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| Wide-spread anger amongst Gujjars against militants Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, May 8: For the past few months, there has been an increasing violence against Gujjars community at the hands of the foreign....more Rural Bank
employees Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: The Jammu Rural Bank Officers Organisation and Jammu Gramin Bank Workers Organisation held a demonstration at Town Hall....more Cong
leader flays Centre, Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Former Minister and senior Congress leader, Mr Yash Paul Khajuria made an extensive visit of Chaneni ......more NCP
welcomes talks Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Former minister and state president of Nationalist Congress Party Thakur Randhir Singh has welcomed the talks initiated.....more Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Imagine what would be the fate of the department if the juniors are least bothered about the directions of their head.........more |
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Vaid
Vishnu Dutt, Piara Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Vaid Vishnu Dutt, BJP MP from Jammu-Poonch constituency and Choudhary Piara Singh, BJP chief whip J&K Legislative....more Chaman
asks Hurriyat to Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta has asked Hurriyat Conference to reconsider its decision of rejecting.........more Manager,
another held for Rs 33 lakh fraud Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 8: The State Vigilance Organisation arrested a branch manager of Central Cooperative Bank Pampore and another person in.........more Luggage
lifters gang Excelsior Correspondent KATRA, May 8: With the arrest of five people Katra police has smashed a gang engaged in lifting luggage and other articles................more |
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Wide-spread anger amongst Gujjars against militants Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, May 8: For the past few months, there has been an increasing violence against Gujjars community at the hands of the foreign mercenaries. The attacks have led to a wide-spread anger of the Gujjars against these ghastly killings. On March 15, Habib Gujjar was killed by the mercenaries when he refused to act as a guide. In another incident, young boys from Panhad village faced the same barbaric fate—— their fault was that they too had refused to be recruited into militant ranks as guides. On May 6, in a gruesome killing, all members of a Gujjar family were killed when they too refused to bend against the wishes of foreign terrorists. A wide-spread anger against these brutal killings has taken a resentful turn as the whole Gujjar community has stood up against these paid militants. The Sarpanches of many Gujjar villages openly came forward to the security forces and expressed their anguish and anger in one voice. In a resolve to fight against the mercenaries, the Gujjar community has expressed whole-hearted support to the security forces and their determination to jointly fight these militants. A call has been given to all to stop helping and aiding these mercenaries. They also called for support of Bakerwals urging them to stop helping these militants under any pressure. |
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Rural Bank employees stage demonstration Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: The Jammu Rural Bank Officers Organisation and Jammu Gramin Bank Workers Organisation held a demonstration at Town Hall, today against the Government of India’s order regarding the implementation of sixth and seventh bipartite settlement and Officers Wage Revision. The demonstrators demanded that benefit of pay and allowances extended to the employees and officers of the sponsor bank be extended to the employees and officers of the regional rural banks. The speakers said that the Central Government’s authority to delegate the powers to sponsor Bank for negotiating allowances for RRBs was challenged as the Supreme Court has settled the entire issue pertaining to the Regional Rural Banks. They also demanded the promotion from sub staff to clerk cum cashier, clerk to scale 1 and from scale II be immediately made. Besides the Central Government’s policies regarding Man power norms be implemented at an earliest. Those who addressed the demonstators include S Laxman Rabinder Singh, Vijay Chandal, D D Subharwal, S Chanan Singh, Darshan Lal, Pawan Baru and Ashok Dutta. A memorandum was also submitted to Mr Shekhar Aggarwal, joint secretary, Ministry of Finance Government of India through Chairman IRB. |
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Cong leader flays Centre, state Governments Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Former Minister and senior Congress leader, Mr Yash Paul Khajuria made an extensive visit of Chaneni and Udhampur blocks few days back . As per a release, addressing the public meeting he said the cease fire has not yielded the desired results. He accused the Central Government of not being capable to handle the Kashmir situation. He alleged that security scenario has further deteriorated in the state during the past few months. He said the Government should have remained much vigilant during the cease-fire to keep the militants at bay. But in the absence of such measures the cease-fire formula is proving counter productive, he added. Mr Khajuria said the Centre should hold talks with each and every section of the society from all the three regions to know their view point on various matters including administrative set up. He also criticised the recent census report that the population figures have been manipulated. He alleged that Centre and State governments are nonserious in dealing with the situation arising out of the drought conditions. He said the people are facing hardships due to non availability of drinking water, fodder and food. The live stock are dying due to scarcity of water and fodder. He criticised the Centre for not declaring the J&K a drought prone state when its maximum area is facing acute shortage of water. Mr Balak Ram ex, MLA and president District Congress Committee Udhampur lashed out at the Government for not paying attention to tackle the drought problem. |
