and two police guards at Pampore in July last year. The police said Bilal was involved in the killing of two Army jawans at Kadalbal and in the attack near Silver Star Hotel on the outskirts of Srinagar in 2012. “Bilal was number two in Lashkar after Qasim, one of the most wanted militants in Kashmir, and was responsible for recruiting militants in south Kashmir. He was the main planner of the group as well,” said a senior police official. He said Bilal had a narrow escape thrice in the last few years. Bilal was a category A-plus-plus militant and was part of the group when security forces launched a search operation at Kausar Mulla village of Budgam district last month. A solider was killed in the operation and militants managed to give security men the slip. Bilal had been active since 2011. The other militant, Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh of Kirkipora, Pulwama, had joined militants recently. On Sunday, after specific information, the special operation group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the 50 Rashtriya Rifles and the 183 CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Reshipora village, Kakpora, Pulwama, 28 km from here. The militants present in the village fired on the personnel, triggering an encounter. Two Lashkar militants were killed in the two-hour encounter. Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in Kakapora, the native village of Bilal. A large number of people attended the funeral prayers of the slain militants today. Hundreds of people took part in the funeral processions of the two militants. |
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PDP moves 2 amendments to President’s address on K-issue
Srinagar, June 9 In the first amendment motion moved by party president Mehbooba Mufti and Tariq Hameed
Karra, the party proposed that the government should address the Kashmir issue. “The government will address the Kashmir issue and issues facing the people in Jammu and Kashmir within the parameters of
insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat,” said the first amendment motion moved by
Mehbooba. In the second amendment, the party sought to add to the President’s address a commitment for zero tolerance to human right violations. Commenting on the President’s address and the amendments moved by the party, Mehbooba stated from New Delhi that while the President’s address had presented inclusive vision for all sections, it was disappointing that the problem of Jammu and Kashmir had been
excluded. Mehbooba said the people of the state had expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi to follow up on his assurances during the election campaign that Kashmir would be addressed within the parameters of
insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat. She said given the strong mandate that the BJP and NDA had received in the Lok Sabha poll, it was time to embark on a peace mission in Kashmir and with Pakistan so that the region could be pulled out of problems that the people were facing because of trouble in and over Kashmir. The PDP president said her party would use the parliamentary forum to stress the inevitability of resolving the Kashmir issue and try to reach out to all sections of public opinion with a message for peace from Kashmir and strong desire for its resolution. She said the trust deficit between residents of Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country had to be bridged by ensuring justice, fair play and equality before the law. Unless people of the state enjoyed the dividends of being part of a democratic system, alienation levels would result in more problems for them in the state, she added. |
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INTACH Director briefs Governor on heritage conservation
Srinagar, June 9 He also apprised the Governor about INTACH’s plans to carry out conservation work on wall murals, paper and cloth manuscripts, historic textiles, painted objects, stone and terracotta items and other artifacts of archeological significance in the Valley and other parts of the state. The Governor complimented Lt Gen Gupta for the work done by INTACH’s J&K chapter and assured him of full support to all future initiatives of the
organisation. In another meeting, Satish C Mehta, Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations
(ICCR), along with AR Nazki, Regional Director, ICCR, briefed the Governor about ICCR’s objectives and current activities, aimed at fostering and strengthening cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries. They also discussed ICCR’s planned future programmes for projecting the art, culture, and traditions of the state and efforts presently underway to give a fillip to various local cultural and educational organisations in showcasing their talent to the outside world. Meanwhile, Brigadier PC Roy, Group Captain, National Cadet Corps
(NCC), Srinagar, also called on the Governor. Brigadier Roy briefed the Governor about the functioning of the NCC in the state and the initiatives being taken for enhancing the enrollment of boys and girls under the NCC in all regions of the state. The Governor stressed the need for expanding NCC activities in the state, particularly in the remote and difficult areas, as it promotes discipline and courage among the youth and helps in capacity-building for dealing with unforeseen situations. |
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Students of govt school near Srinagar protest ‘harassment’ by
principal
Srinagar, June 9 Chief Education Officer, Srinagar, Munshi Muhammad Javed, who was trying to pacify the
students, told The Tribune that he had taken cognisance of the matter and submitted his report to Director, Education. Director, Education, Mir Tariq Ali has attached the school principal. ”Further action will be taken in a short course of time after investigations. It is a regrettable incident but those found guilty in such crimes wouldn’t be spared. We are investigating what kind of harassment are the girl students accusing (the principal) of. Details which have emerged suggest that it was verbal abuse,” the CEO, Srinagar, said. The government schools in Kashmir are already in focus for being unsafe for girl students. Over the last few days, two girl students, in separate incidents, were subjected to violence and sexual harassment by stalkers and the school management in south Kashmir. The police recently arrested seven boys who chopped off a girl student’s ear in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on June 6. On the same day, the director, School Education, suspended a government school teacher for allegedly attempting to molest a Class XII girl student. Similar details of sexual harassment surfaced in the Health Department, with a nurse accusing
