3 students,
3 policemen sustain injuries
Lathicharge on students at GGM Science College
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1: Police
today resorted to lathicharge on the students of
GGM Science College to thwart the latter’s
attempt to come out of the college and hold
demonstration on the ever-busy canal road
demanding immediate establishment of proposed
Central University in Jammu.
According to
report, this morning when a group of nearly 50-70
students of the college led by the activists of
Central University Andolan Samiti (CUAS)
assembled in the college premises, after
boycotting their classes, and forcefully tried to
take out protest rally the police personnel
deployed at the main gate resorted to lathicharge
and pushed them inside.
In retaliation,
the agitated students started pelting stones on
the police, which resulted in ding-dong clashes
between the two sides that lasted for nearly two
hours.
According to an
eye-witness, the police chased the stone-pelting
students inside the college. Even police
personnel pelted stones on the students, he
added.
CUAS activist
Pratap Singh claimed that it was police which
provocated the peacefully agitating students and
mentioned that three Part-I students of the
college namely Abhishek Sharma, Ajay Koul and
Deepak sustained injuries in the lathicharge.
He also claimed
that a student namely Gulshan Sharma, R/o Shakti
Nagar was also lifted by the police.
As per police,
some of the miscreants among the students turned
the situation around by pelting stones. Police
claimed that three of their personnel also
sustained injuries in the clash but, denied that
none of the student was picked up.
This is pertinent
to mention here that students of the city
colleges have been protesting since 35 days under
the banner of CUAS highlighting their demand.
But, it was for the first time that clash broke
out between the police and the students.
Assembly
adjourned sine die
PDP ends budget session with a walk out
From Aamir Khan
SRINAGAR,
Sept 1:
The 36-day long budget session of the
Legislative Assembly ended today the way it had
begun -- on an acrimonious note.
The opposition
People's Democratic Party (PDP) legislators
staged a walk out after its president Mehbooba
Mufti was disallowed by Speaker Akbar Lone to
continue with her vote of thanks. Members of the
treasury benches had objected to the PDP
president's speech saying that it was not an
occasion to rake up old issues.
Mehbooba's vote of
thanks, which according to Finance Minister Abdul
Rahim Rather should have ended on a
"positive and sweet" note, had
references right from the history of the ruling
National Conference party to Chief Minister Omar
Abdullah's statement that the PDP president was
not anti-national but her remarks sometimes were
so.
Unruly scenes were
witnessed on the first day of the session on July
27 when the Speaker refused to allow the PDP
members from raising the issue of Shopian rape
and murder of two women.
To start off, she
thanked the Speaker for giving her party members
time to present their point of view after the
"initial bitterness." Then, in her
speech, Mehbooba mainly tried to defend the
allegations of her being termed as
"anti-national."
Referring to NC's
past demand of self-determination during the time
of its founder late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, she
said the statement of her utterances being
anti-national had come from a party which had
"bathed in this river" for 22 years.
Mehbooba said Omar
was "openly" talking about the
revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act
(AFSPA) only when she had spoken about the
withdrawal of troops from the State a long time
back, and during those days, the same remarks
were considered anti-national.
"Whenever we
raise an issue, we are called
anti-national," she said.
Mehbooba then
talked about the last year's Amarnath land row
agitations by saying that the National Security
Advisor and then Defence Minister Pranab
Mukherjee had held meetings with her regarding
the issue and that her party was not against
"peace or Jammu."
Health Minister
Sham Lal Sharma objected to her speech and said
she was raking up past issues and that she should
abide by the "rules" of the House. He
said she should not "dictate terms" to
the Assembly.
"Why should
not I defend the fact that I have been called
anti-national?' Mehbooba said, adding "If
you got hurt by my references to the land row, I
will not talk about it." She also said there
were no rules regarding the vote of thanks.
Her statement
angered Sharma while Law and Parliamentary
Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar also took
offence and said, "This is not
right….not the dignity and decency of the
opposition leader…do not politicize every
occasion."
Sagar and Mehbooba
exchanged heated words as the Minister further
said, "This is not the political stage of
PDP."
The PDP president
in reply said, "This (Assembly) is not a
municipality (Corporation) that you (NC) have
been trying to make it since 1947."
The PDP MLAs then
staged a walkout as Mehbooba claimed that CID and
security agencies had been directed to keep a
watch over her.
Asserting that the
vote of thanks said by party leaders in the House
were "sweet, jovial and positive,"
Rather regretted that the concluding hour of this
year's budget session was ending on a
"bitter" note. He said he had not this
bitter experience during his last 30 years in the
House.
The Finance
Minister said a "new precedent" had
been set by the PDP even though it was not a
"good one."
Rather also
regretted that Mehbooba had "belittled"
the contributions of its founder Sheikh Abdullah
to the State. "If you cannot see the sparkle
of the sun, you have to blame your eyes," he
added.
The Finance
Minister assured the House that the Government
was duty bound to fulfill its promises.
Earlier, Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) MLA Prof Chaman Lal Gupta
during his vote of thanks lamented that the House
diverted from the "main issues such as
Central University and SRTC."
He also claimed
that some of the questions submitted by his party
did not "figure anywhere" and reply was
not given to all the Calling Attention notices.
MLAs of other
parties also presented vote of thanks. All of
them thanked the Speaker for conducting the
proceedings of the House in a commendable manner
after the first two days of "uproar."
Some MLA's felt
that the Chief Minister should have spent more
time in the House.
Deputy Chief
Minister Tara Chand asserted that everybody got a
chance to speak during the budget session and it
was a sign of "healthy democracy."
