 |
|
7 killed, 28 hurt as bus falls into gorge
Drunk policeman goes on firing spree
PoK Refugees
Opposition plays ‘corruption’ card to put govt on mat
Impose President’s rule in state, demands BJP legislator
Govt stands exposed: NC
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Two hideouts busted in Doda, Reasi Tribune News Service
Coldest period ends but people still shiver
Army jawans of the High Altitude and Warfare Snow make their way on a slop at a ski resort in Gulmarg, about 55 km from Srinagar, on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Mohd Amin War
Dying Heritage
Azad dedicates police memorial to martyrs
Rs 450 crore for development projects
No work no pay for 17 absentee teachers
56 bus passengers from PoK cross sides
No V-Day, warns Dukhtaran-e-Millat
Special power line sought
Produce Hurriyat leader on every hearing: HC tells police
Azad visits Captain’s family
Kargil passengers airlifted
|
|
7 killed, 28 hurt as bus falls into gorge
Udhampur, January 31 The ill-fated mini-bus, bearing registration number JK-06-1238 and which on its way to Malothi from Doda, fell into a deep gorge near the power grid station at around 3.30 pm. A majority of passengers were from Bhaderwah area. Reports reaching here said the driver, Kamaljeet Singh, lost control while negotiating a sharp curve near the grid station as the mini-bus was crammed with passengers. The vehicle rolled down into the gorge. Locals immediately swung into action and started rescue operations. While five persons died on the spot, two others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Senior police and civil officers also rushed to the spot and supervised the rescue operations. All injured were shifted to the Doda hospital from where six critically injured persons were airlifted to the Government Medical College, Jammu, for treatment. The deceased have been identified as Kamaljeet Singh (driver), Anil Kumar, Darshana Devi, Sumana Devi, Shah Din and two minors - Ishfaq Ahmed (6) and Arfat Ahmed (4). Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has expressed deep concern over the tragic incident. While expressing sympathy with the bereaved families, the Chief Minister has directed the authorities to provide the best treatment to the injured. Congress MLC Mohammed Sharief Naiz, while condoling the incident, has demanded the plying of more buses in Doda. He said such accidents repeatedly occurred due to shortage of vehicles and due to the casual approach of the Traffic Department. The residents have also expressed anguish regarding the poor conditions of roads and the non-serious attitude of the departments concerned. |
|
Drunk policeman goes on firing spree
Jammu, January 31 The policeman, identified as Arvind Sharma, climbed the building of recreation hall inside the District Police Lines (DPL) and started firing intermittently on other police personnel who were trying to pacify him. Senior officers also rushed to the spot while a cordon was maintained by the police in a bid to capture the drunken constable alive. The police, however, managed to take hold of the constable late in the night, the sources said, asserting that no one was injured in the incident. Constable Sharma, resident of Doda district, was posted at Rajouri and was presently deployed with special guard duty at the Old Secretariat. The constable, who was putting up at DPL quarters, was upset after being slapped by a senior officer on some complaint against him, eyewitnesses told UNI. “'In the night, Arvind Sharma consumed heavy dose of liquor and ran amok. He took his rifle, climbed the nearby building and started intermittent firing,'' they said. However, the police have yet not registered any case against him, and was shifted to the Gandhi Nagar police station after the incident. — UNI |
|
PoK Refugees
Jammu, January 31 Talking to a deputation of 1947 PoK refugees here, Azad asked them to select five to six representatives, who would sit with officials of the Revenue Department to look into the discrepancies between official records and their claims. He said he would constitute the committee on February 4. However, he told the deputation to put forth demands that could be fulfilled. “After the two sides discuss the issue and come to a conclusion, I along with them will see what action should be taken,” he said. The members of the deputation demanded a comprehensive compensation and permanent settlement on the grounds that they, too, were state subjects of Jammu and Kashmir. They also demanded parity in terms of incentives provided to Kashmiri migrants, including reservation to their children in professional colleges, in different states of the country. Leaders of the refugees said since 1947, they had been fighting for comprehensive compensation and to remove the refugee tag. Earlier, Congress legislators R.S. Chib and Arvinder Singh thanked Azad for his keen interest in mitigating the sufferings of refugees and taking up the matter in the Roundtable Conferences and Working Groups. |
|
Opposition plays ‘corruption’ card to put govt on mat