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NCP welcomes talks initiated by Pant Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Former minister and state president of Nationalist Congress Party Thakur Randhir Singh has welcomed the talks initiated by Central Government by appointing chief negotiator Mr K C Pant, a seasoned politician and known for his un-matching skill. Addressing a press conference here today, the NCP leader said that every body who has interest of the people of the state, must work out solutions for stopping gun culture and establishing peace. He said talks are crucial and provide window of opportunity for establishing peace for fast all around socio-economic development in the state. Mr Singh further said that NCP stands for peace and making all out efforts in this direction. He criticised the Hurriyat leaders and maintained that they had no standing. Hurriyat is confined to Sopore only and its leaders are making the Kashmiris as big fools. They are extorting huge funds from the Islamic countries and utilising the money for raises their own assets in Kashmir and outside. The NCP leader said that present Central and state governments have not been able to mitigate the sufferings of the common masses in the trouble torn Jammu and Kashmir state. The state is passing through severe power crisis. The Central Government has failed to in tapping the vast hydro power potential of 15000 MWs in Jammu and Kashmir. He pleaded for setting up a clean and pollution free gas power station near Ujh Barrage in Kathua to tide over the present acute power shortage. The Gas authority of India which extended gas pipe-line up to Jallandar can be approached with assurance of commercial consumption limits, for its extension to the proposed power house. In response to a question the NCP leader said that nobody knows about the fate of Sewa, Bhagliar and Sawalakot Projects stressed the need to give powers to the elected Panchayats and expressed his desire to send a team of Panches to Harayana and other states to study the functioning of Panchayats there, so that a pivotal role can be played in accelerating the pace of socio-economic development. Earlier, working committee meeting of the Party was also held where Mangal Dass, a retired Agriculture officer was appointed as general secretary and Ravi Dev Sharma as Treasurer. Mr A G Shah, B L Suri, A G Khan and others attend the meet. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Imagine what would be the fate of the department if the juniors are least bothered about the directions of their head. And if the similar practice is prevailing in the Jammu Municipality, can you then imagine about the miseries of the public. Darbar has moved to the summer capital and it’s perhaps the relaxing time for the Administrator, Executive officer, Construction and the Health Wings of the Jammu Municipality. The public has been left to suffer while the officials have turned a blind eye towards their plight. The Construction wing of the JMC under the direction of Executive Engineer and supervision of AE NC Sharma executed repair-cum-construction work of a drain hardly fifty meters in length at Indira Colony (Lakkad Mandi, Janipur) near SFC office lane, about two months ago. After digging and completion of work ‘malva’ including filth/ stones etc. were allowed to scatter in the lane which is hardly 12 feet wide. The residents of the area requested the concerned contractor, engineering staff, Sanitary supervisor, Health officer but no response was received. After a long wait of over one month, a resident brought the matter to the notice of Executive Officer Mr M L Padha and finally to the notice of Administrator Dr Pawan Kotwal. Over 10-12 days have passed the things remained unmoved. This is the height of unresponsiveness on the part of worthy officials, who have been pressed into service of citizens. There is no street light in that area and during night several people fell down and even get injured due to the ‘Malva’ left behind by the Municipal staff. This has created major inconvenience to the residents. The staff appeared to have turned blind eye towards the plight and perhaps they think that they are accountable to none as Darbar has moved to Srinagar. |