Finally, the
Speaker said 958 questions were tabled during the
ongoing session (545 starred and 413 un-starred).
He said replies were submitted to 860 while 113
questions were taken up for discussion besides
318 supplementary questions.
He said 39 out of
139 Calling Attention notices were discussed.
Thirty notices were disallowed, he added. The
Speaker said out of 2677 cut motions, 238 were
disallowed while 2439 were allowed.
He regretted the
PDP walk out as he said they had spoken in the
House for the maximum time (15 hours 30 minutes)
during general discussions. The Speaker said NC,
Congress and BJP had spoken for 11 hours 12
minutes, six hours four minutes and six hours
nine minutes respectively.
The Speaker then
adjourned the House sine die.
Govt
lifts ban on export of Basmati
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR,
Sept 1: The
State Government has lifted the ban on export of
Paddy (Basmati) with immediate effect. The ban
was imposed in April last year.
The announcement
to this effect was made by the Minister for CAPD,
Qamar Ali Akhoon in the Legislative Assembly
today. On July 29 this year, about 24 members of
the Legislative Assembly had raised the issue of
ban on export of Paddy (Basmati) and the Minister
had assured that the Government would take
suitable decision during the current budget
session itself.
The notification
has been issued vide SRO-268 dated 31.08.2009 for
lifting the ban on movement and distribution of
Paddy (Basmati) outside the State. The quality of
Basmati of Jammu is rated among the best in the
country.
The Minister
explained that the ban was found to be
anti-farmers as they were made to sell the Paddy
to the shellers within the State. He explained
that nearly 32000 hect of land in Jammu is
presently under cultivation of Paddy (Basmati)
and the average yield per hect is about 27 to 29
quintals. The expenditure incurred on cultivation
of Paddy (Basmati) per kanal is assessed at Rs.
1200 whereas the Paddy is being sold within the
State at rate ranging from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 1800.
It used to be sold at a price ranging from Rs
2500 to Rs 3000 per quintal in the absence of ban
on export of Basmati.
The Government
felt concerned over the substantial loss being
caused to the farmers on account of the ban and
accordingly, it felt that continuation of this
ban would be detrimental to the interest of
farming community. With a view to giving a fair
deal to the farming community of their precious
produces, the Government has lifted the ban.
Mr Akhoon said
that decision will benefit about 35000 to 36000
farming families, mostly cultivating in Jammu
district.
Yet another
mishap due to driver’s negligence
3 killed, 16 injured as mini-bus rolls down
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR,
Sept 1:
In yet another road accident due to
driver’s negligence, three persons were
killed and 16 others including four children
sustained injuries when a mini-bus rolled down
into a nullah at Basht village on
Chenani-Sudhmahadev road this afternoon.
The ill-fated
vehicle bearing registration number JK14A-5497
was on its way from Chenani to Sudhmahadev when
at Basht village under the jurisdiction of
Chenani Police Station it rolled down into a deep
nullah due to driver’s negligence.
On the receipt of
information about the accident, a police party
from Chenani led by SHO Manoj Kumar under the
supervision of DySP Headquarters Saudagar Mal
immediately rushed to the spot and started rescue
operation with the help of villagers. All the
occupants of the vehicle were brought out of the
nullah and shifted to Sub-District Hospital,
Chenani.
At Chenani
Hospital, two persons namely Alladin, son of Gogi
of Sudhmahadev and Savitri, wife of Amar Singh of
Bhast were declared as brought dead and 13 others
were referred to District Hospital Udhampur for
specialised treatment.
However, one more
passenger namely Shamsher Singh, a Special Police
Officer (SPO) succumbed to injuries in the
Udhampur hospital thereby raising the toll in the
accident to three. Soon after the death of SPO,
his family members and relatives held protest
demonstration in the premises of District
Hospital alleging that he succumbed to injuries
due to delay in treatment. The agitating people
were, later, pacified by the hospital
administration.
The injured have
been identified as Yog Raj (driver), son of Amar
Singh of Batna, Zalim Singh, son of Madhav Ram of
Sudhmahadev, Chanchal Devi, wife of Zalim Singh
of Sudhmahadev, Haazra, wife of Mohd Hussain of
Kosar, Kailasho Devi, wife of Shamsher Chand of
Mada, Udham Singh, son of Chanchal Singh, Seema
Devi, wife of Chaman Lal of Basht, Raj Kumar, son
of Pothu Ram of Bain, Manu, daughter of Jai Singh
of Basht, Mohan Lal, son of Ram Parkash, Vidya
Devi, daughter of Romel Chand of Gourikund,
Sudesh Kumar, son of Romal Singh of Gaurikund,
Hem Raj, son of Waziru of Sudhmahadev, Akhil
Kumar of Basht and Shakti Devi, daughter of Zalim
Singh of Sudhmahadev.
This is the second
accident due to driver’s negligence during
the past one week. Earlier, on August 24, two
school children were killed and 30 others
sustained injuries when an overloaded mini-bus
plunged into 300 feet deep gorge near Bathri on
Thathri-Gandoh road.
NC MLA
criticizes Govt for backtracking on
employment promise
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR,
Sept 1: The
opposition parties extended vociferous support to
the ruling National Conference legislator
Shameema Firdous in the Question Hour of the
Legislative Assembly today as she asserted that
her party had diverted from its election
manifesto of promising stipend to the unemployed
youth and also the promise of providing one job
to each family in the State.