Udhampur, January 31 Even as the senior Panthers Party leaders have been still camping at Jammu, party activists at different parts of Udhampur, Reasi and Ramban districts took out processions against the state government today for adopting, what they alleged, undemocratic, means to protect the corrupt practices. At Ramnagar rally, the party demanded dismissal of the coalition regime for its failure against those involved in corruption. The leaders said it was mockery of the democratic system that grants in the Legislative Assembly were passed with in minutes without Panthers Party leader Sunit Singh while addressing the workers said the government has been shying away from debating the issue of corruption in the House as large number of ministers of this coalition have been involved in corrupt practices. Amidst shouting of anti-government slogans the procession passed through the different bazaars of Ramnagar which is home constituency of Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh. At Udhampur, Panthers Party leader Ramesh Kapoor termed Ghulam Nabi Azad government as corrupt. He said that complaints of corruption against more than half dozen Ministers of the government, have lodged in the State Accountability Commission. He said that these complaints have exposed claims of the Chief Minister to provide corruption free government in the State. He said that Chief Minister should own responsibility of his corrupt ministers. Decision of the ruling coalition not to debate Kundal Committee Report has provided much ammunition to the Panthers Party to come on streets to consolidate its position in Udhampur and Reasi district where party would definitely looking to rake up pro-Jammu issues. Panthers activists seized the opportunity to corner Congress for its failure to discuss corruption
in the House.
|
|
Govt stands exposed: NC
Jammu, January 31 Terming the government’s stand on the ministers as adamant, the National Conference (NC) provincial president Ajay Sadhotra accused the government especially People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of shielding these controversial ministers. Addressing party legislators after a protest rally here today, Sadhotra said, “It is unfortunate that instead of dismissing tainted ministers indicted in the Kundal Committee Report, this government has been shielding them.” “The Coalition government itself constituted the committee headed by B.R. Kundal, the then financial commissioner (home) to probe scams in the Forest Department and the official in his conclusion had indicted two Cabinet ministers,” he added. Sadhotra said, “However, this government shamelessly defended the tainted ministers and even PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and party president Mehbooba Mufti publicly said that they (two ministers) would not resign.” He asked the government to sack the ministers saying, “Otherwise the NC would be compelled to raise this issue before the people. We would expose PDP’s real face to the people,” he added. Switching over to the budget session, he said, “The Government preferred to adjourn the Assembly sine die instead of sacking the ministers and undemocratically passed the bills within minutes.” Earlier, the protest rally that started from Indira Chowk passed through main markets of the capital city before culminating outside civil secretariat where a strong posse of the police force had been deputed to ward off any untoward incident. Party legislators Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, Rachpal Singh, Abdul Gani Malik, Mohammed Aslam Khan, Javed Ahmed Rana, Dr Chaman Lal, T.S. Wazir, Devinder Singh Rana, M.R. Qureshi and Bashir Ahmed Naz besides other leaders participated in the rally. |
|
Two hideouts busted in Doda, Reasi Tribune News Service
Udhampur, January 31 Acting on a tip-off, the forces launched a search operation at Guha area on Doda-Marmat road, during which they busted a hideout constructed in a forest. According to the police large number of arms and ammunitions included two 12 bore rifles, 200 rounds of AK riffle, one AK magazine and five Chinese hand grenades. In another incident,
the security forces busted a hideout in Chalad area of Reasi district and recovered 324 rounds of AK rifle, 247 rounds of self loading rifle and one transmitter last evening. This success also came as a result of a tip-off, where presence of some suspects led to the
disclosure. The security forces launched a combing operation and it was during this combing operation the hideout was unearthed. Both these hideouts were constructed in remotest areas of these districts. |
|
|
No Dental Council recognition, medicos hold protest
Jammu, January 31 However, as anticipated nobody from the government visited these agitating students. It may be recalled here that 58 students of previous three batches continue to pursue their BDS course but without the approval of DCI. Talking to The Tribune, aggrieved students said, “We have been crying hoarse over DCI recognition to our batches but hitherto nothing has been done to redress our long standing grievance.” Holding placards with slogans like “Is Chief Minister sleeping”, “Brain in drain” and “We want justice” the future medicos clad in white aprons staged a sit-in at around 9 am that continued till 3 pm. They said, “Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BPEE) vide notification number 51/BPEE dated August 19, 2004 released a list of successful candidates referring them to different colleges in the state but it was nowhere mentioned in the notification that Government Dental College Jammu did not have DCI recognition. “Assurances of the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad have turned out to be white lies,” said a student, adding, “At least on four occasions, Azad promised us to get our batches recognised by the DCI.” Students also alleged that college