SRINAGAR : The State Cabinet today approved setting up of a one-man commission to enquire into the circumstances leading to death of more than 120 people, mostly youths during 2010 unrest.

An official spokesman said here, this evening, that state cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah approved the setting up of a one man commission comprising Justice (Rtd) M L Koul, to enquire into the circumstances, leading to deaths by firing, or otherwise, in law and order situations in different districts of the Valley, during 2010.

The commission of enquiry will also enquire into the adequacy, or otherwise, of the force used, fix responsibility, wherever excessive force has been used, resulting in fatalities, and where due care has not been taken to avoid such fatalities. It would also suggest measures to avoid the recurrence of such incidents in future and recommend the action to be taken against those found responsible in any such incidents.

The commission shall submit its report to the Government within a period of three months from the date of issuance of the notification in this regard. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR June 19:  The State Government today announced enhancement of retirement age of faculty members of Universities and Medical Education department from 60 years to 62 years.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here, an official spokesman said.
The cabinet also approved the reckoning of the five years of service, rendered by ‘Rehbar-e-Taleem’ teachers before regularisation, for the purpose of fixing their seniority and counting such service for pension and other retirement benefits.
It was also decided that after regularisation the services of ‘Rehbar-e-Taleem’ teachers shall be transferable within the district to which they belong.
On June 13, Omar had announced that increase in the retirement age of faculty members of Universities and Medical Education was under active consideration of his Government to help these institutions maintain standards of teaching and retain highly experienced faculty.
“It has been observed that due to disparity in retirement age of the faculty of Centre Universities and other Universities in the State, it has become difficult for the State Universities to retain their qualified and experienced faculty.
“Similar is the case in the Medical Education Department. Therefore, the Government is actively considering enhancement of the age of faculties of State Universities and Medical Education,” the Chief Minister had said.
Omar-led coalition Government has taken a number of measures including enhancing the retirement age of Government employees from 58 to 60 years and transfer policy and service benefits of first five years of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers after a drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections which saw the coalition candidates losing all the six seats to opposition PDP and BJP. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR : The State Government today approved the formation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for development of the coal block at Kudnali Laburi in Odisha allocated jointly to JKSPD and NTPC by Union Coal Ministry.

The approval for the formation of SPV for development of Coal Block at Kudnali Laburi was given by the Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here, an official spokesman said.

He said the SPV Board of Directors will compose of five directors, including administrative secretary Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department who will be the Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

“The approval also includes signing of Joint Venture Agreement by the J&K SPDC (Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation) and NTPC besides setting up of End Use Power Plant in Odisha with NTPC,” the spokesman said.

He said the allocation of the Coal Block is a major achievement for the state, which suffers from energy deficit especially during winter season when the generation of power through various HEPs decreases significantly owing to low discharge in the rivers.

“The State Government with this major initiative will be able to establish a dedicated base load Thermal Power Station which would effectively wipe out the current energy deficit of nearly 28 per cent and improve the reliability of power supply round the year,” he said.

The spokesman said the decision is in line with the broader policy of the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister to make the State energy sufficient by harnessing huge hydro potential available to the State along with the solar and thermal power.

“Within next five years the State Government expects that these efforts will prove to be fruitful for the people and will give major boost to the Economy of the State,” the spokesman said. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR: Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants were today killed and two security force personnel received minor injuries during an encounter in Pulwama district of Kashmir, officials said.

Security forces launched a search operation at Buchoo village in Tral area of Pulwama following information about presence of militants there, they said.

The house where the ultras were hiding was cordoned off and they were asked to surrender, they said.

However, the militants refused to surrender and opened fire on the security forces, which was retaliated.

In the ensuing encounter, three militants were killed, a defence spokesman said.

A police official said two security force jawans got minor injuries during the operation.

The slain militants – all affiliated to Hizbul Mujahideen – have been identified as Adil Mir, Adil Shah and Tariq Parray, the official said.