"When NC
fought elections, it held out promises of
providing stipend to the unemployed and one job
to each family. Why are they categorically
denying it now?" the NC MLA of Habba Kadal
said after she was dissatisfied with the reply of
the Government.
The Labour and
Employment Ministry had stated: "Presently
no such proposal of providing employment to one
person of a family is under consideration."
Regarding the unemployment stipend, the Ministry
said it was premature for the Government to make
any commitment "in this behalf at this
juncture."
Shameema said the
Government's credibility was being challenged and
NC had asked for votes on "these two
promises only."
She also sought
details regarding the "next step" of
the Government in this regard.
National Panthers
Party (NPP) MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia said the
Government was giving "contradictory and
misleading" statements while the other NPP
legislator Harshdev Singh asserted that the
Government had to "admit" that it had
promised a job to each family and stipend to the
unemployed.
While Speaker
Mohammad Akbar Lone urged the MLAs to give time
to the Government to weigh the pros and cons of
the matter, Law and Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said it was
"unfair" to State that NC had promised
one job to each family in the State.
Harshdev then
claimed that NC president Farooq Abdullah, before
the elections, had promised that he will
"settle the concerns of contractual
engineers and electricians who have been on a
dharna for three years" but nothing was done
later.
Communist Party of
India-Marxist State secretary M Y Tarigami warned
that the Government should not arouse
"unnecessary expectations as the stipend for
unemployed was mentioned in the NC vision
document."
Referring to NC's
"unfulfilled promise," he said,
"Haathi ke daant - khaanay ke aur dikhanay
ke aur."
Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) legislator Ashok Khajuria said NC had
"one face" before the elections and the
"other" after it.
People's
Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Nizamuddin Bhat
suggested that the Government should come up with
a "comprehensive" policy in this
regard.
Finance Minister
Abdul Rahim Rather, while replying to the
discussions over the submitted question of MLA
Habba Kadal, said a notification would be issued
on October 2 later this year where details like
total number of unemployed educated youth and
skilled and un-skilled youth in the State, their
academic and professional qualifications besides
other relevant information would be sought.
Rather said this
would help the Government to build a data base
about the number of unemploymed youth and based
on this data, an employment policy would be
framed and announced later in December this year.
Migrants
continue demonstration, threaten to
intensify agitation
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1: The
Kashmiri migrants putting up in various camps of
Jammu region today reiterated to continue the
present dharna till their demands were met with.
The Kashmiri
Pandit Welfare Movement (KPWM) for Rights and
Justice which is spearheading the agitation at
Mishriwala camp has urged the Government to come
out with concrete policy on the Kashmiri Pandits.
It also demanded implementation of employment
package within shortest period with seven years
age relaxation.
The meeting
alleged that Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh
announced the employment package last year but
till date this was not implemented.
Besides it is
demanding enhancement of cash relief and one time
assistance to the displaced over aged KP youth so
that they could start their own business
ventures.
The dharna also
continued at Purkhoo camp where the camp inmates
held a demonstration in support of their demands
today.
The agitation is
led by Joint Action Committee , Purkhoo. It also
warned to continue the struggle till demands are
met. It alleged that all the promises made by the
Government so far proved hollow. The
demonstrators also alleged that failure of
Government to grant representation to the
community in the Cabinet has showed its
irresponsible attitude towards Pandit minorities.
The dharna also
continued at Muthi Camp Phase first led by
Displaced Welfare Committee. Meanwhile the
inmates of Muthi Camp Phase IInd under the banner
of Displaced Kashmiri Welfare Association, TRT
Phase I launched the dharna today to extend full
support to the agitation launched by migrants
putting in various camps of Jammu.
Migrant Government
Employees, Pensioners, Family Pensioners Welfare
Committee Camp Mishriwala and Displaced
Coordination Committee Mishriwala have also
extended full support to the present agitation
launched by (KPWM) at Mishriwala, Purkhoo and
Muthi camps.
Assembly
condemns killing of SF personnel in
militant attack
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR,
Sept 1: Opposition
BJP MLA Chaman Lal Gupta led the State
Legislative Assembly today in condemning the
militant attacks in the Lal Chowk and Batamaloo
areas of the city yesterday in which two CRPF
jawans were killed and 26 other injured.
Gupta raised the
issue as soon as the House assembled this morning
and he was supported by other BJP members and
National Panthers' Party (NPP) MLAs.
He demanded
compensation to the next of kin of the deceased
security force personnel and those injured in the
attacks.
Two CRPF jawans
were shot dead by militants at Budshah Chowk in
Lal Chowk area while six security force personnel
were among injured 26 injured in the grenade
attack at Batamaloo yesterday.
Gupta said while
militants were carrying out killings in the heart
of the city, there were demands raised from
certain quarters that security forces should be
withdrawn in view of the improvement in the
situation.
Responding to the
concern of the opposition members, PHE Minister
Taj Moh-iud-Din said it was matter of regret that
human lives have been lost in the militant
attacks and condemned the attack.
He assured the
opposition members that Government will take
initiate necessary steps for paying compensation
to the victims of the attacks.
Law and
Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar later
informed the House that FIRs have been registered
in the Police Stations of Masuma and Batamaloo
regarding the incident of firing and grenade
attack.
6510
willow clefts seized at Lakhanpur
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA,
Sept 1:
Alert Excise sleuths today seized a truck and
foiled an attempt to smuggle 6510 willow clefts
from Kashmir to Punjab.
Reports said that
acting on a tip off Excise team at Lakhanpur
under the supervision of Dy Excise Commissioner B
A Saraf, accompanied by ETO Ilyas Khan
intercepted a truck No. HR37B/2717. The operators
told that they were carrying fresh apples to
Delhi.