principal Prof MR Sharma instead of using his office to solve their problem asked them to call of their strike. “He said that nothing would come out of such strikes and you would return empty-handed even if you go to the court,” said another student. Students also alleged that college has stopped accepting their fee for the next semester. However, when contacted Prof Sharma refuted the allegations saying, “The state government has already approached the Union government and now it is up to the latter to decide.” “There are several instances where not only batches but even medical colleges have been recognised with retrospective effect,” he added. He said, “The college has been accepting fee from the students. Question doesn’t arise to leave them mid-way,” adding, “The Jammu University has been regularly declaring their results and as of now the result of only third year students is awaited.” Ghulam Nabi Azad during ninth special session of 10th state Legislative Assembly had assured that career prospects of the students will be safeguarded and existing constraints will be removed within a month yet students continue to bear the brunt of government apathy. A private dental college on the outskirts of Jammu city opened much later than Government Dental College has not only succeeded in getting the DCI recognition but has also started the first batch.
|
|
|
Coldest period ends but people still shiver
Srinagar, January 31 Dras, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, continued to remain cold after the temperature dipped to minus 25 degrees Celsius this morning while at Leh it was minus 22 degrees. Pahalgam, a major tourist attraction and base camp for Amarnath cave, remained coldest in the valley with minimum temperature dipping to 15.7 degrees Celsius, freezing majority water sources. The 40-day-long Chalai Kalan ended last night and now the 20-day-long Chalai Kharud, relatively less cold then Chalai Kalan, began this morning which will be followed by 10-day-long Chalai Bacha. However, there was no much change in the night temperature which was minus 4.3, two degrees below normal this morning against yesterday’s minus 1 degree, which was 1 degree above normal. The day was, however, warm with clear sky today. Because of clear weather during the night, the minimum temperature falls and the maximum goes up, a weather official spokesman said. He said Pahalgam recorded minus 15.7 degree Celsius this morning with the result majority water resources were frozen. The water level in Lidder and other small rivers and nullahs has also come down as snow has freezed on the upper reaches, main source of these water bodies. Kupwara in the North Kashmir also was coldest with mercury dipping to minus 10.8 degrees Celsius this morning, affecting normal life. The minimum temperature at Qazigund on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway was minus 5.6 degrees, Banihal minus 3.8 degrees, Batote on other side of Jawahar tunnel 0.6 and at Jammu it was 3.2 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said. He said the temperature was minus 22 degrees this morning at Leh in Ladakh region. However, Dras the second coldest place in the world, remained cold with minimum dipping to minus 25 degrees while at nearby Kargil it was minus 17 degrees. The authorities in Gulmarg, where the National Winter Games are being held in the second week of next month, have made arrangements for providing water to visitors and others. The ski resort faced acute water shortage after majority of sources besides taps were freezed due to severe cold after heavy snowfall. The taps and water sources remained frozen as there was no let up in the cold during the night, official sources said. They said the authorities were now supplying water to guests and others through other means to meet the requirement partially. —
UNI |
|
|
Dying Heritage
Jammu, January 31 This was stated by the minister for higher education, Gulchain Singh Charak, while answering to a question made by MLC Farida Mir during the question hour in the upper house of the state Assembly today. Charak said various measures were being taken by the state government to ensure preservation and maintenance of ancient monuments in the state. He said a survey to identify and locate monuments of historical and archaeological importance had been conducted and monuments coming under the preview of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act had been declared as “protected” by an official notification. He said various steps like protection, restoration and development of such monuments were being carried out on need basis and on the availability of funds. “During the current financial year, seven monuments are under the process of conservation and restoration,” Charak said. He further informed that an amount of Rs 40 lakh had been earmarked for the restoration of Hariparbat Fort in Srinagar, Rs 20 lakh for Bahu Fort in Jammu, Rs 14 lakh for Chingus Sarai in Rajouri, Rs 25 lakh for Mehjoor Memorial Museum in Pulwama, Rs 9.50 lakh for ancient temple and spring at Kothier in Anantnag, Rs 7 lakh for Charai in Udhampur and Rs 20 lakh for Mubarak Mandi complex in Jammu. Replying to another question, the minister said a survey would soon start to find out more sites of archaeological nature in the state. “All sites of monumental and archaeological nature would be surveyed and if some more sites are found these would also be given the same treatment.” Charak said.
