Snow, torrential rain lash Valley

From The Hindustan Times

Feb 8, 2011

Torrential rains, gusty winds and snowfall on Monday wreaked havoc in several parts in Kashmir and left one BSF porter dead and three security forces personnel injured at a forward post in Gurez. The rain, which started on Sunday evening, triggered avalanches in several parts of the valley and resulted in shooting stones on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, leading to its closure for traffic.

"An avalanche struck at a forward post at Kabul Gali, Gurez (in north-east of Srinagar) on the Gurez-Mushkoo-Drass side. A porter died and four others, including three paramilitary BSF men, were injured," Amir Ali, officer on special duty with Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, told the Hindustan Times.

An Air Force plane failed to make a sortie to the spot to airlift the injured. "But the injured are being treated at Kabul Gali only. They could not be airlifted due to adverse weather," said Ali.

Temperature in Kashmir valley Srinagar: 1.8 degree Celsius Gulmarg: minus 1.8 degree Celsius Pahalgam: minus 2.10 degree Celsius Kargil: minus 2.7 degree Celsius

Gurez is surrounded by Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's mountains on three sides and the highway connecting it with Srinagar remains closed in winters.

The victim of the avalanche was identified as Jamal Lone (45), a resident of Gujran, Gurez, more than 1gg km away from Srinagar. This has taken the death toll of those killed in avalanches to sic. On Sunday, five people were killed and five injured in rockslides triggered by snowfall at village Garkone in Batalik sector of Kargil district.

There was fresh snowfall in upper reaches in the valley, while the plains recorded both torrential rains and snow.

In its fresh warning, the government said a high danger avalanche warning existed in north Kashmir's Dhudhi, Machil and SM Hill areas. A medium danger avalanche warning stands in several upper reaches in north and north-east of Kashmir valley, including tourists spots like Khilanmarg and higher reaches of Gulmarg.

"People in these areas are advised to avoid movement during snowfall and avoid steep slopes. People are advised not to venture in avalanche prone areas," said Ali.

Rain also closed 300 km Srinagar-Jammu national highway, only road way connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, for traffic.

Rain recorded in Kashmir valley Qazigund: 102 mm (highest). Srinagar: 10.7 mm Kupwara: 64.4 mm Kokernag: 34.7

"The highway was closed after reports of shooting stones at several places. We are clearing the stretches and might throw it open for the traffic in the evening," DIG south Kashmir H.K Lohai told the HT.

More than 200 vehicles are stranded on the highway. "We returned passenger vehicles but goods trucks have parked on the highway only," said Lohai.

Srinagar-based MeT official predicted "widespread rain and snow in the Valley and the Ladakh region in the next 48 hours due to huge depression caused by western disturbances".

Gusty winds, on throughout the Sunday night, uprooted many trees in several orchards in north and south Kashmir. "The gusty winds also took away tin roofs of houses in several areas," said an official.

There was a major power breakdown in downtown Srinagar after gusty winds caused damaged the wires supplying the electricity to Srinagar city. At several places lines were snapped because of fallen trees bringing down the wires.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Torrential-rains-leave-1-dead-in-Kashmir/Article1-659634.aspx

esulted in shooting stones on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, leading to its closure for traffic.

"An avalanche struck at a forward post at Kabul Gali, Gurez (in north-east of Srinagar) on the Gurez-Mushkoo-Drass side. A porter died and four others, including three paramilitary BSF men, were injured," Amir Ali, officer on special duty with Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, told the Hindustan Times.

An Air Force plane failed to make a sortie to the spot to airlift the injured. "But the injured are being treated at Kabul Gali only. They could not be airlifted due to adverse weather," said Ali.

Temperature in Kashmir valley Srinagar: 1.8 degree Celsius Gulmarg: minus 1.8 degree Celsius Pahalgam: minus 2.10 degree Celsius Kargil: minus 2.7 degree Celsius

Gurez is surrounded by Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's mountains on three sides and the highway connecting it with Srinagar remains closed in winters.