During the
physical check of the vehicle, the Excise team
found willow clefts concealed under the apple
boxes. After unloading the vehicle a total 6510
unfinished bats (Clefts) were found loaded in the
truck.
The goods
alongwith truck were seized and operators taken
into custody. They were identified as Subash
Chand, son of Maghar Ram, resident of Muthi Khurd
near Parole (Kathua) and Farooq Ahmed, son of
Abdul Rashid of Ramban. A team of Forest
Protection Force was called and the seized goods
were handed over to Forest Protection Force
Kathua for necessary action under law.
Dy Excise
Commissioner appreciated the efforts of the staff
of Toll Post Lakhanpur and asked them to maintain
strict vigil round the clock to check such
calendestine activities.
Resin
worth Rs 20 lakh seized, one held
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR,
Sept 1: A
joint team of Forest department and police seized
a truck carrying smuggled resin worth over Rs 20
lakhs from Udhampur Forest division and arrested
its driver last night.
Sources said the
truck No. JK02G/ 1567 which was loaded with
nearly 550-600 tins filled with resin managed to
move from Kadli Forest depot area and entered
Udhampur. Near the check post on Jammu- Srinagar
highway on the outskirts of town, the police and
Forest party seized the vehicle and arrested its
driver. Two persons on board however, managed to
jump out of the moving vehicle on seeing police
and escaped in the nearby forest.
The truck was
brought to Divisional Forest Office and a case
was registered in this connection. The sources
said that this vehicle had crossed one Forest
check post and managed to come out of local depot
with the connivance of staff deployed there. It
said that a few vehicles managed to cross over
this area including adjoining Jharat and Pakhlai
besides Kadli-Baletar.
DFO Udhampur,
Naveen Shah when contacted said that a truck
carrying resin without proper permission from
Kadli forest area towards Udhampur town was
seized during last mid night. Mr Shah further
said he could not find time to ascertain the
number of tins loaded and the value today. He,
however, divulged that rough estimate of goods
could be around Rs 15 to 20 lakh. He claimed that
two employees, Forest Guard Pritam Kumar and
Pritam Singh (Helper) posted at local Resin depot
Kadli have been placed under suspension.
CCF Jammu Abhay
Kumar said that two employees have already been
placed under suspension and preliminary repoprt
sought from concerned DFO. An inquiry committee
comprising of some officials from FPF is being
constituted to conduct thorough probe and fix
responsibility, Mr Kumar added.
Charges
framed against Cashier JRB in
misappropriation case
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1: Additional
Sessions Judge Anticorruption Jammu, Sanjeev
Gupta framed charges against OM Parkash Dhingra,
then Cashier Jammu Rural Bank, Branch Khour for
misappropriation of Rs 6,68,600.
According to the
six challans produced by CBI in the Court on the
basis of FIRs registered against the accused, on
a complaint filed by Shiv Rattan Dev Singh,
Senior Manager Jammu Rural Bank, it has been
mentioned that accused had forged the signatures
of authorized officer of the Branch on the basis
of fictitious credits and subsequently withdrawn
amount from the accounts of account holders by
forging their signatures on withdrawal form.
During the course
of investigation, it came to the fore that
misappropriation was done by the accused in
pursuance of a criminal conspiracy hatched with
Romesh Kumar, Jugal Kishore, Kuldeep Kumar and
Sat Pal Gupta, who were having their accounts in
the bank.
After hearing
Senior Public Prosecutor S K Bhat appearing for
CBI, Advocates K S Parihar and Sanjeev Gupta
appearing for the accused, Additional Sessions
Judge Anticorruption Jammu, Sanjeev Gupta
observed, "from the careful perusal of oral
and documentary evidence including report of
handwriting expert, it becomes clear that there
are sufficient grounds in the charge-sheet to
proceed with the trial of the case against
accused O P Dhingra as his prima-facie
involvement is clearly made out for the
commission of offences under various sections of
RPC and Prevention of Corruption Act".
The Court directed
the prosecution to produce the evidence on the
next date of hearing whereas four other accused
persons namely Romesh Kumar, Jugal Kishore,
Kuldeep Kumar and Sat Pal Gupta were discharged
at the stage of framing of charges as their role
in the criminal conspiracy could not be
established.
Anantnag
police solves blind murder case
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR,
Sept 1: Police
today claimed to have solved a blind murder case
by arresting four persons including the brother
of the victim, a police spokesman said here.
"Anantnag
police has solved a blind murder case by
arresting four including the brother of the
deceased," the spokesman said.
Giving details of
the case, he said on August 15, one Mohammad
Rafiq Bimla son of Allaudin Bimla resident of
Thope Ahlan in Kokernag area lodged a report that
his brother Abdul Rashid Bimla has been
strangulated to death.
He named two
suspects in the FIR and police started
investigations into the case. "However, the
contents of the complaint and circumstance
explained by Rafiq Bimla raised some doubts. On
this police station Kokernag conducted thorough
investigation through covert and overt
means," the spokesman said.
He said the
investigation finally indicated that it was the
complainant, Rafiq Bimla, who along with three
persons -- Qasim Bimla, Bashir Bimla and Ghulam
Hussain, had committed the crime.
The deceased was
hanged to death on a tree in the jungle by a
rope. The police have recovered the rope and also
located the tree where crime had been committed,
he said.
All the four
persons involved in the murder have confessed
their crime who have been subsequently arrested
by Kokernag police, he added.
