Greater Kashmir November 3, 2009
Pre-paid ban hits 20000 jobs
DANISH NABI
Srinagar, Nov 2: After the Union Home Ministry announced ban on pre-paid mobile connections in Jammu and Kashmir on security grounds, the jobs of 20000 people associated with the retail business of pre-paid SIM cards hangs in balance.
While people have been desperate to know the fate of pre-paid SIM cards, only a few subscribers are turning to retailers for conversion into post-paid.
According to the figures provided by the association, around 10,000 people are running pre-paid recharge and collection centres in the State with an average monthly income of Rs 9000 to 10000. In addition, around 5000 people are associated with the activation and distribution of pre-paid SIM cards.
Besides, the ban would render jobless an estimated 5000 mobile accessory shop owners in the state.
“An average recharge outlet would earn average Rs 300 to Rs 500 a day given the number of telecom operators in the state but they will suffer due to the ban. Similarly, the distributors and activation agents working for petty salaries will be rendered jobless,” the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir STD Owners Association- amalgam of STD owners and recharge outlets in the state- Bashir Ahmad Dar told Greater Kashmir.
He said the ban would indirectly hit estimated two-lakh people in the state. These include the family members of those associated with the business. “It was our bread and butter but we have to look for a new business due to the ban.”
Lashing at the Government for imposing the ban, Dar said the telecom operators in the State should be held responsible for giving SIMs cards to ‘irresponsible people.’ “They (telecom operators) gave pre-paid SIMs to every Tom, Dick and Harry which is now being portrayed as a security threat. They earn in billions but only the poor retailers are bearing the brunt of the ban,” he said.
The SIM card retailers and company outlets of the telecom operators in the state have barely witnessed any rush of subscribers who want to switch over to post-paid services.
“Since the ban was announced we have received only a few subscribers who want to shift to post-paid services. Subscribers mostly enquire about the modalities of the ban but they are reluctant to switch over to post-paid connections,” Dar said.
He said around 90 per cent active SIM cards in the state were pre-paid connections as the service was both affordable and convenient. He said only 20 per cent subscribers could afford post-paid services. “Post-paid service is expensive even if people opt for the cheapest monthly plan. Majority of the pre-paid subscribers are students and people from lower strata of the society and they can’t afford post-paid services,” he said.
The Centre has imposed ban on pre-paid connectivity in the state since November 1. The telecommunication companies have already been asked to halt issuing new pre-paid SIM cards while the validity of the mobiles would not be renewed. Around 38 lakh active pre-paid SIMs need to be converted into post-paid or they would be rendered useless.
The acting President, Kashmir Traders Federation, Muhammad Yasin Khan said the ban would thousands of shopkeepers in the Valley. “They are completely dependent on cellular service and their business will come to halt due to the ban,” he said, adding they support STD owners association in their stand against the ban.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Democracy in action: India prevents Kashmiri professor from travelling to China to receive international award
Valley academic stopped from flying to China
GK NEWS NETWORK
Srinagar, Nov 2: A Kashmiri professor became the fresh victim of the row between China and India over issuance of separate visa to Kashmiris, as the Indian immigration authorities stopped him at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday while he was boarding a plane to China to receive a prestigious award.
Dr Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, associate professor, Department of Geology and Geophysics Kashmir University, was proceeding to China to receive the Kasumigaura International Award for his research work on ‘Pollution Modelling of Himalayan Lakes’ on November 2 during the 13th World Lake Conference at Wuhan.
“After I cleared the immigration check, I was stopped from boarding a plane of China Southern Airlines by the Indian immigration authorities. When I protested, they said as the visa granted by the Chinese Embassy did not mention my nationality as an Indian, I can’t board the plane,” Romshoo told Greater Kashmir from New Delhi.
Romshoo said he had travelled to 30 countries including US and even China. “But I never faced such problem. I showed the immigration authorities my standing visa of US and Japan but my requests to board the plane met with deaf ears. I left the Airport dejected,” he said.
From this year, Chinese Embassy in New Delhi has been issuing stapled visas to Kashmiris on a separate sheet of paper and not on their passports. China has adopted the same procedure for travellers from Arunachal Pradesh saying it was a disputed territory.
India has been lodging strong protests against China’s travel procedure for Kashmiris terming it an attempt to question the status of Jammu and Kashmir as part of India. It has been asking Beijing to “stop discriminating against Indian nationals on the basis of their ethnicity and domicile.”
Romshoo said he took up the matter with the Chinese authorities. “But they said it is their policy to issue separate visa to Kashmiri. “It is our policy to grant separate visa to Kashmiris. We have nothing against Kashmiris. The problem lies with India,” he quoted the Chinese authorities.