the director, Health Services, the chief medical officer and the block medical officer of sexually abusing her. Women activists are up in arms against the
state government for failing to implement the Women at Workplace Act 2013 which ensures safety of women at their workplace in the state. A unanimous call
for tough action against the perpetrators of crimes against women in the state has emerged from the mainstream and separatist parties and the
civil society. |
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Ravi tawi irrigation canal project Vikas Sharma Tribune News Service
Jammu, June 9 “The engineers said they had already submitted the utilisation certificate for the funds utilised during the previous year, but even after that the funds for the current year have not been released,” the report said. “When the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has accorded administrative approval to the project it is to be ensured that funding is as per schedule. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department may provide a copy of sanction order of NABARD to this office and also intimate the reasons for not releasing funds to the executing agency in time,” the monitoring cell report said. The report added that the revised balance cost of the project was Rs 6.3 crore. However, only Rs 1.6 crore was released in 2012-13 and that too in December 2012 as a result of which only Rs 72.76 lakh could be expended by the executing agency while the remaining funds were surrendered. “This year also, till the day of inspection, funds have not been released. The project is envisaged to be completed in a span of three years i.e. by 2014-15. Unless funding is ensured by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department as desired by the executing agency completion of the project as per schedule is unlikely,” the report claimed. The report observed that the project taken in hand needs to be completed in order to instil faith in the farming community living in the Kandi area about the sincerity in the efforts of the state government in addressing their irrigation needs. “Keeping in view the growth in urbanisation in the next few years, it is anticipated that the targeted area when irrigated will prove to be lucrative for growing vegetables and fruits for human consumption and fodder crop for raising livestock rather than cultivating wheat crop or oilseeds during the Rabi season. The demand for dairy products, vegetables and fruits is expected to go up due to prospective urbanisation in the vicinity of the area,” said the chief minister’s monitoring cell report.
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Women, lawyers raise voice against violence
Srinagar, June 9 “From streets to the institutional spaces, women in Kashmir are struggling to sustain themselves with dignity, which is manifested by the recent trend of crime against women, which is of serious concern. This needs immediate attention from all sections of society,” said Farhana Jan, a lawyer and activist, who is a member of a group of young activists of the Valley - Kashmir Women’s Collaborative. “The recent molestation and criminal acts on the roads and offices of Kashmir are on the rise with inappropriate response by the state. And those who dare to speak against the violence face the opposition particularly when accused holds a high position,” said Jan, adding that the government seemed to be the siding of accused rather than supporting the victim. In south Kashmir, two days ago a girl’s ear was chopped off by stalkers and also there was an assault on her in which seven persons have been arrested by the police. The recent trend of sexual assault on women at workplaces and schools has raised the alarm, raising concern from women. An activist from Srinagar, Samreen Mushtaq, who runs “Support group” for Kunanposhpora victims said, “The state government has a history of impunity and it always tries to wind up the cases where higher position officials are involved.” “The women should be given a fair trial. She has stood against the senior official and we should not stigmatise her and make her feel down. It is about power. What is being reported is very less than what actually is happening on ground. The women get discouraged with the attitude of the government towards the trials and follow-up of the cases and legal help which they get. If we look at old cases and the history there is no follow-up .There has to be a strict punishment for culprits whoever it is irrespective of position he holds,” said a young lawyer.
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Kashmir valley witnesses
surge in mental health centres
Srinagar, June 9 Due to continuing low-intensity conflicts in Kashmir in the past 20 years, there has been a phenomenal increase in psychiatric problems. The results reveal that the prevalence of depression is 55.72%. The prevalence is highest (66.67%) in the age group of 15 to 25 years, followed by 65.33% in the age group of 26 to 35 years. Started in 2011, a private mental health centre - "Kashmir Lifeline" - reveals that depression was more among the youth who frequently seek help from them. "There is much increase in distress among the youth and females often don't come forward to seek help, but males do come," said Nazia Rashid, senior mental health therapist at Kashmir Lifeline. "As the youth is more tech-savvy, we have provided a toll-free number and also chat option on our website which caters to a large number of youth who do not want to reveal their identity," she said, adding that there was a heavy rush of patients, particularly students, last year. They suffer from different problems such as failure in relationships, exam stress or problems related to unemployment. Our helpline is confidential, anonymous and it is entirely free. We counsel through phone too, through our website, our one-to-one chat or by email," she said. To provide religious counselling to patients suffering from anxiety, Islamic Counselling Centre (ICC) in Lal Bazaar was recently started. It uses the religious methodology to help people. "Sixty per cent people who come to my clinic have family problems, therefore I started this centre," said Dr SH Mir, who heads the
ICC.