JUTA
starts dharna in front of VC Secretariat
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1:
To intensify the ongoing protest in support
of their demands, the executive council of Jammu
University Teachers Association (JUTA) today
started one-hour peaceful dharna on alternate day
basis in front of the Vice Chancellor
Secretariat.
It is pertinent to
mention here that JUTA have been protesting since
August 24. Earlier, the University teachers held
protest by wearing black badges and now they are
holding dharna to press their demands.
The JUTA has been
demanding the implementation of Sixth UGC Pay
Commission Report in toto, revocation of transfer
order of Director DIQA to Director DDE, end of
adhocism and fixation of seniority.
Further, JUTA has
also requested the Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor
of the University to implement the Pay Commission
Report in toto that includes enhancement in
superannuation age of teachers from 60 to 65
years, allowances as per HRD notification, full
pension after 20 years of qualifying service and
increase in the earned leave as applicable to
Central Universities.
28 injured
in police action on SRTC employees
Lock out of Corporation, VRS to employees now
only solution: Union
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar/Jammu,
Sept 1:
As police today used water cannons and brute
force to disperse the protesting employees of
State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), the
employees' union said it will now settle for
nothing less than a voluntary retirement scheme
for all employees of the corporation at once.
"We have seen
the Governments - past and present -renege on
their promises, agreements and contracts made
with us. Now, we will not settle for anything
less than a lock out of the SRTC and a VRS for
every employee of the corporation in one
go," Shakeel Kuchay, head of the SRTC
employees union, told EXCELSIOR here.
He said the
Government was adopting a use and throw policy
with the SRTC. "When the Government needs
us, they make promises only to break. We
performed the durbar move duty, the Amarnath
yatra duty and the Assembly session has ended
successfully … now, they are sending us the
Finance Minister with just assurances,"
Kuchay said.
He said the
protests march was organized to press for their
demands including release of four months
salaries. "Salary is no more the
issue," he added.
Earlier, police
used water canons and batons to chase away
thousands of SRTC employees, their children and
women folk as they were marching from the
Corporation office at Maulana Azad Road towards
Lal Chowk.
The employees were
intercepted by a huge deployment of police
personnel near Government Women's College and
sprinkled with coloured water. A group of
agitated employees climbed on the vehicle
sprinkling the water and tried to vandalise it.
The policemen
resorted to heavy lathicharge to disperse the
protesting employees. As per the police sources,
only five employees were injured in police action
and all of them have been discharged.
However, Kuchay
claimed that at least 28 persons including 25
employees and three children were injured in the
"brutal" use of force on the
protestors.
"We have
three employees who are admitted in
Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences
(SKIMS) Soura. One of them is still unconscious
as doctors said he has a clot in the brain due to
the beating by police," Kuchay said.
He said a driver
from Anantnag lost his eye and was admitted at
SMHS hospital for treatment. "Two children
were shifted to Anantnag as they hail from there
while a seven-year old from Pulwama received five
stitches on his head and was taken to a private
hospital. Others were discharged after first
aid," he added.
Kuchay said the
SRTC was used as a political tool by successive
Ministers to strengthen their vote bank. "G
M Shah, Hussam Din Banday, Bashir Ahmad Kitchloo,
Mangat Ram Sharma and Ajat Shatru Singh have all
employed their own people in the corporation to
strengthen their vote bank. Now, the Government
today says they are not the employees of the
corporation," he alleged.
He demanded a
central commission to probe how and why the
appointments were carried out in the corporation
since its inception.
Our Jammu
correspondent adds: Hundreds of J&K State
Road Transport Corporation workers and their
families took out protest march and staged
demonstration at Divisional headquarters here
while their indefinite strike entered the 7th
consecutive day today.
A large number of
employees assembled in the office of General
Manager Operations, SRTC at Bikram Chowk and
started their protest march alongwith children
and family members. Many children had come in
school uniforms. They were stopped by police on
Tawi bridge. Then they were sent back towards
Bikram Chowk. They were carrying banners and
placards in hands and shouting slogans against
Government. Later, they sat on day- long dharna
outside GM’s office.
They were
demanding release of four months salary.
Provincial
president Ashok Mehra was leading the protest
march. Later several Union leaders including
Paramjit Singh, Mohan Singh, Darshan Lal, Ashok
Kumar and Gurvinder addressed the gathering and
strongly condemned police lathicharge on SRTC
employees in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, a
deputation of SRTC Workers Union met the
Political Advisor to Chief Minister Devinder
Singh Rana here and apprised him of the
workers’ problems. Mr Rana assured that
their problems will be resolved within five days.
He appealed the workers to resume duty.
Ladakh
will emerge favourite destination for global
tourists: Selja
Excelsior Correspondent
LEH,
Sept 1: Expressing
hope that Ladakh will very soon attract tourists
from across the globe, the Tourism and Housing
and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister, Kumari
Selja, said the modern day tourist is travelling
with an objective of experiencing the local
culture and heritage and not just limiting to the
conservative sightseeing trips.
After inaugurating
a fortnight-long Ladakh festival here today, Ms
Selja said the event will help showcase its
culture, heritage and way of life, depicting
different ethnic race all over Ladakh.
She said this
colourful festival, which is now becoming an
important event in the tourism calendar of the
country, will very soon attract tourist from all
over the globe.
The Minister said
she was happy to share that the Ministry of
Tourism had sanctioned Rs 4.97 crore during the
year 2005-06 for the destination development of
Ladakh region.
