Unemployed Dental Surgeons on fast unto death on Wednesday.
Unemployed Dental Surgeons on fast unto death on Wednesday.
Nigeria: ‘Good news’ soon on kidnapped girls
ABUJA, July 9: Nigeria’s National Council of State is promising to deliver “some good news” very soon about more than 200 schoolgirls held captive by Islamic extremists for nearly three months.
The council, made up of past presidents, state governors and leaders of parliament, is “satisfied the security agents know very well where the girls are located,” Gov Godwill Akpabio told reporters at a briefing.
The rescue of the girls was top of the agenda at the meeting, he said, and “military authorities also confirmed that efforts were being made and that very soon we will have good news.”
The governor added the question is not whether the girls can be rescued but how to do it without endangering their lives.
He said the council, led by President Goodluck Jonathan and his national security advisers, was left confident that the president and the military are “on top of the situation.”
Last week the Defence Ministry reported the detention of a businessman heading a “terrorists’ intelligence cell” who it said “participated actively” in the Chibok abductions.
Yesterday’s council commended Nigeria’s military and security agents, who have been roundly criticised at home and abroad for their failure to swiftly rescue the girls and to curb an escalating Islamic uprising by Boko Haram that has killed thousands.
Some 276 schoolgirls were abducted April 15 from a school in northeast Chibok town. Dozens escaped and 219 still are missing.
Negotiations to free the girls without a fight appear to have stalled, with Boko Haram demanding the release of detained extremists in exchange for the girls. Jonathan has rejected those demands.
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened in a video to sell the girls into slavery and as child brides if his demands are not met. In the video, some of the girls say they have converted from Christianity to Islam.
The extremists are believed to have divided the girls into smaller groups being held at different camps and possibly across borders in Cameroon and Chad, where sightings have been reported. There also have been reports that some of them have been forced to marry their captors.
Boko Haram has been kidnapping people for more than a year but received international condemnation for the mass abductions of the Chibok girls, which has led to a worldwide movement called #BringBackOurGirls.
Boko Haram which means “Western education is sinful” had attacked many schools and killed hundreds of students, some burned alive in dormitories. (AP)
Minister of State for Planning, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma inaugurating steel bridge at Kathua on Wednesday.
Minister of State for Planning, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma inaugurating steel bridge at Kathua on Wednesday.
Protestors on National Highway at Nai-Basti, Satwari in Jammu on Wednesday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
Protestors on National Highway at Nai-Basti, Satwari in Jammu on Wednesday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
Germany’s Thomas Mueller (C) celebrates past Brazil’s David Luiz and goalkeeper Julio Cesar after scoring a goal during their 2014 World Cup semi-finals at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.
Germany’s Thomas Mueller (C) celebrates past Brazil’s David Luiz and goalkeeper Julio Cesar after scoring a goal during their 2014 World Cup semi-finals at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.
A Brazil fan cries as she watches the 2014 World Cup semi-final between Brazil and Germany at a fan area in Brasilia.
A Brazil fan cries as she watches the 2014 World Cup semi-final between Brazil and Germany at a fan area in Brasilia.
Dignitaries and participants during workshop at MV International School in Jammu.
Dignitaries and participants during workshop at MV International School in Jammu.
Militant killed, jawan injured in encounter in J&K
SRINAGAR: An unidentified militant was killed, while an Army jawan was injured in an encounter in Kupwara district today, an Army spokesman said.
The encounter took place at Hamlapati area of Handwara, 80 kilometres from here, when Army and police launched a joint cordon and search operation following information about presence of militants there, the spokesman said.
One militant tried to break the cordon by opening firing on the security forces, triggering an encounter which left an Army jawan injured.
The militant was also injured in the firing but managed to escape. Later his body, along with an AK assault rifle and some ammunition, was recovered by search parties, the spokesman said.
The identity and group affiliation of the slain militant was not known immediately as the search operation in the area was still continuing, he added. (AGENCIES)
Omar meets Gadkari, seeks Central aid for road projects in J-K
NEW DELHI, July 9:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today sought the immediate intervention of the Centre to expedite work on the conversion of the four-lane National Highway which connects the Valley with the rest of the country.
Omar raised the issue with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari at a meeting today during which he also took up matters relating to road communication sector in J-K.
The Chief Minister emphasised the need for early completion of the four-lane project and also laid stress on the upgrade and improvement of the existing Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Omar also spoke of the need to transfer the maintenance of other highways in J-K to the State Public Works Department, said an official release from the State Government.
The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of good roads in the State for its overall development and economic welfare.
Omar also urged that the 84-km Mughal Road, which connects Bafliaz town of Poonch district in Jammu region to Shopian district in the Valley, be declared an alternative National Highway while stating that a proposal for the same was already pending with the Centre.
He also raised the issue of construction of tunnels on various routes, including one at ‘Peer Ki Gali’ on the Mughal Road, a tunnel to connect Singhpora in Kishtwar to Vailoo in Anantnag, another between Lolab and Bandipora and a tunnel connecting Sudh-Mahadev with Marmath in Doda district.
“The proposals for the construction of these tunnels have already been referred to the Union government,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister sought Centre’s assistance for construction of five flyovers by National Highways Authority of India at various traffic junctions in the Valley and also called for aid for the building of two ring roads in J-K under the National Highway Development Project.
Issues relating to Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana were also discussed at the meeting along with those pertaining to the sanctioning of special road projects for the State under the ‘Militancy Hit Project’ scheme, the release added. (AGENCIES)
Only one Kashmiri Pandit family returns to Valley: Govt
NEW DELHI : Only one Kashmiri Pandit family has returned to the Kashmir Valley since a comprehensive package for the displaced community was announced in 2008, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju while giving this information also said Government will review the package to remove bottlenecks and shortcomings, if any.
A comprehensive package worth Rs 1,618.40 crore was announced by the Centre in 2008 for return and rehabilitation of migrant Kashmiri families through grant of financial assistance for purchase or construction of houses, renovation of damaged or dilapidated houses, construction of transit accommodation, continuation of cash relief and employment, among others.
“The package is being implemented by the Jammu and Kashmir Government and till now, one family has returned to the valley availing the benefit of Rs 7.5 lakh for construction of house,” Rijiju said in a written reply.
As many as 1,474 State Government jobs have been provided to the newly appointed migrant youths who have been kept in newly constructed 1,010 transit accommodations in the Kashmir valley — 505 at Vessu in Kulgam, 130 at Hawal in Pulwama of South Kashmir, 250 at Khanpur in Baramulla, and remaining 125 in Kupwara and other places of North Kashmir under the package.
In reply to another question, he said at present 60,452 families of Kashmiri migrants were registered in the country out of which 38,119 were in Jammu, 19,338 in Delhi and 1,995 families in other states.
Migrants mainly comprising Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs had moved out of the Valley after the onset of militancy in 1990.
The Government from time to time has announced packages for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants such as in 2004 and 2008, he said and added, “the review of such plans and packages is a continuous process and will continue to remain so in order to remove the bottlenecks and shortcomings, if any.” (AGENCIES)