Three AK rifles and some ammunition have been recovered from the site of the encounter. (AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR : The Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar today briefed Governor N N Vohra, who is also chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) about the security arrangments made for the smooth pilgrimage, starting from June 28.

An official spokesman said here this evening Mr Kumar called on Mr Vohra at Raj Bhavan here today.   This is the first meeting of Mr Kumar with the Governor after taking over as DGP, J&K.

During their hour long meeting, the Director General of Police briefed the Governor about the preparedness of the Police for the orderly conduct of the ensuing Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2014.

The Governor discussed with Mr Rajendra certain issues relating to Internal Security management in the State. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI :  Amid massive attempts to rescue 40 Indians kidnapped in trouble-torn Iraq, the Government today made it clear  that location of the abducted persons have been ascertained and  the Iraqi government has confirmed the ‘kidnappings’.
Giving this information, External Affairs ministry spokesperson
Syed Akbaruddin said the crisis management group on the issue had met twice today and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj chaired the meetings here.
Ms Swaraj has already contacted Chief Ministers of Punjab and Kerala and apprised them of the action being taken by the government for the safety of Indians in Iraq.    Asked to specify places where kidnapped people had been kept in Mosul or anywhere else by militants, the spokesperson said such
information could not be shared ,but the government efforts for safety of those kidnapped had gained momentum ever since reaching of a special envoy from here to oversee the developments.    As many as 40 Indians, largely from northern parts of the country, working in a construction company in strife-torn Mosul town of Iraq had  been kidnapped, the government had confirmed yesterday.
However, their whereabouts were not known till yesterday , and the Government was working with International organisation Red Crescent to locate the workers, who had been employed by Tariq Noor Al Huda Construction company, Mr Akbaruddin had told press while replying to questions at a media briefing yesterday..    “It is with deep deep sadness we say that 40 Indians have been kidnapped,” Mr Akbaruddin said.
The information was based on the input by the Red Crescent, he said.
No ransom demand has been received so far, the Iraqi government has informed.
Mr Akbarduddin today again said that all attempts were being made for safe evacuation of stranded Indians and all avenues would be tapped.
Besides the Indians kidnapped, there were 46 Indian nurses trapped in Tikrit town of Iraq with whom the Red Crescent was in touch but it had advised them not to take the surface route for leaving the city as it was not safe due to the fighting.    The spokesperson had already made it clear there was no plan to
shut down the Indian Embassy and rather it would be strengthened with more staff.
Mr Akbaruddin said the Government had a contingency plan to deal with the crisis and Secretary, East, Anil Wadhwa, was spearheading the scheme. Besides, seasoned diplomat Suresh Reddy who had served in Iraq, had been sent to help the Indian Embassy.    Ms Sushma Swaraj was herself monitoring and reviewing the situation on a regular basis.
The Secretary East yesterday met Iraqi Ambassador Ahmad Tahseen
Ahmad Berwari who apprised him of the situation and they discussed
possibilities of ground-level co-operation and assistance to Indian nationals who were in the affected  area.    India has already expressed its support to the Iraqi government
against the attack by terrorist outfits which had taken over some cities, including Mosul and Tikrit.
(AGENCIES)

SRINAGAR :  Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said if the Central government wants to change some of the Governors in the country, it should directly talk to them rather than communicating through media.
“Unfortunately, Raj Bhavans have been pushed into political murk since long. I would have held NDA responsible, had the governments before it not done such things. If the new government wants to change some of the Governors, then it should talk to those Governors,” Omar told reporters here.
The Chief Minister said the approach of communicating with the Governors through the media does not suit either the position of a Governor or the Central government.
“We don’t have any clarity yet if there has really been any talk with those Governors. Governors cannot be communicated through newspapers. If it is being thought that it (government) wants to change the Governors, then it is better that someone picks up a telephone and talks to them (Governors) and seeks their resignation,” he said. (AGENCIES)