A project for the
development of tourist facilities in and around
Leh was also sanctioned during 2006-07 for Rs
4.59 crore. Both the projects are still in the
various stages of implementation which should be
expedited, she said.
With an eye to
train the local youth for providing trained and
skilled manpower to the hotel and hospitality
industry in Ladakh region, Ministry of Tourism
had also sanctioned one Food Craft Institute at
Leh and Rs 2 crore was released to the State.
Ms Selja also
requested the State Government to speed up the
implementation of the project keeping in view the
future demand.
About the
importance of tourism, she said it has emerged as
a key player in development strategies.
Appropriately leveraged, the tourism sector has
high potential for delivering sustainable growth
with equity while ensuring economic progress.
She said as per
projections of the World Travel and Tourism
Council (WTTC) for 2008, the contribution of
tourism to world GDP and employment were at 9.9
per cent and 8.4 per cent respectively.
As per Tourism
Satellite Accounting, tourism’s contribution
to GDP and employment in India is 6.1 per cent
and 5.8 per cent respectively.
"I am glad
that the special festivals like the one opening
today here will allow the tourists to experience
the real culture of the region.’’
Ladakh has been
center of the flourishing trade route from West
Asia to China and reflects this in its tourism
products that include its built heritage, culture
and cuisine.
There is, she
said, therefore, much that could be done to
position Ladakh as a tourist destination in the
country.
Adventure tourism
is another product that has potential for growth.
Forest
department organizes Plantation Drive at
Revenue Complex
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu,
Sept 1: The
Forest Department organized a plantation drive at
the Divisional Revenue complex and the Revenue
Training Institute, Gole Gujral, here today.
Chief Conservator
of Forests, Abhay Kumar was the chief guest on
the occasion. The programme was organized as a
symbol of coordination between the Forest and
Revenue department. On the occasion all the
senior officers of both the departments planted
saplings in the premises of Revenue Training
Institute, apart from about seven hundred plants
planted by the officials of Forest department and
jawans of the Eco-Task Force.
The CCF, expressed
his happiness over such a greater coordination
and cooperation between both the departments in
carrying out plantation in the area. He stressed
the need of environment protection through
greening campaign. The programme marked the
culmination of the 60th Vanmahotsav which was
inaugurated by the Minsiter of Ecology,
Environement and Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmed on
July 25.
On the occasion,
an interaction among the officers was also
organized. Conservator of Forests, Arun Kumar
Tickoo dwelled on the issue and need of
coordination between both the departments for
protecting the forest land and further enhancing
the nature of ecology. Director, Land Records,
Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik while expressing his
concern towards the need of increasing awareness
about more and more plantation, thanked the
forest department especially DFO Jammu, Dr.
Shahid Iqbal, for organizing this major event in
the Revenue complex and hoped that such a
coordination will grow mature in times to come.
Tehsildar Settlement, Jammu, Islam Din Choudhary
presented the vote of thanks.
The function was
attended by DFO Billawar Kamal Kishore, Col
Kotwal and Col Devender Singh of the Eco Task
Force, S. Jatinder Singh, Principal of Revenue
Training Institute, and all the Naib Tehsildars
and Range Forest Officers of Jammu Division.
Bahuguna
calls for plantation drive in Himalayas to
overcome water woes
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR,
Sept 1: Veteran
environmental activist Sunder Lal Bahuguna today
called for an aggressive plantation drive for
increasing the capacity of the land to retain
water saying scarcity of water will be one of the
biggest challenges before the mankind in future.
"Water
(shortage) will be the biggest problem before us
in future and we have to take steps now to wards
the problem," Bahuguna told reporters here
after kick starting the Save Himalaya campaign.
Bahuguna said the
problem of water scarcity can be tackled if
Himalayan region is covered with trees and
greenery.
"Firstly, it
can be solved by austerity … second, we will
have to find alternatives to activities in which
water is consumed and third is afforestation
which has to be an important priority. We should
work on how to increase the water storage,"
he said.
Bahuguna said
deforestation of the Himalayan region was the
biggest factor behind the soil erosion and
receding glaciers.
Describing the
forests as natural water tanks, he said
afforestation will not only prevent soil erosion,
it will also act as a water resource for the
people.
He also called for
cultivation of nut crops, which consume less
water but are high in energy. "We should
plant trees that yield nuts, which are the
natural food for human beings. We should plant
trees for fertilizer, firewood, timber, fodder
and fibre."
Global warming can
cause more hunger in poor countries, lead to
extinction of many animal and plant species and
death of many rivers in Asia which are fed by the
glaciers of Himalayas like the Ganga and the
Indus, Bahuguna said.
"The global
warming has already showed its effects on the
glaciers in the Himalayas and reducing water
discharge in the rivers can be a big reason for
the conflicts in the world in near future,"
he added.
He said it was
unfortunate that the people always look up to the
Government for help but fail to understand that
while the State is a tool, it is the people who
have to do the real work.
"The Carbon
dioxide level has increased and the river waters
are polluted. We have to work hard to get out of
this mess," he added.
HC
directs PSC to produce record of KAS prelims
result
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1: In
a petition challenging the notification of PSC
dated July 31, 2009, Justice Hakim Imtiyaz
Hussain of State High Court has issued notice to
State through Commissioner Secretary and J&K
PSC through its Secretary returnable within two
weeks and directed PSC to produce a copy of
result declared on July 31, 2009 with category
wise details of all the candidates who have
qualified the test in terms of Rule 8 (2) of
SRO-38.
