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| SKIMS to have state-of-art cancer centre Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Nov 4: The Sher-e- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura will have a State-of-the-art regional cancer centre to provide specialized treatment for cancer patients.......more Crackers
worth Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 4: Police today seized a truck full of high quality crackers, which were being smuggled by a Bishnah trader from Punjab......more CM
inaugurates video Excelsior Correspondent LEH, Nov 4: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed inaugurated a video conferencing centre at district headquarters Kupwara. On this occasion, Minister for Science and.....more Central
Govt Employees Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: Various welfare schemes and some problems being faced by the Central Government employees were discussed at a high level meeting of the Central Government Employees Welfare Co-ordination Committee here this evening.......more Jora
inaugurates Excelsior Correspondent LEH, Nov 4: The Minister for Science and Technology, Nawang Rigzin Jora inaugurated an officers club building at Skara, Leh. The building was completed with an estimated cost of Rs 1.29 crore executed......more |
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Sensational
revelations by former Miss Jammu By Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Nov 4: Startling revelations have been made by former Miss Jammu Anara Gupta during her sustained interrogation by the Police. She was remanded to seven days police custody after she was produced in a local court today..............more Airtel
forms Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Nov 4: Airtel Mobile Services, a one of the leading mobile service providing company today signed an agreement alongwith six other leading mobile operators in the region to form a regional alliance, Bridge Mobile Alliance, which will operate through a Singapore based company............more SBI
employees to Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: Branches of the State Bank of India (SBI) will remain closed throughout the State on the call of All India State Bank of India staff and officers federations demanding review of interest on staff loans at par with..........more Legal
awareness Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: As a part of celebrations of Legal Service Week started from November 3rd , a legal awareness campaign was launched by the Chairman, District Legal Services Authority........more |
SKIMS to have state-of-art cancer centre Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Nov 4: The Sher-e- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura will have a State-of-the-art regional cancer centre to provide specialized treatment for cancer patients. The centre would have a bed capacity of 120. This information was given in the meeting of the SKIMS’ Governing Body held here this afternoon under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Minister of State for Health, Abdul Gaffar Sofi, Financial Commissioner to Chief Minister, Vijay Bakaya, Principal Secretary, Finance, B. R. Kundal, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, prominent physician, Dr. G. Q. Allaqaband and Director SKIMS, Dr. S. Jalal were present. The upcoming centre would have most modern equipment for management of cancer patients. The Central Government has agreed to provide annual grant of Rs. 5 crore for the centre that would comprise departments of medical oncology, surgical oncology, haematology and bone marrow transplantation, radiation oncology and radiological physics department. The facility would be a boon for the cancer patients in the valley looking for specialized treatment. Giving details of the achievements registered at the SKIMS during the last 14 months, Director SKIMS said that in the area of patient care, a cardiology diagnostic centre has been established for blood and heart vessel diseases for which patients had earlier to go outside the State for treatment. More than 550 diagnostic coronary angiographies and related cardiac procedures have been performed at the Institute. The SKIMS has also started intervention cardiology facility in the form of stents placements for coronary artery diseases. As a major step, the plastic surgery department of the SKIMS has successfully re-implanted the amputated limbs and other parts with success. The feat is accomplished only in a couple of centers in the country. A 20- bed disaster ward has been created at the Institute in keeping with the prevailing conditions. In the near future, the Institute would set up a fertility centre, a biotechnology centre and a 100-bed maternity hospital. The present nursing school of the institute would be upgraded to a nursing college. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the facility of tele-medicine available at the Institute should be extended to district hospitals for the benefit of patients. He inquired about various facilities like sanitation and food given to patients at the Institute. He specifically referred to a letter of a reader published in a local newspaper about the non-functioning of lifts and was told that out of the 10 lifts, 8 were functional whereas the remaining two were under repair. He also inquired about the academic and research activities going on at the Institute. |