|
|
|
Azad dedicates police memorial to martyrs
Jammu, January 31 Speaking on the occasion Azad said the entire nation felt proud of the supreme sacrifices made by police personnel for preserving the territorial integrity of the nation and protecting the lives and property of the people. “We are proud of our police personnel who sacrificed their today for our tomorrow.” Azad said. Complementing the state police for its fight against militancy along with the Army and other security forces, he said, “The result is for everyone to see in the shape of peace dawning in the state.” He said due to militancy, people in the state did not live a peaceful life. But due to the efforts of security forces people are now leading a peaceful life. He said the peaceful celebration of the Republic Day in which a large number of people participated was an example that normalcy was returning in the state. Adding he said, “The successful conduct of Shri Amarnath Yatra is also an example of that normalcy is returning in the state.” Azad said the occasion to dedicate the memorial to police martyr coincided with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. What other day could have been more appropriate to dedicate the memorial to police martyr, he added. The Chief Minister also complimented the Jammu and Kashmir Police Housing Corporation for erecting a befitting memorial on which names of 861 police men who laid down their lives fighting insurgency in the state had been inscribed. Director general of police (DGP) Kuldip Khoda said the memorial was the largest monument in the state in recognition of the sacrifices of the state police personnel. “This memorial would remind the coming generations about the sacrifices offered by police personnel who did not care about their lives to protect the life of others, Khoda said. He said the Jammu and Kashmir police had been recognised as the best police force in the country for its performance. He added that the memorial would inspire more people to serve the country “selflessly”.
|
|
|
Rs 450 crore for development projects
Srinagar, January 31 This was disclosed at a meeting of officers convened by divisional commissioner Kashmir Mehboob Iqbal here today to review progress in the execution of various projects and sub-projects taken up by ERA in the valley under the Asian Development Bank funding. It also reviewed the follow-up action of the decisions taken in the meeting under the chairmanship of advisor to Chief Minister C. Phunsog recently. The meeting devised ways and means to remove bottlenecks, if any, in the execution of projects in view of their utmost utility for the people. The meeting had a threadbare discussion on shifting and re-alignment of water pipelines and electric installations on the projects undertaken by ERA. It was informed that land and structures getting affected due to widening of roads from Jehangir Chowk to SKIMS had been identified and evaluated, while compensation to the affected families would be provided shortly. Addressing the meeting, the divisional commissioner stressed upon greater co-ordination among various agencies to ensure speedy execution of projects undertaken by ERA in the valley. He said the time frame set for completion of works should not be exceeded at any cost.
|
|
|
No work no pay for 17 absentee teachers
Rajouri, January 31 The Education Department authorities said on the complaints of Cluster Resource Persons against some teachers posted in primary, middle schools and education guarantee scheme, zonal education officer, Manjakote took a surprise visit in the area and found some teachers unauthorised absent from duties. He took cognizance and kept the salary of these teachers on no work no pay. The categories of these teachers include teachers in primary and middle school besides education volunteers posted in education guaranteed schools. The ZEO warned the teaching staff to remain punctual and pay their duties for the larger interest of the student community otherwise they should be taken to task for violating the norms of the duties.
