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ESMA threat fails to break morale of trade union leaders, employees EJAC leader Qayoom arrested; Khursheed Alam picked up but released in one hour 4/8/2010 12:11:05 AM AHMED ALI FAYYAZ SRINAGAR, Apr 7: Treating Omar Abdullah government’s threat of ‘no work no wages’ and detention under the draconian Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) with contempt, over 200,000 state government employees in Kashmir valley observed near-total shutdown of their work places on the third consecutive day of their strike to press their principal demand of release of arrears of their salaries. Even as, in its first enforcement of ESMA, Police today arrested a senior trade union leader, his colleagues at a news conference said that the employees were unfazed by the threats and they would soon make the Government bow. Little impact of the government’s ESMA threat was visible on third consecutive day of the weeklong strike of the employees today in Kashmir valley as more than 95 percent of the offices remained locked and attendance was dismal in others that opened for business. Essential services and Police are not covered under the agitation that has been launched by the government employees to press their demands---primarily release of pay arrears du...   READ MORE

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Gunfight erupts in Kupwara's forest 4/7/2010 11:56:44 PM SRINAGAR: A gunbattle broke out between militants and security forces in a forest area in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir this evening, a police spokesman said. Acting on a specific information that some militants were hiding in Cronhama-Zechaldara forest near Handwara, 90 kms from here, security forces launched a search operation in the area. During the searches, militants believed to be four to five in number fired at security forces, the spokesman said. The jawans retaliated and a fierce gunbattle ensued which was still on, he said adding there was no report of any fatality so far. Reinforcements had been rushed to the forest area to flush out the militants, he said. ...   READ MORE   Stapled visas to Kashmiris not acceptable: India 4/7/2010 11:56:33 PM BEIJING: India today made plain its opposition to China on issuance of stapled visas to Kashmiris and developmental work in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, even as the two sides inked an agreement to set up a hotline between their Prime Ministers. "We do not accept the stapled visas on the passports of residents from Jammu and Kashmir. Our position in this regard was again made clear during the talks," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters here. India maintains that J-K is its integral part and there should be no discrimination between residents of the state and rest of the country. Rao, who briefed media on the talks External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had with the Chinese leadersh...   READ MORE   Hashmat posted as OSD to CS 4/7/2010 11:56:24 PM JAMMU: Hashmat Ali, KAS, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as OSD to Chief Secretary with immediate effect. He will take over as the Principal Private Secretary to Chief Secretary w.e.f the 31st May, 2010 (AN) on superannuation of Mrs. Shamima Rashid. An order to this effect was issued by the General Administration Department here today. ...   READ MORE   3 persons a day killed on roads in J&K 4/7/2010 11:56:15 PM JAMMU: Road mishaps proved to be a bigger killer than militancy in Jammu and Kashmir where three persons a day lost their lives on the killer roads in 2009. According to the figures compiled by the state home department, 1,100 people were killed and 8,199 injured in 5,945 road accidents last year in J&K, while in militancy, 398 people were killed and over 300 injured in 1251 incidents. However, in 2008, 950 people were killed and 7,597 wounded in 5,236 road mishaps. Of the 1,100 people killed and 8,199 injured in 2009, 781 lost their lives and 5,149 sustained injuries in 3,869 road accidents in Jammu region, while 319 people died and 3,050 were injured in 2,076 incidents in Kashmir regio...   READ MORE   In modern times leech therapy gains ground 4/7/2010 11:56:07 PM EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Apr 7: Good news for women interested in getting rid of wrinkles and other signs of ageing. However, the treatment seeks a sacrifice- a small quantity of blood. No syringes or needles are needed. A couple of leeches can do it for them if they do not get a nauseatic feeling. But then women can do anything for looking young! Massive advancement in medical sciences notwithstanding, leech therapy is gaining ground in the Valley. The ancient mode of treatment after receiving union health ministry nod has attracted many a patient across Kashmir. According to Director Central Unani Medicine, Dr Muhammad Khalid Sidiq, a number of ailments including Arthritis, tension...   READ MORE   Jammu and Kashmir State would disintegrate if? 4/7/2010 11:55:58 PM RUSTAM EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Apr 7: The separatist movement in Kashmir has virtually failed. The Kashmiri separatists are desperate. They are fighting a last-ditch battle to remain relevant in the Kashmiri politics. They are fighting against one another. The situation has reached a point where APHC chief Mirwaiz does not talk to Yasin Malik of JKLF and the vice-versa. The situation has climaxed to the point that the Jamat-e-Islami has decided to boycott all the functions to be organized by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who hitherto enjoyed full confidence of the Jamat-e-Islami. The differences among them have assumed alarming proportions. The angularities among them have sharpened. There is ...   READ MORE   Lady Pamela Mountbatten's take on Kashmir 4/7/2010 11:55:47 PM ABID SHAH EARLY TIMES REPORT NEW DELHI, Apr 7: Lord Mountbatten's daughter Pamela has talked of great indecisiveness that afflicted the late Maharaja Hari Singh regarding the fate of Jammu and Kashmir at the time of India's independence. In a recent interview given in London to Indian born journalist Shyam Bhatia, Pamela Mountbatten has among other things dealt with Kashmir at the time of the birth of India and Pakistan as two separate nations. In response to a question by Bhatia whether Maharaja really imagined that Kashmir could be independent (before actually signing the accession letter in favour of India), Pamela said, "Oh he was playing just one off against the other. He could not...   