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Crackers worth Rs 8 lakh seized Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 4: Police today seized a truck full of high quality crackers, which were being smuggled by a Bishnah trader from Punjab to Bishnah. SP Kathua Raghubir Singh said the truck No. 9515 PB08G was intercepted at Hatli Morh this morning. Truck was loaded with crackers worth Rs 8 lakh but they had been under-valued at Rs 1 lakh to avoid the Sales Tax. Sales Tax had been made at Lakhanpur for Rs 1 lakh worth crackers while they were valued at Rs 8 lakh, Mr Singh said, adding truck driver Jarnail Singh son of Bawa Singh, a resident of Jalandhar was arrested. However, the stockist Ravi Kumar, owner of Ravi Kumar and Company went underground after seizure of the truck. The truck driver told police that this was his seventh trip of crackers for the same stockist. Police have registered a case in this connection under FIR No. 298/2004 under Section 5/9 Explosive Act. |
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CM inaugurates video conferencing centre Excelsior Correspondent LEH, Nov 4: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed inaugurated a video conferencing centre at district headquarters Kupwara. On this occasion, Minister for Science and Technology and Information Technology, Nawang Rigzin Jora congratulated the Chief Minister for inaugurating video conferencing centre at Kupwara. The executive councilor, LAHDC, Rigzen Spalbar, who was present on the occasion also congratulated the Chief Minister on behalf of LAHDC and people of Ladakh. The executive councilors and Deputy Commissioner, Leh Satish Nehru were also present. Interacting with the Chief Minister, Mr Jora said that opening of video conferencing centre in far-flung and remote areas of the State like Leh, Kargil, Doda and Poonch districts will be more useful where better communication facilities are not available to the people. He said that such facilities is also useful in the field of medical treatment in remote areas where diagnostic consultation with the best available doctors of the country like All India Medical Institute can be sought through video conferencing facilities for treatment of the serious patients. Mr Jora also brought to the notice of the Chief Minister about the shortage of cash problem in Leh treasury through video conferencing. The Chief Minister said that he has already initiated necessary action in this regard. Talking to the Chief Minister and the Minister for Science and Technology through video conferencing centres at Kupwara and Leh from New Delhi, the Commissioner Secretary, Rakesh Gupta said that the State Government had decided to provide video conferencing facilities at all the district headquarters of the State. He said that the Government has decided to setup exclusive video conferencing facilities in Jammu and Srinagar Secretariat for use of the Chief Minister and other senior Minister and officers of the State Government. |
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Central
Govt Employees Welfare Co-ordination Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: Various welfare schemes and some problems being faced by the Central Government employees were discussed at a high level meeting of the Central Government Employees Welfare Co-ordination Committee here this evening. The meeting chaired by J. Wilson, Accountant General J & K, who is also chairman of the Central Government Employees Welfare Committee, was held in the Regional Training Institute, in Accountant General office complex. The heads of various Central Government offices and senior officers from Postal Department, Defence Accounts Services, Doordarshan, Geological Survey of India, National Sample Survey, Water Commission, Press Information Bureau, participated in the meeting. P N Kaul, Principal, Regional Training Institute, who is secretary of the Central Government Employees Welfare Committee took up items in the agenda. The meeting discussed issues like medical facilities for the Central Government employees, besides approved list of holidays for the next calender year. Special allowance, accommodation for Central offices and employees and a quota in Railways reservation were few other issues discussed during the meeting. It was decided to approach the authorities for introduction of Central Government Health Scheme and taking up with the State Government the matter regarding accommodation for offices and employees as also few schemes for the benefit of the Central Government Employees in Jammu. Officers of different Central Government put forth suggestions. It was decided to organise annual cultural & sports meet. |
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Jora inaugurates officers’ club Excelsior Correspondent LEH, Nov 4: The Minister for Science and Technology, Nawang Rigzin Jora inaugurated an officers club building at Skara, Leh. The building was completed with an estimated cost of Rs 1.29 crore executed by the Public Works Department, Leh. With the completion of this building the long standing demand of the officers of Leh has been fulfilled. The officer club building has been facilitated with various indoors facilities through accommodating for kitchen, bathrooms, indoor games and get together. The chief executive councilor, Rigzin Spalbar, MP Thupstan Chhewang, executive councilors, Deputy Commissioner Leh, SSP Leh and senior district officers were present on the occasion. Meanwhile measurement work for distribution of Igo-Phey Command Area have been accelerated and sofar over 6000 kanal of land have been distributed among the beneficiaries for which 3 team consisting of Girdawars and Patawaries headed by a Naib Tehsildar have been deployed at the site of Igo-Phey area. This was informed at a review meeting of Revenue staff held at Leh under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, Satish Nehru. It was also told in the meeting that 11 structures which were constructed illegally and un-authorizedly at Ladakh Kongka, Nimo have been demolished and demolish charges of Rs 20,000 were recovered as arrear of land revenue. |
