Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 14: A policeman was suspended by the authorities for aerial firing in Kashmir University campus here today after a cricket ball hit the Vice Chancellor office.
Eyewitnesses said situation turned ugly during a practice match of Kashmir Premier League (KPL) when the students went to fetch the ball and were stopped by the cops near VC’s office.
Security incharge of the KU, Dy SP Saleem Ahmad Khan claimed that the policeman was forced to fire in the air after the students abused the policemen and tried to assault Inspector Abdul Hameed. “Hameed and his PSO were injured in the assault by the players,” he said.
Police have lodged an FIR in Police Station Nageen and were carrying out investigations into the incident.
However, the players claimed that policemen abused them and resorted to firing without any provocation. The suspended cop has been identified as Mehraj-ud-Din of Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP), who is on deputation at the KU campus.
Sources said that a high level committee has been formed by the VC to probe the incident. “After the incident, the authorities called Managers of the teams who were practising in the campus and urged them that the matter shouldn’t be dragged too far,” they added.
Cop suspended after firing in KU
Ponty Chadha pays Rs 54 cr tax
NEW DELHI, May 14:
Three months after the Income Tax department conducted searches on his businesses, liquor baron Ponty Chadha’s group has reported Rs 175 crore of ‘undisclosed’ income to the department and paid Rs 54 crore as tax on it.
“The business group has admitted an undisclosed income of Rs 175 crore and further tax related proceedings are on,” official sources said.
The I-T department has begun the process of collecting tax on the concealed income after it recently got the challans (receipts) deposited after the raids from the business entities of Chadha, the sources said.
They said the group has paid Rs 54 crore as tax and sources said penalty proceedings were also on.
When contacted by reporters, officials of one of the companies owned by Chadha, refused to comment on the issue.
The sources said the I-T department, which conducted searches on the businessman’s premises on February 1, is still to finish its proceedings against the group as a number of bank guarantees are yet to be released.
The department is currently preparing the documents of the searches which will be sent to the Central range for tax assessment.
After the searches in February, the department had said it had seized Rs eleven crore in cash, jewellery and fixed deposits and sealed 13 bank lockers.
The I-T department conducted the searches on the businesses of Chadha and his associates in February covering 13 locations in Delhi including the posh Sainik Farms, Lajpat Nagar, New Friends Colony in Delhi and in six locations in Noida, Moradabad and Lucknow. (PTI)
Artisan welfare, quality production essential for handicrafts survival: Omar
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 14: Asking the Jammu and Kashmir trading and manufacturing fraternity to make quality benchmark of their production and commercial activities, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Monday stressed on ensuring maximum returns to the artisans and artists associated with the world famous Kashmir-handicrafts.
“The magic hands of artists and artisans should receive due respect and best returns for the mesmerising workmanship they translate into different forms of handicrafts through needle, chisel, brush and other tools”, he said, adding that the survival of handicraft industry is dependent on the welfare of artisans associated with it and the quality of product marketed.
“Gone is the generation of artisans who used to wait for months and even years to receive the remunerations for their work. Also, gone is the generation which used to get mere 10 percent of the final sale price of the product”, Omar Abdullah said, adding that present day artisans want the befitting share for their work and we should extend justice to them in this regard.
Inaugurating 4th International 3-day Buyer-Seller Meet at SKICC here, the Chief Minister said that the revival of visiting buyers from all over the world to the Valley to buy handicrafts is most encouraging. He expressed the hope that this trend will continue to grow till the past glory of the State in this field is restored back.
Omar Abdullah said that the trade and tourism in the Valley are closely related to each other and peace is imperative for the both. He said the peaceful situation in the State during the last year has given considerable fillip to the tourism and also to the economic activities especially handicrafts trade.
The Chief Minister said that his Government would like to develop direct liaison between the buyers and producers of handicrafts to help them receive substantial remunerations for their products. He revealed the need for producing quality products to maintain reputation.
The Chief Minister also emphasized the need of renovation and changes in the production and manufacturing of handicrafts to suite the changing tastes of the world. “World is ever changing. Constant change is only constant and in the realm of handicrafts possibility of renovation and change cannot be under estimated. This is essential element of success”, he said adding that Craft Development Institution, Carpet Technology Centre and Leather Institution are some of the institutions which can help in this field.
Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Industries, S. S. Slathia, Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, Chairman, J&K Bank, Mushtaq Ahmad and KCCI President, Abdul Hameed Punjabi also spoke on the occasion.
The Chief Minister inspected 40 stalls installed by the traders at SKICC to facilitate the buyers-sellers interactions for trade. Some 60 to 70 buyers from about 20 foreign countries are participating in the meet besides buyers from the country.
Artisan welfare, quality production essential for handicrafts survival: Omar
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 14: Asking the Jammu and Kashmir trading and manufacturing fraternity to make quality benchmark of their production and commercial activities, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Monday stressed on ensuring maximum returns to the artisans and artists associated with the world famous Kashmir-handicrafts.
“The magic hands of artists and artisans should receive due respect and best returns for the mesmerising workmanship they translate into different forms of handicrafts through needle, chisel, brush and other tools”, he said, adding that the survival of handicraft industry is dependent on the welfare of artisans associated with it and the quality of product marketed.
“Gone is the generation of artisans who used to wait for months and even years to receive the remunerations for their work. Also, gone is the generation which used to get mere 10 percent of the final sale price of the product”, Omar Abdullah said, adding that present day artisans want the befitting share for their work and we should extend justice to them in this regard.
Inaugurating 4th International 3-day Buyer-Seller Meet at SKICC here, the Chief Minister said that the revival of visiting buyers from all over the world to the Valley to buy handicrafts is most encouraging. He expressed the hope that this trend will continue to grow till the past glory of the State in this field is restored back.
Omar Abdullah said that the trade and tourism in the Valley are closely related to each other and peace is imperative for the both. He said the peaceful situation in the State during the last year has given considerable fillip to the tourism and also to the economic activities especially handicrafts trade.
The Chief Minister said that his Government would like to develop direct liaison between the buyers and producers of handicrafts to help them receive substantial remunerations for their products. He revealed the need for producing quality products to maintain reputation.
The Chief Minister also emphasized the need of renovation and changes in the production and manufacturing of handicrafts to suite the changing tastes of the world. “World is ever changing. Constant change is only constant and in the realm of handicrafts possibility of renovation and change cannot be under estimated. This is essential element of success”, he said adding that Craft Development Institution, Carpet Technology Centre and Leather Institution are some of the institutions which can help in this field.
Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Industries, S. S. Slathia, Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, Chairman, J&K Bank, Mushtaq Ahmad and KCCI President, Abdul Hameed Punjabi also spoke on the occasion.
The Chief Minister inspected 40 stalls installed by the traders at SKICC to facilitate the buyers-sellers interactions for trade. Some 60 to 70 buyers from about 20 foreign countries are participating in the meet besides buyers from the country.
Public perception on developmental outcomes true indicator of success: CS
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 14: Flagging Centrally sponsored schemes as key to development, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal today called upon district administration Kupwara to focus and initiate measures surrounding these schemes for the benefit of the public.
“Centrally sponsored schemes have immense potential to change the socio-economic landscape in any district”, he said, emphasizing that Additional District Development Commissioners should take responsibility and fully apprise themselves with these schemes and continuously brief the Deputy Commissioners regarding issues connected with their successful implementation.
Chief Secretary, was chairing the review meeting at Kupwara.
Noting that mere statistics don’t depict the actual developmental picture, Chief Secretary said that the level of satisfaction and outcome as perceived by the public is the true indicator of the success of any given scheme. “Completion of projects and focus on social sector will change the perception of public regarding developmental scenario”, he maintained.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Mohammad Shafi gave sector wise physical and financial progress report regarding all developmental schemes in a brief power point presentation.
While reviewing sector wise progress, Madhav Lal emphasized on taking only works with adequate resource allocation and asked the departments to follow guidelines of the Planning Department in this regard.
On power reforms in Kupwara district, the administration was asked to register all electricity consumers and also revise the load of those consumers that are already registered. Further the Power Development Department was asked to evolve a strategy to perform energy accounting at field level and also meter all towns.
On lack of adequate staff in key departments including education, health, CAPD and Rural Development, the Chief Secretary directed the head of departments to take steps for filling up vacant posts in these departments.
While reviewing health sector, the Chief Secretary said that the oversight mechanism for NRHM should be made fully functional in the entire district so that MMR and IMR are reduced with cent percent institutional deliveries.
