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Cellshock: Prepaid era ends tomorrow but no abrupt switching off Over 30 lakh subscribers will have to change SIMs in J&K 10/31/2009 12:15:40 AM EARLY TIMES REPORT Jammu, Oct 30: From November 1, the pre-paid cell phones will become a thing of past in Jammu and Kashmir. This news certainly is a cause of panic for over 30 lakh subscribers but operators say that there is nothing much to worry about. In a population of little over ten millions, there are around four million cell-phone subscribers in Jammu and Kashmir –one of the highest and fastest growing tele-densities in India. What panics the cell-phone network in Jammu and Kashmir is the fact that over 80 per cent of the users have pre-paid connections. Students, middle and lower rung executives, and the rural Jammu and Kashmir constitute the majority of pre-paid cellphone subscribers who will have to switch over to the post-paid mode. According to the Home Ministry order, there will be no issuance of new pre-paid cell-phone connection from November 1. However, that does not mean that pre-paid cells are being switched off abruptly. The validities of the existing number will continue till January 28, 2010 and in between there will be no renewals. When contacted, BSNL’s ...   READ MORE

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What is shifting New Delhi’s ‘sands of times’ on Kashmir? 10/31/2009 12:12:57 AM ABID SHAH New Delhi, Oct 30: Is there a big boss applauding from behind the top Indian leadership, given the new pitch it is laying down to bring back peace to the troubled Valley of Kashmir and ease tension through the Indo-Pak border? Or, is New Delhi alone resorting to impressive statesmanship without Srinagar or Islamabad warming up to reciprocate? Answers to these questions may not be easy to find. Yet indications are that the sands of time are shifting. But courtesy whom? There may be a clue to this and many more similar strategic and diplomatic questions in a forthcoming or and rather soon to be published book, Shifting Superpowers: The New and Emerging relationship between the U...   READ MORE   Chidambram confirms force cut, vacation of occupies lands, houses 10/31/2009 12:12:44 AM Early Times Report Jammu, Oct 30: Its official now –the security forces are being downsized in Jammu and Kashmir. After many unconfirmed media reports of sighting of large convoys leading to conclusions of pullouts from certain areas, the Union Home Minister P Chidrambram today confirmed in New Delhi that forces are being significantly withdrawn and the lands under their occupation are being vacated. Chidambram’s statement comes a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warmed up the dialogue atmosphere in Kashmir with extension of olive branch to the separatists. Withdrawal or at least downsizing of security forces have always remained a pre-condition from the separatists. The Peoples ...   READ MORE   Want peace with all neighbours: PM 10/31/2009 12:12:18 AM New Delhi Oct 30: India seeks to live in peace with all its neighbours and the "world at large", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here Friday. Stressing that India sought good relations with all its neighbours, the prime minister said: "We sincerely wish to resolve all outstanding issues with our neighbours through dialogue... that should characterise our relations." His comments at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit comes two days after he offered Pakistan a "hand of friendship" while addressing crowds in the Kashmir. In his opening remarks, he noted that former US president George W. Bush, "a good friend of India", was also speaking at the summit. He said the opening day of th...   READ MORE   2 militants killed in LoC ceasefire breach 10/31/2009 12:12:05 AM Early Times Report Srinagar, Oct 30: Pakistani Army troops fired several mortar rounds at the Indian positions in the Keran sector of Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district Thursday, an Indian defence spokesman said here Friday. This is the first major ceasefire violation on the LoC this year. Pakistani Army fired 14 mortar rounds at our positions in the Keran sector of the LOC Thursday night, Lt. Col J.S. Brar said. "There was also some movement in the area and our troops retaliated with small arms fire. During the search of the area, bodies of two terrorists were found along with arms and ammunition," Brar said. An identity card of the Pakistani Army was also re...   READ MORE   Pilot feared dead in AIF chopper crash in Ramban 10/31/2009 12:11:44 AM Early Times Report Jammu, Oct 30: One person was killed as an Indian Air Force MI-17 helicopter carrying four people, including two officers, crashed into the Chenab river in Ramban district this afternoon. The chopper went down into the waters of the Chenab near Assar, about 150 km northeast of Jammu. The body recovered is suspected to be that of the chopper pilot, police said. Local residents, police teams and army troops including divers are carrying out rescue operations. Defence sources said some parts of the wrecked helicopter were scattered in the area while the main portion fell into a lake of a hydro-electric dam built on the Chenab river. Divers have been pressed into rescue o...   READ MORE   Two new flyovers to decongest capital cities 10/31/2009 12:11:19 AM Early Times Report Srinagar, Oct 30: Towards traffic de-congestion in the capital cities, the government today approved one flyover each for Jammu and Srinagar to be contructed through the Economic Reconstruction Agency at an estimated cost of Rs 332.41 Crores. A decision to this effect was approved by the Chief Minister Omar while chairing a high level meeting of Economic Reconstruction Agency held at Srinagar today. The flyover in Srinagar will be constructed from Jehangir Chowk to Natipora and the other at Jammu from Sarwal to Shukuntala crossing. The Rs. 76.41 crores flyover project at Jammu involves widening of road from Shunkuntala crossing to flyover start-point to 6 lane of 32.2 ...   READ MORE   Two officers transferred 10/31/2009 12:10:58 AM Early Times Report SRINAGAR, OCT 30: The Government today ordered the transfers and postings of two officers. MA Laigroo, Director, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Finance department has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, J&K State Agro Industries Development Corporation Limited on deputation basis vice Dr. G. N. Qasba. Dr GN Qasba, Managing Director, J&K State Agro Industries Development Corporation has been transferred and posted as Director, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Finance department on deputation basis vice Mr. M. A. Laigroo. ...   READ MORE   IAF strong enough: Naik 10/31/2009 12:10:41 AM Early Times Report Pathankot, Oct 30: Unfazed by China or Pakistan inducting more aircraft, nukes or missiles in their existing fleet, Indian Air Force on Friday said that none should undermine its capabilities. "If our neighbours are purchasing new aircraft from the US, India is also inducting fifth generation aircraft in IAF shortly with Russian collaboration. One should not undermine the IAF's capabilities," Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said here, allaying fears about China or Pakistan replenishing their fleet. The IAF is constantly updating and evolving new techniques and training well, he told reporters on the concluding day of his two-day visit to the Air Force Station here. "We sh...   READ MORE   HC says no to CBI probe in Chopras murder case 10/31/2009 12:10:19 AM Early Times Report Jammu, Oct 30: Justice Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain of J&K High Court Jammu Wing in a much publicized murder case of Chopra Family on September 18, 2006, declined investigation of the case by CBI and permitted SIT to submit the challan before the competent court without any further delay. In a petition filed by Puneet Chopra son of deceased RB Chopra in which Advocate DS Thakur and Pranav Kohli appeared for the petitioner and submitted regarding handing over of investigation to the CBI and referred various facts emerging from the status report filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and vehemently contends though the SIT has done some substantial progress but the SIT...   READ MORE

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