The victim of the avalanche was identified as Jamal Lone (45), a resident of Gujran, Gurez, more than 1gg km away from Srinagar. This has taken the death toll of those killed in avalanches to sic. On Sunday, five people were killed and five injured in rockslides triggered by snowfall at village Garkone in Batalik sector of Kargil district.

There was fresh snowfall in upper reaches in the valley, while the plains recorded both torrential rains and snow.

In its fresh warning, the government said a high danger avalanche warning existed in north Kashmir's Dhudhi, Machil and SM Hill areas. A medium danger avalanche warning stands in several upper reaches in north and north-east of Kashmir valley, including tourists spots like Khilanmarg and higher reaches of Gulmarg.

"People in these areas are advised to avoid movement during snowfall and avoid steep slopes. People are advised not to venture in avalanche prone areas," said Ali.

Rain also closed 300 km Srinagar-Jammu national highway, only road way connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, for traffic.

Rain recorded in Kashmir valley Qazigund: 102 mm (highest). Srinagar: 10.7 mm Kupwara: 64.4 mm Kokernag: 34.7

"The highway was closed after reports of shooting stones at several places. We are clearing the stretches and might throw it open for the traffic in the evening," DIG south Kashmir H.K Lohai told the HT.

More than 200 vehicles are stranded on the highway. "We returned passenger vehicles but goods trucks have parked on the highway only," said Lohai.

Srinagar-based MeT official predicted "widespread rain and snow in the Valley and the Ladakh region in the next 48 hours due to huge depression caused by western disturbances".

Gusty winds, on throughout the Sunday night, uprooted many trees in several orchards in north and south Kashmir. "The gusty winds also took away tin roofs of houses in several areas," said an official.

There was a major power breakdown in downtown Srinagar after gusty winds caused damaged the wires supplying the electricity to Srinagar city. At several places lines were snapped because of fallen trees bringing down the wires.

Dhaka asks India to exercise restraint on border

From The Hindu
Feb 8, 2011
Sandeep Dikshit

THIMPHU: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Bangladesh for the first time since the new government took over, with “tangible progress” having been achieved in nearly all issues, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told journalists here. Dr. Moni is here to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Foreign Ministers' two-day meet beginning Tuesday.

Manmohan's visit

While no dates have been finalised for the Prime Minister's visit, he is expected to arrive in Dhaka after the end of the monsoon season. This would be Dr. Singh's first standalone visit to Bangladesh during his two terms as the Prime Minister.

India-Bangladesh ties have been on the upswing since the Awami League-led government took power in Dhaka. However, the killing of Bangladeshis by the Border Security Force on the border is the sole sore point. Touching on this issue, Dr. Moni wanted the BSF to exercise “utmost restraint.” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna assured her that adequate steps were being taken to address the issue.

According to a Bangladeshi human rights organisation, about 100 Bangladeshis have been killed every year on the border for the past 10 years. The toll was 74 last year, but the most poignant case was that of a 15-year-old girl. Her body hung from the barbed wire fence for hours after the BSF pumped bullets into her. India has ordered a probe into the firing.

But for this issue, Dr. Moni pointed to the many breakthroughs both sides have made in resolving issues of discord. Prime among them is the agreement to ink a 15-year accord on sharing the waters of common rivers Teesta and Feni which would lead to agreements on five other rivers. This was a result of reactivation of the Joint Rivers Commission after several years.

