Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Feb 7: The Executive Engineer, Electric Maintenance & RE Division Poonch has informed the general public that the department with the help of district administration is making all efforts to restore power supply in the district.
During past 48 hours i.e from 31-1-2013 6 a m to 2-2-2013 6 a m power supply has remained available for 20 hours as per the records of receiving stations at Poonch, Haveli, Chankak, Mandi and Surankote. In Mendhar the power supply had been ensured for 6 hours/day only keeping provision for pumping of water supply at adequate voltage. However, power supply hours for Mendhar town is being increased from 2-2-2013 which will be notified separately.
The department has requested general public to make judicious use of electricity till the normal power supply is restored.
Efforts on to restore power supply in Poonch : PDD
Bhalla launches Rs 26 lakh development works
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla today said that Government has started development of all the periphery localities of urban pockets under a comprehensive plan envisaging creation of adequate infrastructure for improvement of basic amenities .
The Minister was interacting with the residents of Preet Nagar and Udham Singh Nagar after launching Rs. 26 lakh development works, here today.
Mr. Bhalla asked the Jammu Municipal Corporation to complete all the works like up-gradation of lanes and drains with grating within stipulated time frame. He asked them to use quality material, adding that there would be no compromise on the quality of work. He said that Government was committed to create durable infrastructure with a prospective planning.
The Minister said people’s participation is imperative in the development of the State as they are the main stakeholders in this process. He called upon the people to extend their cooperation and keep a watch on the implementation of schemes for better results on the ground.
Mr. Bhalla also directed the PHE functionaries to lay water supply pipes in the water deficit areas of the Preet Nagar and Udham Singh Nagar. He also directed them to complete the digging work well before the start of up-gradation work of lanes and drains, including link roads.
Listing the measures taken by the Government for improving the basic amenities in the Preet Nagar and Udham Singh Nagar, Mr. Bhalla said that the Government has earmarked Rs. 4 crore for setting up a receiving station and Rs. 5 crore for construction of parking slot near the Cremation Ground at Shastri Nagar. He said that works on both the projects are in progress and would be completed within stipulated time frame.
FSL report inconclusive in cheques forgery case
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 7: Despite the receipt of report from Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) police is yet to act and arrest the person who managed to issue cheques by forging the signatures of Principal District Institute of Education and Trainings (DIET) Kulgam and withdrew more than one lakh rupees from the State ex-chequer in July 2012.
“We had received the FSL report some days back but we returned it since it did not conform to our requirements. We have requested the FSL authorities to get the hand-writing checked from the experts. Once the experts give their opinion then only we can catch hold of the person who has carried out the fraud,” said Muzaffar Ahmad, Station House Officer, Kulgam.
The SHO said that they have requested the FSL authorities to expedite the process of verification from the expert so that the case is taken to the logical conclusion. He said since many cases are pending before the FSL it would take at least one month for them to send the complete FSL report as desired by Police Station, Kulgam.
It would be in place to mention here that Police Station, Kulgam has already registered FIR 130/2012 dated 7-8-2012 against Mohammad Yaqub (peon) and Javed Ahmad (Senior Assistant) DIET Kulgam following complaint from then Principal DIET, Kulgam, Mohammad Abdullah Shah that some cheques have been issued without his knowledge. Shah had pointed fingers towards Yaqub and Javed and following this FIR was lodged against them.
Shah wrote an application to SHO Kulgam that cheques numbering 33588299, 33588300 and 33588293 of Rs. 49,200, Rs. 9,500 and Rs. 50,000 respectively were issued from account number 5201/SB maintained at Jammu and Kashmir Bank, TP Kulgam either by Yaqub himself or under some other person’s influence in July last year. He wrote that two more cheques numbering 34882135 and 34882119 amounting to Rs. 10,800 and Rs. 5,000 respectively were also issued by Yaqub from account number CD 2408 being maintained at Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Kulgam.