During past some months, Indian immigration authorities have stopped several Kashmiri students and businessmen from boarding flights to China.
Pertinently the relations between India and China turned sour after the latter’s troops reportedly entered into Ladakh territory. India had even threatened Beijing to either stop the new visa practice ‘right away or face a similar discriminatory regime in processing of Chinese applications for Indian visa.’
Notwithstanding India’s resentment, China has been maintaining its stand, terming it as correct and valid.
“In the tussle between China and India, why should Kashmiris suffer?” Romshoo asked.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Once upon a time a tyrant...
Once upon a time there lived a ruler who was so hated by the people that he couldn't bear to see them, or for them to see him. Whenever he visited the city the people were forbidden to leave their homes or even to open their windows. Students missed their exams, the sick their medicine, the babies and the elderly had no food that day. He chose not to see the terror, the repression, the cruelty of his government. His soldiers walked the land and ruled through force and terror. As the condition of the people grew more desperate day by day, his announcements became more and more divorced from reality. While his courtiers smiled and cheered, a few brave souls took to the streets.....
Photos and reporting from Greater Kashmir
in Greater Kashmir October 29, 2009
Wanpoh, (Islamabad) Oct 28: The prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Wednesday said New Delhi was willing to talk with anyone in Jammu and Kashmir who abjured violence and had “meaningful ideas” to promote peace and development.
“We want to carry all sections of people with us in resolving the political and economic problems of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, addressing a public rally here before flagging off the 12-km Qazigund-Islamabad rail service, which completed 120-km link between North and South Kashmir.
Kashmir shuts down
Clashes in Maisuma, Gaw Kadal, Habba Kadal
GOWHAR BHAT
Srinagar, Oct 28: For the second consecutive day, Valley observed a total shutdown Wednesday in response to the Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s call against the visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
The day also witnessed clashes between protesters and police in uptown areas of Maisuma and Gowkadal, resulting in injuries to half a dozen protesters.
All shops, businesses and most educational institutions remained closed in the summer capital and in the major towns and district headquarters across the valley. The Government offices remained open but witnessed a meagre attendance. Public transport remained off the roads in the city and other districts.
Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements, mainly in south Kashmir’s Islamabad district, where Prime Minister along with his cabinet colleagues inaugurated the 18-km long Qazigund-Islamabad railway line.
Most of the roads presented deserted look even as police and paramilitary CRPF personnel were deployed in strength in a number of areas in old city.
In uptown Maisuma, which was sealed by police, youths wearing masks took to streets and staged pro-freedom demonstrations and clashed with the CRPF deployed in the area. Shouting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, youths brunt the effigies of Prime Minister and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
They pelted stones on the troopers who retaliated by baton charging and firing teargas canisters repeatedly. The ding-dong clashes continued intermittently throughout the day.
The protests also spilled over to the neighboring areas of Mandar Bagh, Gaw Kadal, Habba Kadal and Tengpora in city outskirts.
Authorities restricted the movement of public and private transport along the Boulevard Road. No vehicle was allowed to move beyond Nehru Park while the vehicles from Nishat, Shalimar and Harwan areas were asked to take Hazratbal route.
“Restrictions will continue till Thursday morning when the PM would leave,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Showket Hussain said.
SOUTH KASHMIR
Complete shutdown was observed in south Kashmir districts of Islamabad, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian on the PM’s visit.
Shops, businesses, educational institutions were closed while Government offices witnessed very thin attendance.
In Kulgam, youths stopped and pelted stones on the buses carrying people to Wanpoh, Islamabad, where the Prime Minister was to address them. The situation remained tense till late afternoon.
NORTH KASHMIR
Reports of total shutdown also poured in from north Kashmir districts of Varmul, Bandipora, Kupwara and Ganderbal.
Students appearing in their matriculation exams had to face inconvenience in absence of public transport.
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Monday, October 5, 2009
Indian soldiers commit suicide
2 troopers end life
GK NEWS NETWORK
Jammu, Oct 4: Two troopers committed suicide in Rajouri district since last evening, police said on Sunday. It said a paramilitary BSF trooper, Jitender Singh, who was on guard duty, fired upon himself with his INSAS rifle at a BSF camp in Noushera area this afternoon. He was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.
An army trooper, Amarjeet Singh, committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in Qilla Darhal area last evening, police said, adding the trooper had come home on leave from Pune.
An army trooper, Amarjeet Singh, committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in Qilla Darhal area last evening, police said, adding the trooper had come home on leave from Pune.