Forward movement

“We are satisfied over the forward movement on issues of bilateral interest and the initiatives taken during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit. Both Mr. Krishna and Dr. Moni agreed on the need to maintain the momentum,” Foreign Office spokesperson, Vishnu Prakash, said. They also expressed satisfaction over the floating of tenders for projects envisaged in the $ 1 billion line of credit extended by India to Bangladesh, he added.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/08/stories/2011020855041200.htm

Delhi lines up Dhaka visits to firm up ties

From The Telegraph

ARCHIS MOHAN

SM Krishna Thimphu, Feb. 7: India today reiterated its desire to see a prosperous Bangladesh, having become conscious of efforts by the Sheikh Hasina government to normalise relations with Delhi. Of late, Bangladesh has been the only neighbour, besides Bhutan, which has had few complaints against subcontinent Big Brother India. Today, external affairs minister S.M. Krishna met his Bangladeshi counterpart Dipu Moni on the sidelines of the Saarc ministerial meeting in Thimphu and spoke of Delhi’s wish to see Bangladesh prosper. Indian officials said Delhi has noted the criticism that the Hasina government has faced from Opposition parties in her country for kow-towing to India. For once, it has also been pro-active. Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao is scheduled to visit Dhaka in March. Krishna will visit the Bangladeshi capital soon after, said an Indian official. New Delhi hopes the visits will keep up the momentum in bilateral relations and take forward the agreements reached between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Hasina when she visited India in January 2010. India wants to dispel the impression that the process initiated during Hasina’s visit has decelerated. Dipu Moni Rao and Krishna’s visits will be a precursor to Prime Minister Singh’s visit to Dhaka at the end of this year. Bangladesh hopes for some big-ticket announcement during Singh’s visit. The two sides are looking forward to an agreement on sharing the Teesta and Feni waters by that time and also resolve all boundary disputes. The Bangladeshi foreign minister today toldThe Telegraph that she was satisfied with the present momentum in the relations. The joint boundary working group of the two countries met in November, followed by discussions on sharing of the Teesta waters and a meeting between the two home secretaries. Power secretaries of the two countries are likely to meet later this month. Officials from both sides today said they were close to resolving their water- sharing and boundary disputes. Officials said a joint survey of the adverse possessions — little bits of territory that citizens have illegally occupied in each other’s country — has been done in Tripura and Assam and was in progress in Meghalaya and Bengal. Both countries will carry out a headcount of people living in their border enclaves in March. Bangladesh has 111 enclaves and India has 51. There was, however, one sour note at the meeting between Moni and Krishna. The Bangladeshi foreign minister raised the issue of the death of a 14-year-old girl near the border from BSF firing. Krishna assured her that the BSF had been asked to exercise extreme restraint.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110208/jsp/nation/story_13551619.jsp

59 Indian prisoners languishing in Bangladesh jails

From sify.news
2011-01-31
Dhaka, Jan 31 (IANS) At least 59 Indian nationals including three women are languishing in Bangladesh jails, despite completion of their prison terms, but New Delhi is refusing to take them back, a media report said Monday.
The district jail authorities in Satkhira on the western border tried several times to send them back but the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) repeatedly refused to accept them, The Daily Star said Monday quoting official sources.
Caught on charges of smuggling and arms peddling, the prisoners in the age group of 24-60 have completed their jail terms ranging from two to five years.
Officials said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) tried to push them back, but did not succeed.
Hailing from various Indian states, they were arrested by BGB and police from the border areas in last one decade for various crimes, the daily said.
They were convicted by the courts concerned and were sentenced to suffer two to five years rigorous imprisonment. Prison terms of some of the convicts ware completed in 2002.
The newspaper also published a list of their names.
On completion of their prison terms in different jails including in Satkhira, the jail authorities tried to send them back to India several times but BSF declined to accept them on the plea that they cannot do it without 'order from the government', the report said.
http://www.sify.com/news/59-indian-prisoners-languishing-in-bangladesh-jails-news-international-lb5sajcdjce.html