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Sensational revelations by
former Miss Jammu By Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Nov 4: Startling revelations have been made by former Miss Jammu Anara Gupta during her sustained interrogation by the Police. She was remanded to seven days police custody after she was produced in a local court today. Police sources told the EXCELSIOR that former Miss Jammu 2001 Anara Gupta has squarely blamed cable operator of Janipur and one of the organisors of Miss Jammu 2001 contest, Narinder Kohli for motivating her to act in a pornographic movie for "getting break in the modelling profession at national level." "Anara Gupta, who was in teens when Miss Jammu contest was organised in 2001, came in contact with Narinder Kohli, proprietor of Shiva Cables, Janipura, on the eve of contest and her mother apprised Kohli that she was keen to adopt modelling as profession", the sources said and added that with the declaration of Anara Gupta as Miss Jammu, Kohli fully convinced the mother and daughter that he had the capacity to shape the future of Anara Gupta in the modelling at national level too. Moreover, Kohli in a bid to win the confidence of the Gupta family, began to call Anara’s mother as his sister. This act of Narinder paved way for him to be a frequent visitor to the house of Gupta. With the passage of time, Kohli made Anara’s mother agree to allow her daughter to visit other States for participation in the modelling contests. "Kohli even started visiting the house of Anara Gupta when she used to be at times alone in the house", the sources said and added that when Anara Gupta become frank with Kohli, the latter made advances and developed physical relations with her by promising her a break in the modelling profession at national level. The cable operator used Anara Gupta for about one and half year and later took her to Himachal Pradesh on the pretext of participation in a modelling contest. "He stayed in a hotel in Dharamshalla, Himachal, the name of which Anara Gupta could not fully recall during questioning by the police", the sources said and added that Kohli used the girl for about two days and managed to shot a nude picture in the hotel room. Later, he showed the pornographic CD to Anara and forced her to develop physical relation with a youth by projecting the guy as an influential person in Mumbai film industry. "Kohli even shot the picture of Anara Gupta having physical relations with that guy", the sources said and disclosed that Narinder Kohli introduced that guy as Yogesh Sharma of Jallandhar. The former Miss Jammu was assured by Kohli that both the CDs would be kept by him and Yogesh and would not be made public at any cost. On reaching Jammu, Kohli forced Anara Gupta to have relations with the persons of his choice and warned her to picturise the CDs on the local cable network if she refused to develop physical relations with the persons he wanted to. The girl was taken to several top hotels of the city by the customers arranged by Kohli and everytime she was given money ranging between Rs 1000 to Rs 2000, the police sources disclosed while quoting an instance where Kohli charged Rs 50,000 from a businessman of Trikuta Nagar and gave merely Rs 1000 to Anara Gupta. "The possibility of her mother knowing about the entire episode cannot be ruled out but during interrogation she expressed her ignorance", the sources said and added that Anara Gupta was even `supplied’ to two politicians and some businessmen in the localities of Gandhi Nagar and Trikuta Nagar in lieu of huge sum of money, charged by Kohli. The sources also disclosed that the former Miss Jammu-2001 has named three girls, who belonged to Janipur and Roop Nagar localities and an employee of a local English daily news-paper, who were also involved in the sex racket. "The girls belonging to Janipur and Roop Nagar localities have also acted in other pornographic CDs", the sources quoting Gupta said. Meanwhile, police has laid its hands on two more pornographic CDs and the possibility of girls from Janipur and Roop Nagar localities having acted in these XXX-rated films cannot be ruled out. The former Miss Jammu was produced in the court of law today and remanded to police custody for seven days. |
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Airtel forms alliance with Asia Pacific operators Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Nov 4: Airtel Mobile Services, a one of the leading mobile service providing company today signed an agreement alongwith six other leading mobile operators in the region to form a regional alliance, Bridge Mobile Alliance, which will operate through a Singapore based company. The alliance aims to leverage synergies thereby providing enhanced value and a unique mobile experience to customers. The bridge will build a shared regional infrastructure to enable the ease of service provisioning on a regional basis, provide a suit of mobile services including improved voice and data roaming services and other joint product development initiatives. The mobile operators that are a part of alliance, include Global Telecom (Phillipines), Maxic (Malaysia), Optus ( Australia), SingTel ( Singapore) Taiwan Cellular Corporation ( Taiwan) and Telcomsel ( Indonesia). These operators will subscribe for an equal number of shares in Bridge Mobile for cash at par. The entire Group has a starting base of over 56 million customers, with a potential to reach over 300 million customers