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Molestation case: Health director to sue complainant nurse
Srinagar, June 9 “I solemnly pledge and say that all these allegations are fabricated and baseless and I reject these allegations at the very onset,” Rehman said in a statement today. “I am going to file a defamation case against the complainant for irreparable damage to my reputation and dignity,” he said. The director said the nurse had entered his room “on her own without being called or invited in any capacity in person”. “The moment she entered the room, there were around nine persons, senior most officers of the department, women officers and other people who do not belong to the department,” the official said. The official said after listening to the nurse, he had told her to “go back to join her duty”. “She left the office in a very amicable and cordial atmosphere and attitude,” the director, Health Services, said. The police last week registered a case against the director and three other officials of the Health Department following a complaint by the nurse in which she had accused them of attempting to sexually harass and molest her. The police said the initial investigation “negates the allegations”.
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BJP women activists protest against govt
Our Correspondent
Srinagar, June 9 Lashing out at ruling government National Conference, the BJP activists said, “Inadequate efforts by the ruling government to act against the accused have led to increase in sexual assault cases across Jammu and Kashmir.” “We want to tell the chief minister that if the government will not take action on time, we will be forced to launch a Valley-wide agitation,” said state secretary of the BJP Shazia Khan. Pointing towards the recent allegations of a nurse against the director, health, Kashmir, and other senior officials, the BJP workers said, “There is a rise in sexual harassment cases against women at workplace and the government is doing nothing to stop it. With this attitude of the ruling government, it seems that all women should sit at home and go nowhere. Hundreds of victims are silent and depressed because the government is not doing anything for them. We appeal to the chief minister to take strict action in the issue,” another protester said. The workers alleged that the sexual assault against women in the state had become a norm due to the “callous” attitude of the government towards the victims.
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Met Dept predicts no relief from heat till next week
Jammu, June 9 The Met Department of the state forecasts, “Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 44°C and 28°C, respectively.” Mentioning the outlook for the subsequent four days, the Met Department said, “The heatwave conditions are likely to continue over the plains of Jammu division.” The Met officer said it was the maximum temperature in the last two years. The maximum temperature in 2012 was 45.2°C on May 25, while the maximum temperature recorded last year was 42.1°C on June 6, and in 2011 it was 42.4°C on May 17. Met officials say the heatwave will continue to grip the state till the monsoon sets in, which is expected to reach the state by the first week of July. The overall maximum temperature was recorded at 44°C in Jammu and minimum at 27.9°C. |
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616th Parkash Utsav of Sadguru Kabir Tribune News Service
Jammu, June 9 He said all meritorious students, any child who did any extraordinary work in any field and newly selected IAS, IPS, IFS, KAS and KPS officers from the Bhagat community would be honoured on the occasion. “Spiritual discourse, shabad kirtan and teachings of Bhagat Kabir Ji will be delivered by Swami Milkhi Ram Bhagat and cultural programme will be performed by children. Langar and chhabeel will be served to the sangat,” Prof Raj said. President of the Bhagat Mahasabha, J&K, Mahinder Bhagat appealed to the followers of Sadguru Kabir to participate in the function in large numbers. Others who were present included Pawan Kumar, Ashok Kumar Bhagat, Naresh Bhagat, Rattan Lal Bhagat, Sansar Chand, Dev Raj, Kala Ram, Tara Chand Bhagat, Sunesh Kumar, Sunil Kumar and Jai Kumar.