These directions
were passed in a petition filed by Sashi Kant
Bhagat and Yasir Javed seeking quashment of
result declared on July 31, 2009. In the petition
filed through Advocate W S Nargal, it has been
submitted that the petitioner No.1 belongs to
Schedule Caste category and Petitioner No. 2
belongs to Schedule Tribe category. Both the
petitioners have applied and appeared against the
post reserved for SC and ST Category.
It was further
submitted that PSC was under obligation to
reframe the merit list as per Rule by calling
one/third of the total number of candidates who
appeared in preliminary examination or 25 times
the number of the posts advertised in various
category which ever is higher and prayed for
quashment of the result declared on July 31,
2009.
SPO
killed in Dangiwacha encounter
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar,
Sept 1: A
Special Police officer (SPO) was killed and an
intelligence sleuth injured in an encounter
between militants and security forces in the
forest area of Dangiwacha in Baramulla district
in North Kashmir, official sources here today.
The gun battle
broke out after troops of 32 Rashtriya Rifles and
Special Operations Group (SOG) of local police
launched a search operation in the forest area of
Sheikhpura-Behakipura in Dangiwacha area this
morning.
Security forces
were zeroing in on the hideout of the militants,
when they opened indiscriminate firing, resulting
in injuries to an SPO and an intelligence sleuth.
The injured where
shifted to district hospital Baramulla from where
the SPO was referred to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute
of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura where he
succumbed.
The slain SPO has
been identified as Manzoor Ahmad while the
injured person has been identified as Manish
Kaushal.
Although there
were reports of one militant being killed in the
exchange of fire, Defence and police officials
refused to confirm it saying unless the body is
recovered, they will not comment on it.
The firing was
going on between the two sides till reports last
came in.
BJP
terms statement of Hari Om as rubbish
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1: The
State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken
serious exception to the statement of Prof Hari
Om that it was due to ideological conflict and
change in the basic policies of the BJP that
compelled him (Prof) to join Congress.
Terming the
statement of Prof Hari Om totally incorrect, BJP
spokesman Ramesh Arora said that he (Prof)
remained fully associated with policy making of
BJP and at the same time, he was in the habit of
contradicting the policies by writing articles on
the fictitious name of ‘Dost Khan’.
He said when Prof
Hari Om failed to get support from Party
leadership for allotting Assembly ticket to him
from Jammu West, he left the Party. He accused
Prof Hari Om of trying to justify his self
interest by assigning reasons which is totally
false.
Arora also said
Prof Hari Om is in the habit of making false
allegations on the Party and added that he even
did not spare Congress when he failed to get
ticket of MLC for which he had shifted his
loyalty to Congress.
He said BJP does
not require any certificate from any one for its
ideology and working. He also accused Prof Hari
Om of stabbing the Party in the back. He alleged
shifting of loyalty form BJP to Congress was just
to taste the power and when he (Prof) failed to
seek favour from Congress he started targeting
that Party also.
KHC
holds executive meet
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1: Kashmiri
Hindu Conference (KHC) in its executive meeting
here today held under the chairmanship of M L
Thusoo while discussing various issues including
the holding of KP Sanskrtik Samelan has demanded
that the list of scholars participating in the
Samelan be made public for making the change in
Karam Kand.
Mr Thusoo also
criticised the political leadership for their
discriminatory role towards Kashmiri Hindus and
alleged that these leaders were not sincere to
settle the demands of the community.
P L Koul Badgami,
convenor of KHC accused the politicians of
depriving the KPs of their rights. He alleged
that these politicians were working for weakening
the foundations of secular traditions of the
country in Valley and they have made Kashmiri
Hindus untouchable.
General secretary
of the organization, J K Raina Maktoom appealed
the Chief Secretary, to take up the demand of
Kashmiri Hindus regarding their visit to world
famous Sharda Shrine lying in PoK with visiting
Pakistani High Commissioner.
Army
dedicates community hall to Nagrota residents
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1: As
part of its ongoing endeavours for society
development under Operation Sadbhavana, the Army
today dedicated a community hall to the people of
Nagrota constituency of Jammu district.
The community hall
has been constructed by 116 Engineer Regiment for
the residents of Nagrota under ‘Operation
Sadbhavana’.
While handling
over the keys of the Community Hall, the
Commanding Officer said that the Army remained
committed towards peace and development of the
State.
Virender Sharma,
president Nagrota Constituency Development
Committee who was present on the occasion said
that the new Community Hall has fulfilled a long
standing requirement of the villagers of lower
Nagrota and adjoining settlements. The villagers
were appreciative of the efforts of the Army in
alleviating their problems.
A large number of
senior citizens and Army Officersas also Jawans
were also present on the occasion.
UKF’s
concern over leasing out of Shurah Yar temple
land
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR,
Sept 1: United
Kashmiriyat Forum (UKF) has expressed grave
concern over the leasing out of Shurah Yar temple
land situated in Badami Bagh area opposite
G.B.Panth Hospital and has accused the Chief
Executive Officer of Cantonment Board for
facilitating the deal in violation of all the
norms.
In a meeting under
the leadership of its President Bharat Raina held
here today , the executive members took a strong
exception of the leasing out of huge chunk of
land belonging to Shurah Yar temple fraudulently
and allocating permission to party to run his
business in the area.
Expressing their
serious concern over the development, the members
said that it was shocking to know that the temple
property has been leased out in the cantonment
area of the summer capital of state.
"How the
permission for construction of shops and other
structures was granted to the party by the
cantonment Board authorities," the members
wondered and accused the Chief Executive Officer
of assisting in striking the deal only after the
fulfillment of his self-interest.