represented by key markets in Asia Pacific region in the near future. Manoj Kohli, president-Mobility, Bharti Tele Ventures disclosed that company is delighted to be part of this innoventure which gives us the opportunity to work with alliance partners which have been fore runners in mobile telephony and also to provide a world class service to the Airtel customers. With India emerging as a global business, tourist and research hub , it is only prudent that mobile users coming into the country experience world class mobile service. He claimed that Bridge Mobile will develop new products and services on a regional basis and create competitive advantages for the mobile operators in the market. Customers of Bridge operators will be able to enjoy seamless roaming experience when they travel in Asia Pacific. This service is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2005. |
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SBI employees to observe strike today Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: Branches of the State Bank of India (SBI) will remain closed throughout the State on the call of All India State Bank of India staff and officers federations demanding review of interest on staff loans at par with public, enhancement of welfare funds, compassionate appointments, review of pension ceiling and retention of superannuation benefits scheme to new recruits etc. The SBI employees have been also protesting against the unilateral attitude of the SBI management for ignoring bilateralism and restraining the unions to hold demonstrations and dharnas for their legitimate demands, this was stated by Veerinder Bhat, Deputy General Secretary SBI Officers Association and A K Dhar, Deputy General Secretary, SBI Staff Association. It was also unanimously resolved to hold demonstration before SBI zonal office on November 5 at Rail Head complex. |
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Legal awareness campaign launched Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: As a part of celebrations of Legal Service Week started from November 3rd , a legal awareness campaign was launched by the Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Jammu, Vinod Gupta here today. The Chairman Legal Services Authority also flagged off a mobile van from Mubarak Mandi complex, Jammu alongwith a team of staff members of Legal Services Authority comprising of Special Mobile Magistrate, Traffic, Jammu, Rajesh Sekhri and Excise Magistrate, M. S. Parihar. The team will today visit various remote areas of tehsil Jammu to make people aware about free legal aid being provided to poor and needy persons having annual income of less than Rs. 25,000. Besides free legal service is also provided to the persons belonging to scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, backward classes, ladies, children and handicapped. While flagging-off the mobile van, Vinod Gupta said that during the week, number of legal service camps will be organized at various places of Jammu tehsil to create awareness among the people of remote areas about their rights regarding provision of free legal services. He said that first such camp will be held at Block Development Office, Bhalwal on November 5, at Block Development Office, Marh on November 7 and at Jhajjar Kotli on November 8,2004 at 11 a.m. A special Lok Adalat will also be held on November 9 at Jammu in which hundred of cases will be taken up for disposal. |
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Charar to be pilgrim
destination Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Nov 4: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has reiterated his government’s keenness to construct a model shrine complex at Charar e Sharief. In this connection, he said, the State Government has submitted a Rs. nine crore project to the central Government. Talking to a delegation of people from the town, the Chief Minister said the Government is making all efforts to develop the shrine and the town of Charar e Sharief into an important pilgrim destination. A large number of deputations also called on the Chief Minister today. These included representatives of Employees Joint Action Forum, senior faculty members of SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, Teachers Welfare Association, Lecturers Forum, Diploma Engineers Association, a delegation of unemployed BUMS graduates, Anjuman e Ashpazan, Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, Shopkeepers union Panthachowk, Pharmacy Graduates Association and welfare committees of Wupzun, Bijbehara, Sirigufwara, Faag, Ganderbal, Nawpora, Akhran, Lakadpora, Kulgam, Beerwah, Dalgate, Magam, etc. A delegation of Youth Welfare Forum, Bandipore demanded the establishment of a degree college in the town and development of Lolab-Kaloosa road. The Chief Minister said the possibilities of the demands would be studied and appropriately addressed. A deputation of employees of Police Wireless department also called on the Chief Minister and demanded promotional avenues for the cadre at par with rest of the police force. The Chief Minister listened patiently to the problems put up to him and assured that appropriate action would be initiated. |