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Vaid Vishnu Dutt, Piara Singh tour Gandhi Nagar areas Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Vaid Vishnu Dutt, BJP MP from Jammu-Poonch constituency and Choudhary Piara Singh, BJP chief whip J&K Legislative Assembly and MLA Gandhi Nagar constituency today visited the Mahakali Nagar, Deshmesh Nagar, Ajit Nagar and Gangyal areas. As per a release, Vaid Vishnu Dutt and Choudhary Piara Singh inaugurated six lane/by-lanes in Deshmesh Nagar, Mahakali Nagar and Ajit Nagar. The expenditure incurred on these lanes has been met from the MP and MLA fund as well. Both the leaders also made on spot review of construction works in progress. Mr M L Raina, Block Development Officer (BDO) Satwari, Mr Jai Deep Sharma and Mr Vinay Gupta, president and general secretary of BJP Mandal, Gandhi Nagar constituency also accompanied the BJP leaders during the tour. Mr M L Raina was asked to make estimates of damaged roads of the areas so that these could be got repaired from the MP and MLA funds. The inhabitants of these localities also met the MP and MLA and informed them of their burning problems. Both the leaders gave patient hearing to the people of these localities and assured them to redress their grievances at an earliest. Messrs Shiv Kumar Gupta, Baldev Singh, Sarpanch, Davinder Singh, Sarpanch, Davinder Khajuria, president BJP Gadi Garh Patwar, Varinder Singh, president BJP Babliana Patwar, Thakur Balwant Singh, president BJP Gangyal Patwar, Prith Pal Singh, Surinder Singh and J D Singh were among the others who accompanied the BJP leaders. |
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Chaman asks Hurriyat to reconsider its decision Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta has asked Hurriyat Conference to reconsider its decision of rejecting talks with Government of India. The Union Minister while addressing a public meeting at Kud said today that talks offer made by the Government of India on Kashmir should not be misinterpreted that Kashmir is a disputed territory. He said the peace process initiated by the Central Government is meant for silencing the guns and to restore peace and normalcy in the J&K State. He pointed out that Hurriyat’s insistence to involve Pakistan in talks on Kashmir clearly proves that Hurriyat is representing and carrying Pakistan’s agenda. He further challenged the Hurriyat claim that it represents the entire population of J&K State. The BJP leader said that Hurriyat leadership is yet to prove its credentials. If the Hurriyat has really love for hapless people of Kashmir, it should come forward and whole heartedly accept the talks offer made by the Central Government. The minister also announced the construction of two additional rooms for Government High School Kud for which funds will be provided by the minister out of his constituency development fund. Various deputationists also met the minister and apprised him of the problems being faced by them. |
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Manager, another held
for Rs 33 lakh fraud Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 8: The State Vigilance Organisation arrested a branch manager of Central Cooperative Bank Pampore and another person in a fraud case while the Special judge Anti-Corruption Kashmir has convicted Mohammed Afzal, the then Tehsildar Kangan to one year imprisonment under section 5(2) Prevention of Corruption Act 2006 and one year under Section 161 RPC in case FIR No. 31/ 85, registered with police station Vigilance Kashmir. Interestingly, it took over 16 years to the court to punish the guilty official. The case related to the demand and acceptance of Rs 21,000 as illegal gratification by Mohd Afzal Bhat, the then Tehsildar Kangan from six persons of Burnbagh Kangan through Abdul Gaffar Wani, Sarpanch for effecting changes in the revenue records declaring 23 kanals of land situated at the village required for the Electric department thereby facilitating enhancement of compensation rate from Rs 6500 per kanal to Rs 9000 per Kanal. In the course of investigation, the SVO established the allegations. It was found that the said bribe amount of Rs 21,000 was collected out of compensation bill. The Government agreeing with the investigation had accorded prosecution sanction against the revenue officer on receipt of which challan was presented in the court. The court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Kashmir while announcing the judgment on May 5, 2001 convicted the accused Mohd Afzal to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of one year each under section 5(2) Prevention of Corruption Act 2006 and Section 161 RPC with a fine of Rs 50,000. It was further ordered that the out of the fine amount Rs 42,000 will be paid to the complainant and the remaining five villagers which had been collected as bribe. Meanwhile, SVO arrested the then Branch Manager of Central Cooperative Bank Pampore Mohd Yousuf Sheikh. The case relates to the purchase of sewing machines by District Rural Development Agency Pulwama. The preliminary enquiries established that the accused officers had defrauded the state exchequer to the tune of Rs 33. 10 lakhs in the purchase of 2000 machines on highly exhorbitant rates. The investigation has revealed that people did not purchase these machines despite 33 % subsidy granted by the Government because the rates were very high as compared to the market rates. It was disclosed that Sheikh had issued two fraudulent CDRs in favour of Agro Friends Chemicals and Star Sewing Machines, Rajpora pledged to project officer DRDA Pulwama for Rs 8000 each while as per bank records only Rs 100 each had been deposited by the two firms. Two persons have already been arrested in this connection. |