Insurgents kill NBCC official, injure driver in Tripura

From IBN Live

PTIAgartala, Jan 31 (PTI) An official of National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) was today shot dead by rebels of outlawed NLFT and his driver injured at a remote tribal hamlet near the Indo-Bangla border, police said.SP (Police control) Tushar Kanti Das said a group of NLFT ultras from inside the Bangladesh side of the border opened fire at the jeep in which C N Muni, in-charge of Shewapara border fencing site of NBCC in North Tripura district, was travelling this afternoon.Muni died on the spot while driver Narayan Roy was admitted to Kanchanpur sub-divisional hospital with injuries.Das said the place is a remote one, near the international border and about 50 km away from the Kanchanpur sub-divisional town where NBCC was engaged for erection of border fencing.According to Das, BSF and Tripura State Rifles have launched a joint combing operation in the area.Top BSF officials and district police were camping in the area, he said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/insurgents-kill-nbcc-official-injure-driver-in-tripura/559273.html

Cricket renews bonds between Garos and Rabhas

FROM THE ASSAM TRIBUNE
Raju Das
 SHILLONG, Jan 31 – Religion may have been one of the sparks that ignited the communal flare-up between the Rabha and Garo Communities, but an unscripted religion of India – cricket – is helping build bonds and camaraderie between the two sides.
Garos and Rabhas fought it out in a 20-20 cricket match in strife-torn Resubelpara in East Garo Hills district, Meghalaya, on Martyr’s Day on January 30 that commemorates the death anniversary of the greatest proponent of non-violence in the world – Mahatma Gandhi.
The match was held between Baijengdoba-XI and Resubelpara-XI at Resubelpara Stadium with a capacity of about 10,000 crowd from both Rabha and Garo communities from at least six nearby villages thronging the stadium to cheer their favourite team. Resubelpara-XI won the match by ten runs in a stiff battle.
Happily, in both the teams there were equal numbers of representation from the Garo and Rabha communities. In fact, police and BSF personnel were also in the teams from both the communities.
“There is lot of trauma and shock in the two communities. And we thought cricket can provide solace to ease the grief to a little extent as the sport is considered as some sort of a religion in India,” DIG Border Security Force Tura sector, Gajendra Singh Chaudhary told the Assam Tribune over phone from Tura.
The idea to have the match was mooted first by the BSF after carefully gauging the ground situation in which the border guarding officers thought that the villagers needed an outlet to move on with life. The force was equally supported by the district administration.
“Cricket is perfect. It is part of the cultural way of life in India now. Cricket we thought would provide the necessary balm. So we organised the match with representation from both communities. Moreover, there were cultural programmes showcasing the best of both the communities,” Chaudhary said.
During the event, Rural Development Minister, Frankenstein Momin was also present. He was accompanied by local NCP MLA, TD Shira.
The ethnic clash between the two communities left ten people dead, many more injured and about 50,000 people displaced so far. The BSF say anti-social elements are still trying to stoke the embers of the clash.
“We are taking elders from both communities to areas where they hear about rumours. And they speak to their respective community members to find out the truth,” said.
The eight companies of BSF and the Army deployed in the area are also trying to bring in psychiatrists from Guwahati, in some of the villages that have been ravaged by the violence, to provide counselling.
It is not certain when the festering wounds of both communities would heal, but the BSF say that with a little prayer, a little bit of trust and love both communities would find their own spaces, who share so much in common.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0111/oth07

Likely Rate of Dearness Allowance (DA) For Jan-June 2011

The Labour Bureau, Government of India has released All India Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) on base 2001=100 for the month of Dec 2010. The value of the index for Dec 2010 is 185. Based on the figures of last relevant twelve months the Dearness Allowance for Central Government Employees will be raised to 51% i.e. 6% increase over current rate of 45%.

The formal orders, however will be issued in March 2011.

Cricket match to heal ethnic clash wounds

From The Telegraph - Daylong fest for Rabhas & Garos at Mendipathar organised by BSF & East Garo Hills administration