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NC condemns functioning of Coalition Govt in J&K Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: Two-day conference of district presidents and secretaries of Jammu province of National Conference was held at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan here under the chairmanship of Ajay Sadhotra, provincial NC president. The meeting expressed concern over the way the coalition Government functioning in the State as efforts were being made to eliminate top brass of NC. The meeting termed 2 years rule of coalition Government as black years in the history of Jammu and Kashmir State. The meeting strongly condemned the murderous attack on party patron and president Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah and demanded a judicial probe by a retired Supreme Court judge as preliminary reports of Home Ministry have confirmed the incident as a major security lapse. Through another resolution the meeting condemned the Government proposal to dissolve democratically elected basic institutions (Panchayat) in the State even when they have not completed their full term as per Panchayati Raj Act. Through yet another resolution the NC meeting held that coalition Government has failed to fulfill the promises made by it in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP). Expressing concern over financial mess the NC flayed the Government for non-payment of DA to employees and non-approval of annual plan as yet. Other areas of concern voiced by NC included rise in human rights violations and total neglect of the areas represented by NC MLAs especially in Jammu region. The NC leaders alleged that coalition Government in ther State has been turned into a private corporation of Congress and PDP. All the senior leaders of National Conference of Jammu province alongwith district and block presidents with their secretaries attended the meeting and expressed their resolve to strengthen the hands of the party patron Dr Farooq Abdullah and president Omar Abdullah. |
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IGNOU to start more courses next session By O P Sharma JAMMU, Nov 4 : Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched three new Masters’ degree programme in History, Political Science, and Commerce in addition to MAs in Hindi and English. Disclosing this to the EXCELSIOR, Regional Director,IGNOU, Dr KK Gautam, informed that a post-graduate course in " Intellectual Property Rights" is being introduced from January, 2005. For medical graduates, IGNOU is already offering " PG Diploma in Maternal and Child Health " and "Health and Hospital Management" at Government Medical College, while PG Diploma in Geriatric Medicine" is being offered at Acharya Shri Chandra College for Medical Science, Sidhra. While six candidates have already been registered with IGNOU for this special course commencing from January, 2005, the course is designed especially to impart professional training to medical graduates for providing better and more informed health services to the elderly persons. Referring to wide range of courses, Dr Gautam disclosed that IGNOU in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also offering on-line programme for middle level Indian diplomats. The Regional Director disclosed that IGNOU is offering 68 study courses through a network of 18 study centres in Jammu region, in which anyone can pursue higher academic education or professional courses. Two special study centres are: for inmates of District Jail, Jammu to reorient prisoners and empower them with education to face the future after release and another for Police officers in Sher-i-Kashmir Police Academy, Udhampur. Dr Gautam stated that IGNOU adopts multi-media design using technology-aided delivery system to conduct its various academic and professional courses. Regarding, phone-in-radio counselling programmes, Dr Gautam informed it is now being broadcast from Radio Kashmir, Jammu on medium wave (primary channel) for one hour on every second, fourth and fifth Sunday of a month at 10.30 a.m. that this programme on different study courses will be broadcast from Radio Station, Jammu on second, fourth and fifth Sundays at 10.30 a.m on primary service now. Experts and academic counsellors speak on the subject and answer questions from the students during this phone in programme. Describing it as "big event" as switch over of this educational broadcast, from Yuv Vani FM to medium wave, will have better much wider listenership and more participation by the students from far-flung areas. On first and third Sunday of any month the IGNOU counselling is relayed from IGNOU, New Delhi. About students’ response, Dr Gautam replied "it is very encouraging". Questioned about difficulties facing IGNOU centre in Jammu, Dr Gautam pointed out the major problem is shortage of accommodation for carrying various academic operations like Learner Support Service in effective and efficient manner. With the present office space, it is difficult to arrange tele-conference, provide good library facilities and arrange for video cassette/CDs in its premises. He pleaded that IGNOU is playing a pivotal role in spreading informal education through distance mode of learning in Jammu region. About the priority areas, the Regional Director stated that strengthening learning support services for the students is upper most in his mind, upgrade computer communication system through networking for e-mail and also improvement of enrollment by preparing action plans for each district. The emphasis will be on spreading education opportunities for women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and border and far-flung areas in Jammu region for early positive results. Dr Gautam stated that the degrees awarded by IGNOU are duly universally recognised, the study material provided to students is of high standard, academic counselling sessions backed by audio visual aids are regularly held. With enrollment of over one million students, IGNOU has now emerged as mega University of the world. He informed that liaison office and secretariat of Global Mega University NET will shift from Sanghai TV University China to Indira Gandhi National Open University with Prof HP Dikshit, Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, as the chairman. It is a matter of pride and affirms the involvement of IGNOU in open and distance learning as global leader. |