Centrally Sponsored schemes including PMGSY, MGNREGA, NRHM, SSA, RMSA, NRDWP, APRDP, ICDS and others were also reviewed in great detail during the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Financial Commission Revenue, K.B. Aggarwal, Principal Secretary Power Development Department, Sudanshu Pandey, Administrative Secretaries, Heads of departments, Chief Engineers and other district and sectoral officers.
Nasir expresses concern over slow pace of work on housing colony
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 14: Showing serious concern over slow pace of work on the development of Housing Colony at Somerbugh, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani this afternoon asked the executing agency to complete the colony block wise so that dwellers of Chunti Kul be shifted to these dwelling units at the earliest.
The Minister gave this direction during his visit to Somerbugh Housing Colony. He said if the executing agency does not complete it within the targeted period, penalty would be imposed to the defaulters.
The Minister was accompanied with Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Suresh Kumar, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr. G. N. Qasba and Provincial President, NC, Ali Mohammad Dar.
Mr. Nasir was informed that the project cost of the Housing Colony was Rs. 8.78 crore which is coming under BSUP scheme. He said out of which Rs. 6.83 crores are being spent housing sector, Rs. 19.11 lakh for road network, Rs. 40.85 lakh for drainage, Rs. 16.06 lakh for sewerage network besides Rs. 18.61 lakh for construction of community hall, Rs. 11.88 lakh for construction of community latrines and Rs. 17.79 lakh for water supply.
During the visit, Mr. Nasir asked the district administration to provide adequate basic facilities regarding drinking water, electricity, ration besides proper sanitation in and around the hutments of the dwellers.
Mystery shrouds man’s death
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 14: Mystery shrouds the death of a young man whose body was found lying in a shed near his house in Vijaypur area of Samba district today.
SSP Samba, Israr Ahmed Khan, said that after receiving information that body of 35-year-old Kuldeep Raj, son of Mani Ram was lying in a shed near his house at village Bhadwal, a police party led by SHO Vijaypur, Inspector Tilak Raj Bhardwaj rushed to the spot. He said body was lying on a cot and a fresh ‘Datun’ was also lying nearby.
Some marks were found around his neck and it appeared that body was hanging for some time. Mr Khan said that after some time, he also visited the spot and examined the body and the spot. It appears something fishy behind the matter. If he committed suicide then there must be some tree or hook at ceiling or some rope nearby. If it has been done some where else, how body reached there. The family members and brothers expressing innocence over it, claimed that Kuldeep had gone to sleep at around 9 pm last night and they came to know about the incident only around 8 am in the morning. Kuldeep has six brothers and he was living with mother and two brothers and was working as carpenter. He was going to be married after two months.
It was also learnt that the property/ land was still undivided among brothers and few days back he had some quarrel with his cousins over land issue. The matter was however, sorted out by brothers.
The SSP said that the body was shifted to Ramgarh hospital for postmortem and later handed over to the family for last rites after completion of legal formalities. Investigation under section 174 CrPC was launched. He said the possibility of blind murder can not be ruled out but police was working on all possible theories.
VC launches website of Kishtwar Campus; BCA Deptt at Doda Campus
Education system in hilly terrains reviewed
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 14: To upgrade the education system in the hilly terrain of the State, Vice Chancellor, Prof Mohan Pal Singh Ishar reviewed the education system of Kishtwar and Doda campuses on the concluding day of his three days visit.
During his visit to Kishtwar campus, Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, Mohan Pal Singh Ishar, launched the website of the Campus.
While speaking, Dr Daud Iqbal Baba, Director, Kishtwar Campus, presented the synoptic details of the campus.
Earlier, the teaching and the non-teaching staff of the newly established Kishtwar campus welcomed the Vice Chancellor.
Vice Chancellor, Prof Ishar also visited Government Degree College, Doda and reviewed the education system there. He was received by Prof ZA Hashmi, Incharge Principal along with other staff members.
Prof Ishar inaugurated the BCA Department in the college, which was followed by an interaction session with the members from the civil society, who put forth their demands.
Vice Chancellor distributed certificates among the students of the Doda campus, who have successfully completed the three month long course E-Learning.
While speaking, Prof Ishar, said that now-a-days there is new definition of literacy, a person one who knows and one who does not know computers. He added that the students who had gone through this course will definitely find a difference in their lives.