State employment discrminates against Valley, in favour of Jammu
does not surprise, but must be documented
For 334 posts, 151 selected from Jammu
Of 21 English Lecturers, Only 3 From Valley
MUDDASIR ALI
PET Selections For Kashmir Districts
Srinagar, Oct 4: There seems to be a definite angled pattern emerging in the selections being made by the State Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Services Selection Board (SSB) with the state’s one region grabbing the lion’s share of the selections, at all levels – state, divisional and district cadre.
The latest case in point is the selection of English lecturers made by the PSC on October 1 and that of Physical Education Teachers (PET) by SSB on October 3.
While only three candidates from the Kashmir valley figure in the PSC selection list of 21 English lecturers, the candidates from Jammu region have grabbed almost half of the openings filled up by SSB against the district cadre vacancies of PETs in the five valley districts.
Believe it or not, out of 334 selections of PETs the SSB notified on Saturday for the district cadre posts of Islamabad, Srinagar, Kupwara, Budgam and Varmul, as many as 151 candidates have been selected from the Jammu region.
As per the selection list issued by SSB, out of 137 selections of PETs made by the recruiting agency for district Islamabad, 52 candidates are from the region region.
Curiously, in certain cases, the column specifying the category of the selected candidates has been left blank. For instance, nothing is mentioned in the category column of the candidates appearing in the PET selection list of Islamabad at serial No 6, 7, 39, 42, 49, 67 and 98.
A candidate selected against the ST category (serial No 16) for district Islamabad is a resident of Rainawari in Srinagar. Similarly, another candidate with the surname of Dar and a resident of Sopur (serial No 20) has been selected against the Scheduled Caste (SC) category for district Islamabad.
For district cadre Srinagar, out of 95 PETs selected, 33 are from the Jammu region. Curiously, in the Srinagar selection list, only four selected candidates are the bona fide residents of the district.
The selection list for district Kupwara presents the most glaring instance of unfairness. All the 17 candidates selected against the district cadre posts of PETs for Kupwara are from Jammu region.
The candidates from district Budgam present almost the same picture as those of Kupwara. Out of 31 PET selections made against the posts of district cadre Budgam, 28 are from Jammu region.
Similarly, in Varmul, out of 54 PETs selected, 16 are from Jammu region.
As per the official figures, out of 3,689 divisional and district cadre selections made by SSB under the fast-track mode in the Kashmir valley, candidates from Jammu region walked away with around 750 posts while on the contrary just two candidates from the Kashmir valley got selected in 2521 district/divisional cadre selections made in Jammu region.
Killings, protests continue
DAY 3: Varmul simmers
Greater Kashmir Oct 4, 2009
Protests, Clashes Continue; Cops Exercise Restraint: IGP
ALTAF BABA/PTI
Varmul, Oct 4: For the third consecutive day Sunday, this north Kashmir town continued to simmer with hundreds of youths defying restrictions and clashing with the police at various places, in protest against the killing of a 12-year old boy in police shelling.
In the morning hundreds of youths from the old town gathered at the cement bridge and raised pro-freedom slogans, demanding action against the policemen responsible for Friday’s killing. The police resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas shells on the youth and the latter retaliated by pelting stones.
As the day progressed, the clashes intensified in which nine persons including two policemen were wounded.
Shops and business establishments remained closed across the town with most of the commercial vehicles off the roads. Only some private vehicles plied in the civil lines area.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, the inspector-general of police, Farooq Ahmad, said the situation in the civil lines areas was normal while the old town observed strike marked by stray incidents of stone pelting near the two bridges linking the two parts.
“Police has shown great restraint which is evident in the fact that two dozen policemen, including an additional superintendent of police, sustained injuries yesterday,” he said, adding that another five policemen were injured in stray stone pelting incidents which were confined to the Cement Bridge area only.
The situation in the town is tense since Friday evening when 12-year old Irfan Ahmad Lone of Drangbal, a Class-7 student, was killed after being hit by a tear-smoke shell fired by police.
Irfan was killed and four youths injured when police resorted to baton charge and fired teargas shells to quell a demonstration in the town protesting the continued house arrest of Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani.
Geelani is under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence in Srinagar since September 9. On September 8, he was released on court orders from 95 days of imprisonment.
While police first claimed that the boy died of heart attack, later it said the student received shell splinters. Locals maintain that he was hit by a teargas shell on his head.
ADC APPOINTED INQUIRY OFFICER
According to a notification issued by the district magistrate today, the additional deputy commissioner, Muhammad Ashraf Shuntoo, has been appointed as inquiry officer to probe the boy’s killing.
“Anybody who is witness or has some knowledge about the incident may record his statement before the inquiry officer in DC Office Varmul from October 5 to 10, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m,” an official statement said.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Demilitarization for a day
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