NEW DELHI, Aug 5:
Forty-nine Indian Army personnel were killed in counter-insurgency and counter-infiltration operations in Jammu and Kashmir in the last three years, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
In a written reply to a query in the Upper House, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said 49 Army personnel were martyred in Jammu and Kashmir during operations in the last three years.
The Minister said the force has evolved a counter-infiltration strategy which is executed in synergy with the State Government.
Meanwhile, answering another query, Jaitley said the Government has spent Rs 4.95 lakh crore to procure equipment for the Army in the last 10 years.
The figures provided by the Minister suggest that the highest amount to be spent on procurements would be in 2014-15 as the Government has allocated Rs 75,148.03 crore for this purpose.
To a query on exercises with friendly foreign countries, Jaitley said in last three years, India has conducted 76 war games with nations including Russia, America, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Oman, Singapore and Seychelles. (PTI)
49 Army personnel killed in counter-insurgency ops in J&K
Gul takes stock of development works
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 5: Speaker Legislative Assembly, Mubarak Gul, along with a team of officers, today visited Goaripora area of Eidgah constituency and took stock of the development works.
The Speaker received brief about the problems of the people and instructed the officers of PDD to improve the power supply position in the area by way of replacing damaged electric poles and wires. He asked the officers of Irrigation Department to provide adequate irrigation facilities to the farmers of the area during both the seasons while the officers of SMC and R&B were asked to repair the interior lanes and drains at Goaripora to address the long pending demand of the people. He also instructed engineers of R&B Department to macadamize the Noorbagh roads for which Rs. 2.11 crore have been already earmarked.
Speaking on the occasion, Mubarak Gul said that Government has taken several measures for welfare of labour class and asked people to come forward and take the benefits of the schemes introduced for them. He asked them to register their names with Labour Commissioner’s office to avail the benefit of the schemes meant for them.
Non-operational of BSNL tower forcing people to opt private operators
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: The residents of Chandan Vihar held a meeting and expressed concern over the non-functioning of BSNL tower during power cuts.
The residents said that the BSNL tower installed in the house of Mastan Singh at Chandan Vihar remains non-operational, due to the shortage of diesel required to on the generator during power cuts.
Due to non-functioning of the tower, the inhabitants of Chandan Vihar are facing lots of problems for talking to their near and dear ones.
One of the residents Sumit Sharma said that the BSNL tower remains off during power-cuts as the diesel required for switching on the generator installed to continue the functioning of tower is not supplied on regular basis, which forces the ‘Tower Operator’ to keep the tower off during power cuts.
“We are paying monthly rents and are not getting proper services from BSNL, which is forcing us to opt other private operators”, he added.
The residents appealed the higher authorities of BSNL to look into the issue and redress the same on priority basis.
The meeting was attended by Surinder Singh, Anshuman, Vikram Singh, Arun Kumar, Vipan Chib, Jaipal Sharma, Prince Mahajan, Jatinder Singh, Vishal Gupta, etc.
1 dies, 12 injured in road accidents
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 5: One person has died, while twelve others were injured in different road accidents across the Valley.
A police spokesman said an ambulance JK09/5043 and a motor cycle 3049/JK04A collided at Phaliharan in Mirgund, Pattan resulting in on spot death of the motorcyclist Mohammad Suliaman Shah son of Qasim Shah of Devar Pattan.
Four passengers were injured when a Tipper JK02AC-482 turned turtle near Sumbal Bala in Gund. All the injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Eight passengers were injured when a Sumo JK05C 6515 turned turtle near TRC Handwara in Handwara. All the injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment.
The spokesman said cases have been registered in these accidents.
DDC holds public grievances redressal camp
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Aug 5: To take stock of multifaceted problems and demands of the people, the District Development Commissioner (DDC) Yasha Mudgal convened a Public Grievances Redressal Camp at Rount in Udhampur district here today.
The problems and demands put forth by the inhabitants and representatives of the area included repair of roads, new ration depot, up gradation and shifting of Govt. Middle School Rount, construction of lane and drainage, new dispensary and post office at Rount, repair or replacement of street lights, construction of speed breakers at nearby schools, installation of electrical poles, uninterrupted power supply, shortage of drinking water supply, repair of PHE pipeline, installation of new dustbin and financial aid to widows etc.
After giving patient hearing to the problems and demands of the representatives of the areas, the DDC issued instructions to the officers and redressed many problems on spot. She directed the officers to mitigate the genuine problems of the public pertaining to their respective departments soon within timeframe manner.
Joint Director Planning, Rakesh Jamwal, District Panchayat Officer, Amit Vermani, Executive Engineers R&B, PHE & PDD,CEO, CAO, CHO, DSHO, DIO, Tehsildar Territorial and other senior officers of various departments were present in the camp.
Bhalwal deputation meets CE PDD
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: A deputation of Sarpanchs and Panchs of Bhalwal block met Chief Engineer PDD Shanaz Goni and apprised her of their grievances regarding power and other allied problems at her office, today.