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Luggage lifters gang smashed in Katra Excelsior Correspondent KATRA, May 8: With the arrest of five people Katra police has smashed a gang engaged in lifting luggage and other articles of Vaishno Devi pilgrims from Ban Ganga, Adh Kunwari and Bhavan for the past some time. The SDPO Katra, Mr Kailash Chhibber, said large number of complaints were being made by the Yatris about lifting of their clothes and other bags at Adh Kunwari and Bhavan, Police post Incharge Adh Kunwari deputed constables and lady constables in plain clothes to apprehend the luggage lifters of Vaishno Devi Yatris. The police succeeded in arresting a five member gang headed by one Martu Lal son of Mathu Singh of Muradabad in Uttar Pradesh alongwith Ram Sanchi son of Massi Lal of Ferozabad, Sonu Kumar alias Sonu son of Raju of Muradabad, Guddu son of Parmodh of Old Delhi and Rajinder Kumar son of Ram Chand of Hathras (UP). Two cases of theft were and Rs 3700 recovered from their possession alongwith some other articles. Interrogation of the accused persons was going on and some more arrests were likely. Vaishno Devi Yatris have appreciated the quick action of police in apprehending the gang of luggage lifters. Meanwhile Katra police has constituted a special team headed by Sub Inspector Devinder Singh and Constable Mohd Ashraf for apprehending an old absconder, who jumped bail and did not appear in the court. On absconder Kali Dass, son of Bojh Nath, resident of Dhamnote, who was evading arrest since 1997, was arrested by a special team of Katra police. |
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| Vishwa Hindu Parishad Strongly
condemns Gujjars killing Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Dr Rama Kant Dubey, state president of the Vishav Hindu Parishad strongly condemned the brute killing of five innocent Gujjars in Dara Sangala and killing of Wali Mohammed who was beheaded in Mandi in Poonch district. In a statement issued here today, Mr Dubey expressed his heartily condolence on the killing of two young children in Naiki Morha Poonch. He said that tortured bodies of the killed Gujjars speak of cruelty of militants, brutality exposed in beheading innocent persons and intentionally shooting of children proved frustration and cowardnace of the Pakistan sponsored Islamic terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir state. Mr Dubey said that demonstration in Naiki-Mora by locals against militancy was clear indication that people have rejected so-called Jehad. He said that people have now realised that terrorists have no religion. He expressed full sympathy with the breaved families and asked the State Government to give adequate compensation to the deceased families. |
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People warned against wild animals Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, May 8: The general public of Doda has been asked to take precautionary measures against wild animals while moving to their cultivated fields and also take necessary precautions while coming out of their houses during dawn and dusk period. According to the Wildlife Warden, Chenab Circle, Kishtwar that with the start of summer season and melting of snow on high reaches, the wild animals have started coming out of their hibernation period and most probably animals may come down towards human habitation. It further added that as and when they will come in contact with any animal or any untoward happens will inform the Wildlife Department for remedial action instead of taking action themselves. |
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Police
expresses inability Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: The non-bailable warrants issued by Presiding Officer TADA Court Jammu, Sain Dass against senior Hurriyat leaders and sent to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir for execution, have been returned unserved. The warrants sent back carried a letter from Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar and addressed to Special Public Prosecutor TADA Court Jammu, in which plea has been taken that the accused persons could not be brought before the Court on the said date due to "security reasons". The accused persons require extra and heavy armed escorts and transport, which is not available at present for producing them before the Court, the letter said. It was requested that the next date of hearing be communicated so that the accused persons be brought before the court for facing trial as presently there has been heavy deployment of security forces to avoid any any untoward incident in view of Darbar Move. As already reported, the court had earlier issued non-bailable warrants against Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Ghulam Rasool Wani, Abdul Gani Lone, Yasin Malik and nine others. In the same case former Chief Minister G M Shah and some others were declared "absconders" from the date when challan was presented in the Additional Court TADA Srinagar. The case pertained to alleged dishonour to the national flag by the accused persons while holding public meeting at Iqbal Park Srinagar way back on August 20, 1987. A case was registered with Sherghari Police Station. The case was later transferred to Court of Presiding Officer TADA Court Jammu on February 24, 2000. The Court has been since issuing warrants against all these well-known public figures to produce them in the Court, but the Police despite knowing them fully and also the fact that they are holding mass rallies and giving political statements in open, has ironically failed to trace them. |