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Katra villagers blame NHPC for power woes
Katra, June 9 Reports said a large number of people from villages Thanpal, Sailanjan, Dharan, Salal and Talwara assembled near the Dam top and held a protest. They said the NHPC had to provide free of cost electricity in the 20-km radius of the power house but were charging the highest rate in the state and the supply was also poor. Around 2 pm, officials from the Reasi district administration reached the spot along with NHPC officials and managed to pacify the villagers and lift the
dharna. |
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Joint security group reviews Rajouri, Poonch security
Jammu, June 9 The meeting, chaired by the General Officer Commanding, Romeo Force, Maj Gen PS Rajeshwar, was attended by Hemant Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri; Mohammed Mumtaz Ali, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Poonch; Mubassir Latifi, SP, Rajouri; and other representatives. The SP, Rajouri, and DSP (Operations), Poonch, briefed those present about the security environment in Rajouri and Poonch districts. The role of various agencies in ensuring an incident-free Budha Amarnath Yatra, apart from other security issues, was discussed in detail.Participants expressed their views on measures required to keep the districts free of terrorist-related incidents. The DC, Rajouri, and ADC, Poonch, appreciated the synergy achieved between the civil administration and security forces. The General Officer Commanding, Romeo Force, thanked the participants and exhorted them to work hard to ensure peace and harmony in Rajouri and
Poonch. |
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Paramedical staff stage demonstration
Srinagar, June 9 "The director should be arrested immediately. We appeal to the government to provide justice to the victim, otherwise we will go on an indefinite strike after two days," president of the Nurses' Association of GMC and associated hospitals Syed Rukhsana told mediapersons. She said the charges levelled against the director were very serious and demanded exemplary punishment for the accused. Rukhsana said they had no faith in the police probe as "such investigations in the past have yielded no results". "We stand behind our sister. No woman would like that her honour becomes a public discussion. It is brave of her to come out and seek justice. We want justice should be delivered," she said. Last week, a nurse, posted in Anantnag district, lodged a complaint against Rehman and three other officials - Chief Medical Officer, Anantnag, Nazir Shahdad, Block Medical Officer, Saller, Irshad Tak and Medical Superintendent, Seer, Dr Ashraf - alleging that they tried to rape her. — PTI
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Guv reviews Amarnath yatra arrangements
Srinagar, June 9 The yatra is scheduled to commence on June 28 and conclude on August 10. In view of the delay in restoration work on tracks and yatra camp, the chairman said there was a need to speed up the work before the yatra commences. He told Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shrine Board, to undertake a ground survey of the Baltal-Panjtarni track on June 10 and 11 and of the Chandanwari-Sheshnag route on June 12 and 13. The chairman will also undertake a reconnaissance of the entire yatra area along with the CEO. The Governor had undertaken reconnaissance of the Chandanwari and Baltal routes on May 21 and 28. The review meeting was attended by Rakesh Kumar Gupta, CEO, Preet Pal Singh, Additional CEO, RK Pandita, General Manager, Works, and other senior officials of the Shrine Board.
— TNS |
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Students block road alleging misbehaviour by principal
Srinagar, June 9 The students boycotted the classes and blocked the highway near HMT crossing this morning to protest the alleged misbehaviour of the principal with a Class XII student during a school outing to Pahalgam tourist resort on Saturday, the police said. "We have taken cognisance of the case and are investigating," a police officer said. The protest by the students resulted in massive traffic jam on the highway connecting north Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara with Srinagar for over six hours. Senior police officers persuaded the students to disperse assuring a fair probe into the matter.
— PTI |
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Khajuria community holds ‘mel’
Jammu June 9 The function started with a "hawan" and concluded at 10 am with "puranahuti". A "preeti bhoj" was served to the gathering. A medical camp was also organised and free medicines were distributed among needy persons. Prominent among those present on the occasion were MLA Ashok Khajuria, Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Kiran Wattal, Director, Local Bodies, Kuldeep Khajuria, president of the Shri Baba Ambo Smarak Committee Ajit Khajuria, vice-presidents Sudershan Khajuria and Yash Paul Khajuria, general secretary Anil Khajuria, Subash Shastri, Dr Deepak Khajuria and Ajay
Khajuria. |
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unprecedented rout in the parliamentary elections last month, as the state Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar took over as its new general secretary.
At a time when Ladakh braces to receive tourists and other visitors from all over the globe this summer, skyrocketing airfares are set to hit the tourism industry in the region as high cost of air tickets has made it as a ‘costly’ destination.
Ladakh will host three mega festivals in the next two months.
A major fire broke out at the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) in Pahalgam
today afternoon, gutting the building completely. The flames also
engulfed some adjoining buildings. The firefighters were on the job to
douse the flames. However, the blaze had not been controlled while the
reports last came in.
Panic gripped Bari Brahmana and the adjoining areas after a major fire broke out at a scrap and tyres godown destroying property worth lakhs of rupees.
The Fire Department and the local Army unit had to deploy more than a dozen of fire tenders and extinguishers to douse the flames which continued till late this evening.
Srinagar, June 9
Three days after the incident of sexual abuse came to fore in Kashmir, young women activists and lawyers in the Valley have voiced their concern over the increase in atrocities against women.
They said the slow process of the government was acting as a major discouragement to women from coming forward.
Women activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today staged a demonstration in the city in protest against the government for not acting fast on the sexual abuse complaint of a nurse. The activists said if action was not taken they would approach the court and threatened mass agitation.
Mercury soared to 44°C in Jammu today, making it the hottest day of this session by breaking its own record of 43.7°C on Friday.
The Met Department of the state predicts no relief from the heatwave till next week.
Another hottest day has been recorded in Jammu with the maximum temperature of 44°C. Weathermen announced that the heatwave would continue till the next week and the temperature was expected to oscillate between 42°C and 45°C till next week.
infiltration from across the LoC and the Army’s planning to counter all subversive activities. He also informed the Governor about preparations underway to ensure effective security for the
Amarnath yatra,” the spokesman said.
TNS
General Officer Commanding
(GOC) 15 Corps Commander. A defence spokesman said he was briefed on the operational situation along the Line of Control and the internal security environment. General Hooda left for Northern Command headquarters in the afternoon.
TNS