In the meeting with the Chief Engineer PDD, they demanded for up-grading of transformer from 300 MV to 400 MV and un-interrupted power supply in their area. They added that low and interrupted power supply has led to shortage of water supply in and around their area.
The Chief Engineer PDD assured the deputation that their demands will be addressed within short span of time.
The deputation warned that if the up-graded transformer was not installed by August 15, 2014 they will launch a protest demonstration for which they will not be held responsible.
The Sarpanchs present in the meeting were Narinder Singh, (Ghrota), Sanjeev Singh, (Ranjan), Balbir Singh (Upper Jandial), Ravinder Singh (Lower Jandial) and Panchs were Balbir Singh (Ghrota), Ram Saran (Ranjan) Sharashta Devi (Ghrota) and Rattan Lal (Ghrota) including residents.
Moti Bazaar businessmen call on SSP Jammu
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: A deputation of the Moti Bazaar Businessmen Society today called on SSP Jammu Uttam Chand and apprised him about the various problems being faced by them.
Led by president of the society S Hardeep Singh, the members highlighted the problem of traffic jam in entire Moti Bazaar and uneven parking by the people who were visiting the area.
They mentioned that Moti Bazaar is one of the busiest place of old city and thousands of people visit Sabzi Mandi, traditional Hanuman Mandirs, Gurudwara every day while load carriers and auto rickshaws multiply the traffic problems in peak hours. Many times, the Society asked load carrier auto drivers to unload or load goods in early morning or late in the evening when there is no rush of the people in the area but all in vain. The Society members demanded deployment of some police personal in Moti Bazaar area to solve this problem.
The deputation assured SSP Jammu that the Society will extend all cooperation to Police in maintaining law and order in the area.
SSP Jammu Uttam Chand gave a patient hearing to the members of the Society and assured them that he would personally visit Moti Bazaar areas and take concrete possible step to solve such problems soon.
The delegation comprised of Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, Kewel Krishan, Surinder Pandoh, Krishan Lal, Kulvinder Singh, Rahul Gupta, Inder Singh and others.
BJP Kashmir delegation calls on RC
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: A delegation of BJP Kashmir (displaced) met Relief Commissioner under the leadership of T.N.Bhat and discussed problems faced by migrants of TRT Purkhoo Camp, Nagrota Camp, Buta Nagar, Muthi Camp and Jagti Camp.
Electricity, water and sanitation, allotment of accommodation, to those who have not been allotted it till date were some major issues which figured in the meeting. There is neither Medical equipment nor essential medicines available at Jagti and other places. No attention is paid to Medical facilities till date. Twenty bed hospitals at Jagti promised by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has not been provided, the delegation informed Relief Commissioner.
It said enhancement of cash relief is still pending and no heed is given to this waxed problem when a number of politicians and bureaucrats promised for early enhancement of cash relief to the migrants.
It further informed RC that the condition of filling M form is a big impediment for eligible voters to cast their votes. The delegation suggested that voter list be prepared as per registration in Relief Office, Jammu. so that voter can cast their vote. The voter list of migrants prepared at Srinagar is not based on facts and bonafide migrant names are missing in them.
It said the names written in voter lists are wrong and thousands of voters are deleted from the list. Party believes this is a great attempt on part of State Government to keep the migrant votes away from election process.
P.N.Pandita, Bushan Koul, Raju Sehgal, T.K. Dhar, Kaka Ji Bhat, Bablu, Satish Zutshi and others headed with the delegation.
DB grants 2 weeks time to DCs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking CBI probe into Roshni scam, Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat today directed Deputy Commissioners of Budgam and Udhampur to file report within two weeks time.
During the course of hearing, Senior AAG Gagan Basotra submitted that he has already filed a status report on behalf of Vigilance Organization in the Registry, copy whereof has been provided to Advocate SS Ahmed appearing for the PIL who may file his response.
According to the status report filed by Vigilance Organization, in pursuance to findings arrived at the verification No SVO-Veri-JMU-52/2013, five FIR cases have been registered under FIR No 15/2014, 16/2014, 17/2014, 18/2014 and 19/2014. In all the cases, investigation was in progress.
Annual yatra to Tirath Raj Kapal Mochan begins
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: The Annual yatra to Tirath Raj Kapal Mochan ( Nagbal) village Devgam Shopian has started from here today.
The yatris who left from here today reached the holy shrine in the evening.
As per a release, tomorrow an annual yag (Hawan) will start and Puran Ahuti will be performed on August 7 which will be followed by serving of prashad to devotees.
On August 8, Pind Dan and Sharads will be performed on the occasion of Shravan Duadashi and yatris will be provided with free food and accommodation. This shrine is one of the sacred places where sharad and pind dan is performed for those who die unnatural death and for those who die young.
The yatra was started before two years by Coordination Committee of Tirath Raj Kapal Mochan Shopian under the presidentship of V S Lahori.
The committee has appreciated the efforts of administration to make the annual yatra a successful event.
Dr Rohit Lahori spokesman and senior member of Committee has said good number of devotees are expected to reach in annual yatra from the State and outside State.