Later Yaqub made a statement that the cheques were handed over to him by Shah for encashment. Yaqub’s signature was tallied with the signatures on the cheques and it matched. The misspelling on the cheques raised doubts and following this Kulgam Police Station registered FIR number 130/2012 on August 7 against Yaqub under Sections 420 and 406 of PRC.
College teachers apprise Minister of demands
Excelsior Correspondent
President CTA (JW), Dr Avinash Kumar Gupta urged the Minister to sort out the effective date of promotions of those college teachers who were accorded promotions recently, in terms of the circular by UGC wherein the requirement of Orientation/Refresher courses has been extended up to December 2013.
The CTA delegation also demanded enhancement of superannuation age of college teachers as per UGC guidelines and restoration of some positions in the University of Jammu for senior college principals.
The Minister was also appraised about the delay in payment of remuneration on account of conduct of University examinations and evaluation by JU. The Association requested the Minister to give direction for placement of eligible Assistant Professors as Associate Professors.
The Association also hailed the decision of the Minister to accord promotions to about 400 College teachers under Career Advancement Scheme, which were held up for the last four years.
Interacting with the delegation, Akbar Lone expressed his resolve to complete all the pending infrastructural works in the colleges on priority and provide better amenities to the student community and raise the educational standards. He also assured to look into the demands of College teachers.
The CTA delegation comprised of Dr Satesh Bhan, Dr Vijay Sharma, Prof. R.S.Jamwal, Dr B.K.Gandhotra, Dr Chanchal Khajuria, Dr Neeraj Gupta & Dr Joginder Singh
RSS drops hints of backing Modi
ALLAHABAD, Feb 7:
In an oblique hint, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat today appeared to back Narendra Modi as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate but said the party will be responsible for the consequences of its decision.
Speaking at the VHP ‘dharma sansad’, a gathering of religious leaders, he referred to the clamour for Modi as PM candidate at the meet and also elsewhere.
Without referring to the Gujarat Chief Minister by name, Bhagwat said, “People know what is in your heart. The whole country is echoing with the same voice.
“And that is why we should not interfere in what should be done. They (BJP) will have to take a decision on what is to be done….. Whatever we may say, those who should do it, it is their right. We should allow them to do it. If what they do comes out wrong, then we should let them eat the fruits as well.”
Bhagwat was speaking after some sants spoke out in favour of BJP announcing Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate in the last elections.
At the same time, BJP chief Rajnath Singh, in Chennai, parried questions on the issue, maintaining that the BJP Parliamentary Board will decide the issue at an appropriate time.
Earlier, when asked by reporters what he thought of Modi, Bhagwat said, “He is my friend”.
A section of BJP leaders have demanded that Modi be declared as the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate. VHP leader Giriraj Kishore also joined the Modi-for PM chorus saying like Gujarat the whole country can benefit from his leadership as there has been tremendous development in the state under his rule.
The meeting today saw some people in the audience raising slogans in support of Modi as religious leaders gave their speeches. Bhagwat and VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Parveen Togadia tried to pacify them with the RSS chief saying that the Sangh Parivar was “well aware of the people’s wishes”.
Togadia and Singhal requested that the ‘dharma sansad’ be allowed to remain focused on its agenda.
Raising the Ayodhya issue in his address, Bhagwat said that the RSS was fully committed to construction of Ram Temple at Ramjanambhoomi.
“It is the obligation of Parliament to remove hurdles in the way of construction of Ram temple. Either Parliament should honour the wishes of the people or the people should elect a Parliament that is sensitive to the issue,” the RSS chief said. (PTI)
Major recruitment drive in offing to tackle unemployment: Rather
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 7: Reiterating that the remaining two years of the present dispensation will turn around the socio-economic emancipation of the State, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather today said main thrust will be on creation of as many as possible job opportunities for the educated youth to tackle the burgeoning unemployment problem besides fulfilling other promises made to the people of the State. He said about 80,000 vacancies will be filled up on fast track basis through various recruitment agencies in the next fiscal besides adding that job avenues will also be explored in self-employment sector.