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Rich tributes to Mahant
Bachittar Singh Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, Nov 4: Glowing tributes were paid to Late Mahant Bachittar Singh Ji on his 13th death anniversary at Dera Nangali Sahib, Poonch, yesterday. Thousands of the devotees irrespective of their religion, caste and creed attended a grand Diwan at historic Gurdwara situated on the bank on river Darungali. Mahant Manjit Singh Ji also graced the occasion. Delivering his sermon, Mahant Manjit Singh said that the Dera had promulgated a number of social reforms during Late Mahant Sahibs times at a convention held at Jammu in 1991, which included austerity measures especially during marriages in which number of Baratis was minimized, vegetarian foods recommended and extravaganza banned. Welcoming the Guest Control order by the State Government, Mahant Manjit Singh Sahib stated that Dera had promulgated this act 13 years ago. Expressing concern over degrading moral values in the society, Mahant Sahib called upon the youth to shun fashion and adhere to principles of Gurmat. He appealed the mothers to inculcate moral values in their children and make them better members of the society. Former Head Granthi Shri Durbar Sahib Amritsar, Giani Sahib Singh who was also present gave a detailed historic profile of the life and achievements of Late Mahant Sahib. He also hinted towards spiritual powers of 300 old year Dera and held that services rendered towards Gurmat by the Dear were well known throughout the country. District Information Officer Poonch Kulwant Singh said that historic Dera is equally revered by Hindu, Muslim and Sikh brethren of the area and held that Dera is a symbol of secularism, brotherhood and service to the society. Prominent among those present were Katha Wachak Sarwan Singh, former Minister Mir Poonchi, S Gajan Singh and S Fateh Singh. Guru Ka Langer was also organised on the occasion. |
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Awareness programmes on legal aid discussed Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 4: In connection with Legal Services Week celebrations, a meeting of the District Legal Services Authority was convened under the chairmanship of District and Session Judge A L Pandita in the court premises, here yesterday. In the meeting, awareness of the legal aid programmes amongst general public was taken up and the awareness material for video exhibition was supplied to local cable network operator. On the occasion, a Lok Adalat was convened wherein 11 MACT cases were taken up and nine of them were settled by mediation and conciliation. An amount of Rs 18, 45000 was awarded as compensation by the Lok Adalat. The Lok Adalat was presided over by S L Pandita and assisted by Sanjay Parihar, CJM and Mehmood Choudhary, District Mobile Magistrate and secretary of the Legal Services Committee Qamir-ud-Din. Representatives of United India Assurance Company were present on the occasion. The meet decided that to celebrate Legal Services Day on November 9, 2004, a Lok Adalat shall be convened to settle the matrimonial cases under section 488 CrPC. The advocates and the parties may approach the respective courts by or on November 6 for settlement of their cases. |
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Cheques distributed among handicapped, old persons Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: Minister for Social Welfare, Mula Ram distributed cheques to handicapped and sewing machines to the widows and destitute at an awareness camp organised by the Social Welfare department at Purmandal yesterday. Minister of State for Sheep and Animal Husbandry, Yashpaul Kundal was also present. Addressing people on the occasion, the Minister said that Government is determined to create awareness about various innovative schemes initiated by the department so that more and more helpless persons and those residing in remote areas of the State could derive maximum benefit from it. He said that social welfare department is providing financial help to the needy through various socially oriented schemes to ameliorate lot of the masses in the remote areas. ‘Through the medium of anganwari workers, the department is performing a commendable job to raise the health of the children besides providing them pre-nursery scholarship’. He said that Government is also contemplating to regularize the services of the anganwari workers and more anganwari centres world be opened in the area soon. He said that Purmandal would be developed as a major pilgrims centre and efforts are being made to give a facelift to the area by constructing and renovating basic infrastructure. He said that more land is being acquired to provide accommodation to the students of the area. As the town had been declared model town, appropriate grants would be allotted to develop a beautiful park, he added. Minister of State for Sheep and Animal Husbandry, who also spoke on the occasion said that lot of developmental work have been initiated in the Purmandal over the past two years by the present Government. He said that many primary schools have been opened and upgraded to provide quality education to the students. He said that social welfare department has granted scholarships to schedule castes other backward classes students so that they could continue their education and dropout rate is brought to a zero level. |