The members asked
the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter and
take action against those involved in the murky
deed so that the property is restored to the
temple.
Janipur
traders elect body
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1: Uday
Chand was today nominated as Chief Advisor of
Janipur Traders Association. Subash Sharma and
Rajneesh Kaushal were elected as vice presidents
and Ajay Parihar as general secretary. Ravi Puri
was elected as secretary, Gautam Sharma as
secretary finance and Raman Ji Koul as secretary
press.
Naresh Kumar Uppal
was elected as chief organisor, Mohd Akram and
Kuldip Pandit as organisors, Balbir Singh, Majid
Jahangir, Pankhil Sawhney and Vikas Sehgal as
joint secretaries. Jeevan Kohli was elected as ex
officio members while members of Executive
Committee include C L Bamjai, Bahadur Singh,
Charanjeet Singh, Rohit Bali, Ram Krishan, Gopal
Sharma, Gopal Krishan Dogra, Varinder Manhas,
Anil Gupta, Vikas Mengi, Shiv Rattan Gupta,
Sanjay Kumar, Surinder Paul Singh and Dinesh
Malhotra.
Yashpal Sharma
‘Mantu’ has already been elected as
president and Arun Bamzai as senior vice
president.
IGGDC
Principal asks students to be humane
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1: An
introductory meet of the fresher batch of 2009 of
Indira Gandhi Government Dental College (IGGDC)
Jammu was organised today in the College premises
which was attended among others by IGGDC
Principal Dr Rajinder Singh.
Dr Singh said by
choosing the profession, the students can make
their career and serve humanity and ailing
people. He advised them to remain disciplined and
punctual in their studies.
He said the
behaviour of students towards patients should be
sympathetic and they should also respect their
teachers and seniors.
Dr J P Singh,
Professor, Medicines Department, Government
Medical College, Jammu, an expert in holistic
medicines, also delivered a lecture and
highlighted the importance of healthy mind and
body for complete health and happy life.
He said to become
a good doctor one should first be a good human
being. A good doctor and human should neither
express nor suppress anger but control it by
understanding the situation and bring cheers to
his daily life.
Faculty and
students of IGGDC also attended the meeting. Dr
Mohan Singh, Medical Superintendent and Bharat
Bhushan Thappa, Administrative Officer, were also
present on the occasion.
Pediatric
Deptt organizes quiz competition
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1: The
PG Department of Pediatric, SMGS Hospital in
collaboration with IAP State branch, City branch
and National Neonatology Forum (NNF) State
Chapter organized a "Pediatric Quiz"
competition at the hospital auditorium, here
today.
The quiz
competition was held in four categories i.e. 3rd
UG IAP PG Quiz, 12th NNF PG Quiz, Nurses Group
and Undergraduate MBBS Students Group. The PG and
UG students from Medical Colleges of State as
well as outside participated in the quiz.
Dr Ashok K Gupta,
Professor and HoD Pediatrics, was the chief
organizer of this competition. He is the
divisional coordinator of all the four categories
of quiz in Neonatology.
Dr Anshu Jain and
Dr Narinder Singh won the UG IAP PG Quiz while,
the winners of NNF PG Quiz included Dr Varun Koul
and Dr Firdous. Further, Aditi Saini and Sanjana
Sharma won the UG Quiz whereas, Neha Gupta and
Kanchan Gupta emerged winner in Nurses Group.
Dr Rakesh
Khajuria, Administrator of GMC Associated
Hospitals and Medical Superintendent SMGS
Hospital, was the chief guest while, Dr D B
Sharma, Professor and HoD Pediatrics ASSCOM, was
the guest of honour.
Earlier, speaking
on the occasion, Dr Ashok Gupta explained the
purpose behind organizing the quiz programme. He
mentioned that in order to reduce under-five
Mortality Rate and Infant Morbidity Rate, the
need was to reduce Neonatal Mortality Rate which
constituted two-third of the Infant Mortality
Rate.
Dr Sunil Dutt
Sharma, Dr S S Slathia, Dr Ashu Jamwal and Dr
Sanjeev Digra were the quiz masters whereas, Dr
Rekha Harish and Dr G S Saini were the
organizers. The proceedings were conducted by Dr
Mahesh Gupta and vote of thanks presented by Dr
Varinder Singh.
CUAS
holds meet to chalk out future strategy
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Sept 1: In
order to decide the future strategy, the Central
University Andolan Samiti (CUAS) held a meeting
with representatives of various organizations
here today.
The meeting, which
was chaired by CUAS convenor, Mr Pavitar Singh
decided to hold a meeting of senior citizens and
activists of all political parties on September 6
to ask them to clear their stand on setting up of
CU at Jammu.
This was disclosed
by Prof Narinder Singh. He said the Samiti has
also decided to launch dharna at tehsil
headquarters form next week to mobilize the
public opinion regarding the ongoing agitation.
The meeting
expressed grave concern over the dilly dallying
tactics adopted by the Sate Government on the
issue. The meeting also took serious exception to
lathicharge on students and warned that
Government can’t suppress the ongoing
movement this way. It accused the Government of
intentionally trying to suppress the movement.
The meeting also
decided to frame CUAS Committees in each and
every college of Jammu region to launch a
protracted struggle.
Today’s
meeting among others was attended by Yash Pal
Gupta of Traders Association, Omparkash Gupta of
Chamber of Commerce, Vijay Sharma of Transporters
besides Pawan Kohli of Samiti and other activists
of students organizations.
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