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Migrant teachers victims of official apathy Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: Migrant teachers is yet another group of displaced employees whose fate is hanging in balance over last 11 years with State Government taking no initiative to solve their pending problems. The demands of this hapless class of migrant employees are not confined to promotion benefits from which they were deprived of for unknown reasons but they have been ignored in granting the insitu promotions and benefits of HRA and CCA. Pinning high hopes in the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah who two years back had assured them that their immediate demands like granting of promotion benefits and release of HRA and CCA will be released soon, the migrant teachers are anxiously waiting for a Cabinet decision in this regard. The issue was also discussed in the then Apex Committee for migrants in 1998 which though made recommendations to the Government regarding release of HRA, CCA and promotion benefits to migrant teachers but failed to get the formal orders released from the Government. What has generated the resentment among the displaced teachers most is that the issue was also discussed by the National Human Rights Commission in the same year where it was presumed that the respective heads of Departments will issue orders in this regard but that also proved a cruel joke with this category of the employees. Expressing their dismay over the apathetic attitude of the Government Mr Ashok Kumar a displaced teacher said the representatives of the Migrant Teachers Association later met the Chief Minister again in December 2000 who issued on spot directives for taking up the issues in the next Cabinet meeting. But matter was not raised in the subsequent Cabinet meetings and deferred for unknown reasons, he added. However in the another Cabinet meeting held on February 20 this year the issue was taken up and it was said that Centre will be pursued for grant of funds as the salaries of migrants are drawn form security related expenses, he added. However, contesting the Government’s claim Mr Raj Nath Raina, president of the Association refuted that an amount of Rs eight crore are needed for the purpose. Terming it the delaying tactics of the Government he alleged that Government is already paying 80 per cent of this amount and hence there is no fun of depriving the displaced teachers of this benefit. The issue came up for discussion in the Core Group for Migrants which met on April 3 and in this meeting the Chief Secretary again maintained that the matter will be put in the Cabinet meeting but to no avail. Even the maximum displaced teachers have been deprived of insitu promotions alleged Mr Behari Lal Koul . The Government is raising unwanted and unnecessary queries, he added. Our cases are rejected on the ground that services verifications have not been done but how the employees can be held responsible for that, he said, adding it is the duty of the Department to make the service verifications in whose custody the employees service books are lying. He said the former Director had condoned the queries but after his transfer hundreds of cases are lying pending in Directorate Office. Even such queries have not even been raised by the AG’s office. We are being asked to get the service books verified from the Valley offices and how is it possible for a migrant teacher to go far off militancy infested areas at this juncture. Even the GP Fund cases and pension cases of displaced teachers are pending as no Chief Accounts Officer has been transferred to Migrant Cell for last five months, said Mr M L Daftri, general secretary Migrant Teachers Association. Another main injustice to which the hapless class of the teaching community has been subjected is that about 300 teachers have been deprived of promotion benefits since 1990. They were promoted as masters and posted in far-flung areas of Kashmir valley where we declined to go due to abnormal conditions said Mr Daftri. We have been demanding that these teachers be adjusted in camp schools here against the vacant posts of 400 masters who retired during last one decade. This is a grave injustice with us said Mr Daftri as hundreds of teachers retired without getting the promotion benefits. Moreover, it is a humiliation for us as we are becoming juniors to our counterparts in the Valley. |
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World Red Cross Day Celebrated Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, May 8: Indian Red Cross Society, Jammu, today, celebrated World Red Cross Day with enthusiasm and gaiety. In this connection a simple but impressive function was organised by the Volunteers at Abhinav Theatre here. The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr.Anil Goswami was the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion Mr.Goswami said that the Day is celebrated in the memory of the founder of International Red Cross Sir Henry Runold. He said that the basic aim of the organisation is to serve the humanity both in peace, war and during natural calamities. He eulogised the functioning of the society and appealed the people to join Red Cross in large number. On the occasion the volunteers presented a captivating cultural bonanza in which students from different border blocks of the district participated. The jam packed theatre applauded the stage performances of the volunteers. Among others the Director School Education, Jammu, District Development Commissioner, Jammu, Secretary Red Cross, Jammu, a number of volunteers and prominent citizens were also present. Prizes were also distributed among the Red Cross Volunteers who excelled in various performances. On the occasion, the Regional Secretary read out messages from the Governor, Mr.G.C.Saxena and Chief Minister, Dr.Farooq Abdullah. Earlier, the Divisional Commissioner, inaugurated an exhibition on Red Cross. |
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