Addressing a public gathering, after inaugurating a State-of-art business unit of J&K Bank at Panzan, Chadoora in district Budgam, Rather said “we want to remove, gloom, despair and disappointment from the faces of unemployed youth and rekindle hope and happiness in their lives, adding that all the possible job opportunities will be explored on large scale during the incoming days both in public and private sectors on war-footing and fast track basis”.
“All the recruitment agencies have been directed to reactivate men and machinery for the proposed employment drive”, Rather said, adding that a transparent mechanism will be put in place to ensure that every eligible aspirant gets adequate opportunity to appear in the interviews and try luck.
Mr. Rather cautioned the people against the sustained misinformation campaign launched by the political opponents against the Coalition Government especially NC and its leadership to settle their political score and satiate their petty vested interests. He said earlier also conspiracies against NC have been hatched both within and outside the State but the valiant people of the State always defeated the ill intentions of the mentors.
He said N.C is the single largest political party which represents aspirations of the people of all the three regions of the State, adding that history is testimony that it has always offered supreme sacrifice to uphold the honour, respect and integrity of the State’s people.
Without naming BJP and PDP, Rather said, un-nerved with N. C’s strong mass base and its growing popularity among the people, the enemies again and again tried to create alternate regional parties in the State with the sole objective to weaken N.C by dividing its vote bank and to gag people’s voice from reaching upto higher corridors of power both at national and international levels. “But the well matured people of the State always defeated their nefarious designs and inflicted crushing defeat on them in the elections”, Rather added.
Rather gave a detailed over view about various developmental and welfare programmes and schemes launched in nook and corner of the State during the present dispensation adding that this period will be registered as a golden era in the history of the State.
Govt clears hiking NABARD’s authorised capital to Rs 20,000 cr
NEW DELHI, Feb 7:
The Government today approved enhancing the authorised capital of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to Rs 20,000 crore, from Rs 5,000 crore and expanding its scope of operations.
The proposal for enhancing the capital base of NABARD to Rs 20,000 crore has been approved by the Cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said.
The increase in authorised capital in aimed at helping the financial institution expand operations and broaden its activities.
The Government also approved the merging the posts of the Chairman and the Managing Director in NABARD.
Following the changes, which would be carried out through amendment to the NABRAD Act, 1981, the institution will be able to introduce new credit products, forge new linkages and develop new clients.
Once the changes are made in the Act, NABARD, which is the apex rural and farm development finance body and whose role is to promote credit growth in these areas, would be able to undertake short term lending operations. (PTI)
Three arrested for threatening rock band
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 7: The Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar today remanded the three youth, arrested on charges of online abuses to the all-girl rock band of Kashmir, to 5 days police custody.
The three youth were arrested in nocturnal raid on their houses in Anantnag, Ganderbal and Srinagar after police identified around 12 youth who had posted abuses against the band.
Irshad Ahmad Chara, resident of S D Colony, Batmaloo, was arrested late last night by the police. He was arrested after police raided his house in the wee hours. Chara is a matriculate and has been a vegetable seller.
Another youth Tariq Khan, was apprehended from his house in SK Colony Anchidora, in South Kashmir district of Anantnag. His mother said that a police party from local police post General Bus Stand last night asked his family that he was wanted in the police post for investigations. He was later handed over to the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police Srinagar. Khan has done Masters in English Literature and is running a grocery shop in his locality.
The third youth, Rameez Ahmad Shah son of Mohammad Shafi Shah resident of village Baba Wayil, Gutli Bagh in district Ganderbal was also arrested last night. Shah is 12th standard student and he had also posted the abusive comment.
Police after viewing the 900 posts on the Pragash Facebook page found around 26 as abusive and they have identified around a dozen persons so far who posted them. Police in fact was tracking these posts for last one week and lodged an FIR on Tuesday in Police Station Rajbagh after they achieved break through.