READ MORE   Border residents to work as ‘eyes and ears’ of troops 4/7/2010 11:55:39 PM EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Apr 7: As infiltration shows no signs of receding, hectic efforts were on to rope in locals as "eyes and ears" of border guards to check infiltration. Reorientation of troops was also on the cards, though home secretary GK Pillai Tuesday said Centre would watch the J&K situation before further troop reduction. The brake on the withdrawal of troops comes in the wake of fresh violence in the state and increase in infiltration bids from across the borders. Sixteen infiltrators, who had sneaked into India from Jogwan in Pallanwala near here, were gunned down by troops in four gunbattles in Kalakote, Rajouri, last week. Highly placed sources in the state home depar...   READ MORE   Politically "correct", ethically wrong Govt slaps advertising ban on ‘select’ newspapers 4/7/2010 11:55:29 PM EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Apr 7: The latest victim of the "state-sponsored" crusade against the freedom of press seems to be an old Jammu-based daily which is now fighting the government onslaught. The government slapped an advertising boycot on The Northlines, claiming it was too critical of its policies. The reason for this ban was, however, a recent report which, the government felt, harmed the reputation of its "legislators". The ban indisputably amounted to "economic sanctions" aimed at stifling the freedom of press and the shackling of audacious writing in newspapers by "politically correct laws". The unfortunate curb on the upcoming dailies has been forced because they do ...   READ MORE   Appointing former JU VC as VC of CU Jammu will be suicidal 4/7/2010 11:55:07 PM EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Apr 7: Things in Jammu are deteriorating at a rapid pace. The state government employees are up in arms against the government. The imposition of ESMA has not deterred them. The SC and ST communities are up in revolt against the government. They are opposing the move to ban inter-district recruitment. The refugees from POJK and of 1965 and 1971 are protesting against the official policy towards them. They are organizing massive demonstrations, confronting the police and demanding adequate compensations, besides reservation in government jobs. The situation in Jammu, in short, is far from normal. As if all this was not enough to make the task of the government rat...   READ MORE   Inter district Recruitment row to continue even after passage of Bill Jammu to observe bandh tomorrow 4/7/2010 11:54:58 PM EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Apr 7: Even as the two main ruling allies in the coalition government National Conference and Congress have arrived at some understanding if not a complete consensus on the controversial Inter District Recruitment Bill which apparently will pave way for its passage on April 9 in the Assembly, the political cry and crisis is far from being over on the issue. The opposition BJP and PDP, for varied stands will oppose the amendment bill which is likely to turn into a major issue both in Kashmir as well as Jammu even after its passage in both the Houses. The simmering discontent in Kashmir over the provisions of the Bill brought last year for reasons apparent has b...   READ MORE   Crackdown on employees, 25 arrested 4/7/2010 11:54:41 PM ARTEEV SHARMA EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Apr 7: Couple of days after invoking Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on striking employees, the state administration today launched a crackdown on the representatives of the employees and arrested at least 25 leaders and employees including two women under the act. The employees unions claimed that complete lock out was observed in all the regions of the State as the striking employees were 'least concerned' about the stringent measures taken by the government. "The employees continued to abstain from offices crippling work in all government institutions and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) across the State on fourth straight day today,"...   READ MORE

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Confederation warns against ban on Inter-district recruitment Constitute SIT to probe paper leakage; School Association to CM Exclude ST's in inter district bill: Gujjars Two nabbed with charas CAG pulls up J-K social welfare department Govt plans setting up micro hydel projects in remote villages Protest against non payment of wages held HC upheld judgment of TC, dismisses appeal filed by state Police refuses despite compromise, HC finally quashes FIR against husband by wife 1,500 cops promoted in armed police Govt fiddling with data on KP’s Cong-NC's dubious functioning root cause of sufferings: Prof Gupta Bhalla inaugurates Black-topping work MLA Naiz calls on CM SP criticizes coalition govt. for postponing elections Thousands participate in Maha Yagya at Gharota 15 HDFC placement orders handed over to Commerce College students NSS celebrated World Health Day Ensure sanitation in all parts of Valley: Dy. CM 700 cusecs of additional water available for irrigation this season Invoking of ESMA reflects fascist tendency of Govt: PDP HC orders not to consider appointment of 20 physical teachers Kranti Dal protests against PSC Regularized RETs accuse govt of befooling employees PDP migrant wing holds meeting Chib reviews functioning of essential services 'Private schools to consult parents before enhancing Fee' Shiv Sena hails govt. decision to postpone MC elections Security concern of banks Ladakh to have year round road connectivity: Saroori   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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No smooth sailing for ruling coalition Sandeep, Gourav script 62-run win for CHTM Sports meet of Dogra College of education inaugurated   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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