|
|
|
56 bus passengers from PoK cross sides
Srinagar, January 31 The number of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) residents visiting Kashmir this time was less, reportedly due to the persisting cold wave here. They said 32 passengers from here boarded the bus at an undisclosed location this morning for Kaman post under tight security arrangements. Of these, 14 passengers were returning to their homes in PoK after meeting their relatives here for the first time since the partition. They said 18 persons were traveling to PoK for the first time to meet their relatives across the border since their separation 60 years ago. The passengers deboarded the bus on this side of the border and crossed the Kaman post bridge on foot to reach the other side. They were later taken to Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK in buses belonging to the PoK-administration. Similarly, 24 passengers arrived here after crossing the bridge on foot from the other side of the LoC, sources said. The returnee passengers, including 24 citizen of this side, crossed over to the other side for meeting their relatives there. According to sources, only five fresh citizens of PoK arrived here this time to meet their relatives here. The trans-border bus service, suspended in 1947, was resumed on April 7, 2005 after the first bus was flagged off by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The bus service played successfully despite threat by a number of militant outfits. However, it was suspended for about a month when the Kaman post bridge and road on other side was damaged in the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake, which claimed one lakh lives on either side of the border.
—UNI |
|
|
No V-Day, warns Dukhtaran-e-Millat
Srinagar, January 31 “This year also we have decided to launch a campaign against celebrating Valentine Day, which is un-Islamic and an immoral act,” chief, Dukhtaran-e-Milat, Asiya Andrabi said. She appealed to shopkeepers not to purchase gift items for sale on this day. She also asked restaurant owners to refrain from making arrangements for customers who wanted to celebrate the day. “We are issuing this appeal in advance to save shopkeepers from any loss as complained by them in the past,” she said, adding, that no excuse would be accepted from shopkeepers who sold gift items. The Dukhtaran-e-Milat had raided shops selling gift items on the occasion of Valentines Day in the past. — UNI |
|
|
Special power line sought
Udhampur, January 31 Residents pointed out that the state government had been getting 12 per cent free power from the project as royalty from the NHPC. President of the Kishtwar Welfare Forum, Sakir Sadiqui, said despite getting free power the state government had ignored those areas where the project was located. He said residents of Kishtwar had the right on free electricity given by the NHPC to Jammu and Kashmir. It is worthwhile to mention here that during the present winter season, power situation has deteriorated in Kishtwar town which is located just a few kms away from the Dulhasti power project, which generates 390 MW power. Protests on the demand of uninterrupted power supply have become a routine affair in Kishtwar. |
|
|
Produce Hurriyat leader on every hearing: HC tells police
Srinagar, January 31 The First Additional Sessions Judge in his order said action under law would be taken in case of non- compliance of the court directives. Aalam was arrested early last year when he, along with other Hurriyat leaders, was addressing a press conference at a hotel here. He was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) on the orders of the District Magistrate. However, the court quashed the detention order and directed the police to release him in October, 2007. Aalam was released and re-arrested immediately. The prosecution informed the court that Aalam was again booked under the PSA for two years from January 17 for allegedly playing a role in strengthening the Hurriyat Conference (Geelani). The prosecution alleged that this faction of the group comprised hardliners and pro-Pakistan elements. The fresh grounds for detention under the PSA says Aalam was challenging the accession of the state with the Union of India, therefore affecting the territorial integrity of the country. The court directed the senior superintendent of police (SSP), here, to produce Aalam before the court on every hearing failing which action under law for non-compliance of the order would be taken against him. The charges for detention further state that the HC organised a public meeting at Eidgah without permission from the authorities in April last year. During the public meeting, anti-Indian slogans and flags of militant groups were hoisted. A HC spokesman said the charges levelled against Aalam this time were also the same which had been quashed by the court in its earlier order when he (Aalam) was released and re-arrested immediately in October. He said authorities were ignoring the court orders as hundreds of others were also languishing in different jails in and outside the state for years despite being released by the court. The High Court imposed a fine on five District Magistrates for their failure to provide information about detenues to the court yesterday. — UNI |
|
|
Azad visits Captain’s family
Jammu, January 31 Azad expressed sympathies with Lt-Col P. L. Chaudhary, father of late Capt Sunil Chaudhary, his mother and other members of the bereaved family. Azad lauded the bravery of Captain who was decorated with Sena Medal on the Republic Day only a day before his martyrdom. |
|
|
Kargil passengers airlifted
Srinagar, January 31 Another batch of 91 stranded passengers left Srinagar for Kargil in two sorties of Air Force AN-32 flight and 88 passengers arrived at Srinagar from Kargil. The flight had not operated for almost 15 days. |
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Srinagar, January 31