Police sources said that one of the persons, Amir, who hails from South Kashmir is admin of Kashmir Live Facebook page. The pictures of the band appeared on this page first and large number of people later posted abusive comments on this page as well.
The all-girl rock band was formed by 10th standard students Noma Nazir, Farah Deeba and Aneeka Khalid last year. It won the best performance award in their first public appearance last December at the annual Battle of the Bands competition in Srinagar that was sponsored by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
After their performance at Indoor Stadium here, their pictures appeared on the Facebook and this was followed by the abusive comments and threats to this band. Finally media last week report and this prompted grand Mufti of Kashmir, Mufti Bashirudin Ahmad, to issue a fatwa declaring the singing of this band as an un-Islamic act.
A member of the band early this week said that they respected the decree of Kashmir’s grand Mufti and announced disbanding of the band. “
Teenage girl student of DPS crushed by bus inside school
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Tragedy struck Delhi Public School (DPS) this afternoon when a teen-age female student of 6th class was killed on spot as the bus driver started the vehicle when she was boarding it inside the school premises at Shaheedhi Chowk in heart of the City.
Police have arrested the bus driver and seized the vehicle.
However, police said, there were different versions coming about how exactly the accident took place. Police was investigating and would question eye-witnesses to reach to the conclusion.
The victim has been identified as 6th class student Suruchi daughter of Surjit Singh alias Pappu Choudhary, a resident of Sector No. 8, Nanak Nagar.
Officiating SSP Jammu Rajeshwar Singh said the bus No. 474 JK02T reportedly took off when the girl was boarding it. The girl was thrown away with impact of the blast and fell on ground leading to her instant death. Another version was that the girl was approaching her vehicle when another bus crushed her due to negligent driving by the driver.
Mr Singh, who visited the spot, told the Excelsior that the SHO City has been directed for investigations into the case to verify exact reasons behind the accident and take stern action in the matter. He said eye-witness account was being taken into account to get reason behind the accident before challaning the case in the court of law.
Driver of the bus identified as Kehar Singh son of Basant Singh, a resident of Tali Morh, Miran Sahib was arrested by the police from the spot. The bus has also been seized.
Police have registered a case in the accident under Sections 279 and 304 A RPC at City police station.
Police said body of 13 years old girl was shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu where she was declared as brought dead. The body was handed over to the family this afternoon after the post-mortem.
Emotional scenes were witnessed both inside the school premises as well as outside the mortuary in the GMC Jammu after the death of teenager under tragic circumstances. The school children were shocked to see body of their colleague. The family members were seen wailing outside the mortuary as they were unable to wear the shock of the tragedy that had befallen on them.
A number of parents of the students of different schools approached the Excelsior saying that bus and other vehicles of various educational institutions were indulging in negligent driving on which there was no check by Traffic Police.
After the girl was declared dead, his father, Pappu Choudhary went towards the roof of Emergency and tried to jump down with a view to end his life. However, people and police saved him. The girl’s father, other family members, relatives and friends were inconsolable and were weeping profusely.
Most of the people were seen cursing negligent driving in Jammu due to no check on drivers by Traffic and local police.
Singer Mika Singh gets bail
MUMBAI, Feb 7:
Bollywood singer Mika Singh, who was arrested last night at the international airport here for allegedly carrying Indian and foreign currency beyond permissible limit, was today granted bail for Rs one lakh, Customs officials said.
“Singh was let off after being granted bail for Rs one lakh. In his statement, the singer claimed he got the money for performing stage shows for two days abroad,” an official said.
Singh, who arrived here from Bangkok by a private airline at around 7.30 PM yesterday, had been intercepted by the officials. During checking, he was found in possession of USD 12,000 and Rs 3 lakh cash.
As per Customs norms, Indian passengers coming from abroad and carrying over Rs 7,500 and USD 5,000 need to make a declaration about the same upon arrival, the official said.
The 35-year-old singer was unable to give satisfactory answers about the currency in his possession following which he was arrested under relevant sections of Customs Act. (PTI)