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Jugal asks officers to educate rural masses Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR Nov 4: Minister of State for Tourism, Jugal Kishore Sharma has stressed upon the officers to ensure that people living in rural and remote areas are benefited with various State and centrally sponsored schemes. The Minister was speaking at a one-day awareness camp of farmers at village Deyhote of Pouni block organised by the Horticulture Development. Over 300 progressive farmers of village Deyhote, Tehari, Ransoo and Taryath participated in the camp. Addressing the farmers, the Minister asked them to plant more and more fruit plants to raise their economy He emphasized them to come forward and avail the benefits from various schemes of Horticulture department. The Minister also stressed upon the officers to organize more such awareness camps so that the people living in far-flung areas are educated about various State and centrally sponsored development schemes. He also called for providing technical guidance to farmers. Earlier, the Minister inaugurated newly constructed primary school building at village Tehari He distributed three cheques worth Rs. 30,000 among three beneficiaries of Panchayat Deyhote under Indira Awas Yojana. Speaking on the occasion, Director Horticulture, said that maximum thrust is being given for the development of horticulture in the State. SDM Reasi, asked the farmers to adopt latest techniques in fruit plantation, vegetable growing and sowing of high yielding variety seeds to boost their economy. |
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Jammu transporters take on
Srinagar Police Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 4: A Division Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court today issued notices to Financial Commissioner Home, S D Singh, Director General of Police, Gopal Sharma, and other senior officials over a petition in which Kashmir Bar Association (KBA) has suggested complicity of the state Police in the so-called ‘Srinagar sex scandal’. Meanwhile, accused Ashwani Kumar and Jagbir Singh have demanded CBI inquiry into the whole episode, while alleging that Police had implicated them falsely after they refused to pay money to senior Police officials. KBA’s petition came up for initial hearing before a DB, comprising Mr Justice N A Kakroo and Mr Justice Hakeem Imtiyaz Hussain. The KBA President, Mian Abdul Qayoom, asserted that senior Police officials had claimed at a news conference on October 14th last that they had apprehended a number of men and women involved in a sex scandal in the capital city of Srinagar. He said that Police officials claimed to have seized "concrete evidences" suggesting the involvement of influential businessmen, politicians and bureaucrats. Police also claimed to have identified mobile numbers of several people allegedly involved in the flesh trade. He said that the accused had been released in mysterious circumstances without seeking bail from a court of law. Mian Qayoom, on behalf of KBA, argued that Police officials had ceased to investigate the case in a transparent manner. He referred to reports and editorials carried by a number of newspapers which indicated that the Police officers were themselves beneficiaries of immoral trafficking and some of them had even established restaurants and hotels to capitalise on the flesh trade. He also referred to reports which had specifically mentioned that 37 brothels were operational in Srinagar city alone. Mian Qayoom alleged that names of certain influential Police officers had been dropped from the FIR while as the real criminals were being neither identified nor apprehended. He implored judiciary to ensure complete transparency in the sensitive case by way of constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The petitioner desired to know how the accused had been released without seeking bail from the court of CJM Srinagar. He pointed out that KBA had decided not to plead the case of any person held in the immoral trafficking. After hearing Mian Qayoom’s arguments, the Bench asked the High Court registry to issue notices to FC Home, DGP, IGP Kashmir, SSP Srinagar, SP North Srinagar and SDPO M R Gunj, seeking the state’s objections to the KBA petition. Next date of hearing was fixed after a week’s time. Meanwhile, prominent Jammu-based transporters Thakur Ashwani Singh and Jagbir Singh alleged at a news conference here today that they had been both implicated in a false case by "a Srinagar-Jammu gang of criminal Police officers". They produced documentary evidence according to which they had been picked up by Police near Hotel Shangri La in Sonwar area on October 14. The business, who according to the Police statement of October 14, had been "arrested" from a brothel in Chinkral Mohalla, Habba Kadal alongwith a number of girls "in compromising position", claimed that they were actually followed and intercepted by Policemen in two white-colour Gypsies in Sonwar area. Ashwani Kumar said that after taking lunch at Jagbir Singh’s rented residence in Indira Nagar, Sonwar, he was on way to Circuit House in Jagbir’s Baleno car. While producing a printout of his mobile phone’s incoming and outgoing calls, he claimed that he was talking to his partner C P Gupta over the cellular phone when the Policemen dragged them out of their Baleno. He claimed that C P Gupta, who is a prominent contractor busy with the construction of North-South Corridor in Srinagar, heard it all over his mobile phone. Thereafter, he said, both the transporters were taken to Khanyar and confined in a room at the office of SP North Bashir Ahmed Khan. The transporters said that Police