Prof Naresh Padha, Registrar, also spoke on the occasion and congratulated the students who successfully completed the course.
Earlier, Prof MA Malik, Rector, Bhaderwah Campus, in his welcome address deliberated on the contents of the course.
Tahir, Incharge of the course, presented vote of thanks whereas the course was conducted by Kuljit Singh, Academic Coordinator, Bhaderwah Campus.
Among others present were Prof Manoj K Dhar, Controller of Examination, Jai Kumar, Joint Registrar, Finance, Neeraj Sharma, Special Secretary to Vice Chancellor, Suresh Sharma, Executive Engineer, Mehboob Hassan Kraipak, MI Balwan, student leader Koshal Sharma, Mohd Ashraf Zargar, Sanjeev Sharma, citizens, faculty members and students.
BBIA criticises PDD for unscheduled power cuts
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 14: Bari Brahmana Industries Association (BBIA) has strongly criticized the Power Development Department authorities for imposing unscheduled power cuts for the last over fifteen days.
In a meeting of the BBIA held here today under the chairmanship of Anil Suri, president of the Association, the members discussed the deteriorating power supply situation in SIDCO Industrial Complex Bari Brahmana for the last over a fortnight. They strongly flayed the working of the PDD where nobody is accountable for repeated power failures in the Industrial area. They said that Department was not taking the issue seriously due to which the industrialists are facing huge financial losses and frequent machinery breakdowns.
They said the PDD authorities responsible for the supply, maintenance and up keep of power infrastructure in the industrial complex should be held accountable for repeated power breakdowns. The Association issued appeal to the Chief Minister to intervene into the matter and issue necessary orders to restore the power supply to industrial sector without any power cut.
Stolen property, goods worth Rs 15.5 lakh recovered; 2 arrested
Hunt on for other accused
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 14: Jammu Police has recovered stolen property and goods worth Rs 15.5 lakh within few days of the crime and arrested two accused persons.
Giving details in a press conference, SSP Jammu, Prabhat Singh, said that on May 6, 2012, Amarjeet Singh, owner of M/s Attar Singh and Sons, Narwal, lodged a written report at Police Station Bahu Fort that on May 2, 2012 he hired a truck bearing registration number JK05B-6567 through Charanjeet Goods Carrier Transport Company, Narwal, for transporting Dhara Oil and soap worth Rs 14 lakh to Sopore and Kupwara but the truck didn’t reach the destination and was missing.
Acting on the complaint, police registered a case and started investigation during which it came to fore that number plate used by the driver was fake. Since the embezzled material was of huge amount, a special team headed by SDPO East, S S Sambyal and SHO Police Station Trikuta Nagar, Inspector Sunil Jasrotia, under the close supervision of SP South, Rajeshwar Singh was constituted.
Different police teams were dispatched to various parts of the State particularly Kashmir valley and after hectic efforts, the identity of the accused driver was established as Ghulam Mohammad Wani alias Billa, son of Abdul Gaffar Wani of Wangam Veeru, Budgam.
The driver, who kept on changing his location, was ultimately arrested and on his disclosure goods worth Rs 11.5 lakh were recovered. “The hunt is on to arrest remaining two accused who were hand-in-glove with Ghulam Mohammad Wani”, the SSP Jammu said.
Another case, which was registered at Police Station Channi Himmat on April 26, 2012, has also been worked out by the Jammu Police.
In this case, Gourav Sharma, son of Ram Paul Sharma of Indira Nagar, Miran Sahib, an employee of M/s Jain Builders, Marble Market owned by Rajesh Jain of Trikuta Nagar, ran away with Rs 5 lakh cash and motorcycle bearing registration number JK02AV-3671.
Acting on the complaint, a police team headed by SHO Channi Himmat, Inspector Deepak Pathania under the close supervision of SP South, Rajeshwar Singh and SDPO East, S S Sambyal, swung into action and after hectic efforts arrested Gourav Sharma from Thanger area.
The accused was put to sustained interrogation during which he confessed the crime. On his disclosure, police recovered Rs 2 lakh cash, one diamond necklace amounting to Rs 50,000, one Apple Mobile worth Rs 45,000 and motorcycle. “We are still in the process of recovering remaining Rs one lakh from the accused”, the SSP said.