officials took their pictures and subjected them to severe physical torture to extort confession that they were involved in the flesh trade. They said that on one point of time, IGP Kashmir K Rajendra seemed to be convinced with their statement that they were being fabricated out of vendetta. "But, suddenly he received a call, possibly from a Ganderbal-based Police officer, after which he asked the SP North and SDPO to subject them to further physical torture in confinement. While as Ashwani Kumar maintained that the actual reason of his "kidnapping" was a Jammu-based land mafia, in which several Police officers were "active partners", Jagbir Singh alleged that prior to his arrest, "some men of SSP Srinagar Javed Gilani and SP North Bashir Ahmed Khan" met him a number of times. He alleged that they demanded "Police share" from two cheques which he had received from J&K State Road Transport Corporation on account of payment for supplying vehicles for transportation. He said that he had received a cheque, amounting to Rs 41.84 Lakh from SRTC on October 13 and another cheque, amounting to Rs 27.00 Lakh, on October 9th. He alleged that Police officers struck on him after he refused to pay "Police share" to the officer’s men. They said that after a week’s "wrongful confinement" they were released without any bail, though the DGP took from them a bond of Rs 5,000. They said that their family members’ and friends’ representations to the Chief Minister and MoS Home worked to the extent that they were set free. They, however, demanded CBI inquiry into the whole "enactment of drama by Srinagar Police", arguing that Police itself was party to the episode and it could not do justice in this particular matter. They said that they had separately filed defamation suit, seeking damages worth Rs 2 Crore from the Police officers, allegedly responsible for implicating them in a "false case". The transporters said that Police officers in Kashmir had become habitual of extorting huge amounts of money from businessmen. "Those who resist are being arrested with the false claim that a grenade or a gun has been recovered from their home", they alleged. They said that they would not succumb to any kind of pressure and would fight vigorously. Mahila College Sangarsh Samiti holds protest Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Nov 4: Mahila College Sangarsh Samiti held protest demonstration and took out a massive procession here today in support of the long pending demand of setting up a women college in the town. A large number of men, women and students earlier staged a massive dharna at Bhagat Singh Park in the city today under the chairmanship of Ch Chaggar Singh. Several political and social activists also joined the struggle. Dr Ram Murti Sharma, convenor of MCSS while addressing the gathering said that strength of Kathua degree college is much more than seven other colleges of Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri etc. and girls strength is about fifty percent here. He informed that for distance education, PG classes and main college, about 6000 students are attaining education. Under such circumstances, Kathua needs a separate Mahila college. The people then took out massive protest march in the town which culminated at DC’s office. A memorandum was submitted to the Government through Deputy Commissioner. Besides Ch Chaggar Singh, I D Khajuria, Pitamber Dutt, Parshotam Singh, Prof Ajoora Singh , Dr S P Bhagat also accompanied the deputation to DC, Kathua. They have appealed the people of the entire district to support the cause of separate women college in Kathua. Estates employees’ one day conference held Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: Various problems of the Government employees were raised in the one day conference of All J&K Estates Employees Associations conference held here today. Director Estates, the Deputy Director and the Executive Engineer were the special invitees to the conference. Various leaders of the association raised the problems being faced by the employees. President of the Association Prem Singh Baba while speaking on the occasion demanded re-organisation of Estates department, providing two and half days additional pay benefit to the field staff, original designation to the skilled workers, regularisation of daily wagers, amendment in notifications, time bound promotion, finalisation of seniority list, adjustment of qualified staff, removal of pay anomalies, providing tools and uniforms to workers and regularisation of daily wagers. Those spoke on the occasion included Yuvraj Bhati general secretary, Bachan Lal, Tilak Raj, Rajesh Gupta, Subhash Chander and Darshan Lal. Patnitop Hotel-Restaurant Association elects office bearers Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 4: Patnitop Hotel and Restaurant Association today unanimously elected Harcharan Singh as its president and Kushal Magotra as senior vice president. According to a press release, Lovenesh Rao Sathe was elected as vice-president, Sunil Bakshi as general secretary, Sayed Shah as publicity secretary, Yogeshwar Badyal as treasurer. Ramesh Prohit, Jugal Sharma, Brij Bhushan Gupta, Anwar Shah, C K Singh were elected as members of the executive committee members. After conducting the elections, the Patnitop Hotel and Restaurant Association discussed some demands and urged the government to take them on priority. They pointed out that there was no sewerages and drainage system due to which the land sliding has taken place and the environment has become very dirty and even more the main damage is being caused to the forest and especially the Deodar tree. |
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