E.M. JOSE

File picture of clash victims at a camp Shillong, Jan. 30: After the ethnic violence, involving the Garo and the Rabhas, it is now time for the wounds to heal through music, dance and sports. A friendly cricket match was organised today at Mendipathar in East Garo Hills of Meghalaya between a mixed group of Rabhas and Garos, thanks to an initiative of the BSF and the district administration. “There was a mixed group of Rabhas and Garos in both teams and the fight was between the two teams of Resubelpara and Bajengdoba,” BSF deputy inspector-general Gajendra Singh Chaudhary said over phone from Mendipathar. He said a few BSF personnel and officials of the district administration also took part in the match. In the friendly match witnessed by a large crowd, Bajengdoba lost by 10 runs while trying to chase Resubelpara’s score of 126 runs. Traditional music and dance was also performances on the occasion. “This was organised as part of the trauma reduction initiative of both the BSF and the district administration so that the affected people can lead a normal life,” the BSF official said. He said January 30 being Martyrs’ Day, the occasion provided an opportunity for both the Rabhas and the Garos to come together and forget their differences while recollecting the sacrifices of Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of peace. He said the BSF was also planning to bring in experts to provide counselling to the clash victims, who are yet to recover from the shock of the ethnic violence. East Garo Hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi said sports and music have served to bridge the gap between people affected by the recent ethnic violence. “This, in fact, brings about unity and harmony, besides providing a healing touch to both the Rabhas and the Garos,” Bakshi said. “We hope that the peace and reconciliation efforts of the BSF and the district administration will help both the communities to live amicably like the pre-clash period,” he said. Bakshi said no untoward incident was reported today. There had been an attempt to torch a house belonging to a Garo family yesterday. He said members of the Rabha National Council and a group of journalists from Goalpara district of Assam visited Mendipathar as a confidence-building measure. Bakshi said in Assam, Rabhas were being motivated to return to the camps or villages in East Garo Hills as schools will re-open next month and the last phase of census will also start from February 8.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110131/jsp/northeast/story_13512431.jsp

59 Indian prisoners languishing in Bangladesh jails

From Sify.News

Dhaka, Jan 31 (IANS) 

At least 59 Indian nationals including three women are languishing in Bangladesh jails, despite completion of their prison terms, but New Delhi is refusing to take them back, a media report said Monday.

The district jail authorities in Satkhira on the western border tried several times to send them back but the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) repeatedly refused to accept them, The Daily Star said Monday quoting official sources.

Caught on charges of smuggling and arms peddling, the prisoners in the age group of 24-60 have completed their jail terms ranging from two to five years.

Officials said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) tried to push them back, but did not succeed.

Hailing from various Indian states, they were arrested by BGB and police from the border areas in last one decade for various crimes, the daily said.

They were convicted by the courts concerned and were sentenced to suffer two to five years rigorous imprisonment. Prison terms of some of the convicts ware completed in 2002.

The newspaper also published a list of their names.

On completion of their prison terms in different jails including in Satkhira, the jail authorities tried to send them back to India several times but BSF declined to accept them on the plea that they cannot do it without 'order from the government', the report said.

http://www.sify.com/news/59-indian-prisoners-languishing-in-bangladesh-jails-news-international-lb5sajcdjce.html

Insurgents kill NBCC official, injure driver in Tripura

From IBN Live

PTI | 08:01 PM,Jan 31,2011

Agartala, Jan 31 (PTI) An official of National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) was today shot dead by rebels of outlawed NLFT and his driver injured at a remote tribal hamlet near the Indo-Bangla border, police said.SP (Police control) Tushar Kanti Das said a group of NLFT ultras from inside the Bangladesh side of the border opened fire at the jeep in which C N Muni, in-charge of Shewapara border fencing site of NBCC in North Tripura district, was travelling this afternoon.Muni died on the spot while driver Narayan Roy was admitted to Kanchanpur sub-divisional hospital with injuries.Das said the place is a remote one, near the international border and about 50 km away from the Kanchanpur sub-divisional town where NBCC was engaged for erection of border fencing.According to Das, BSF and Tripura State Rifles have launched a joint combing operation in the area.Top BSF officials and district police were camping in the area, he said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/insurgents-kill-nbcc-official-injure-driver-in-tripura/559273.html

Lok Sabha Secretariat Committee on petition by AICPM Forces Ex-Service Men Welfare Association

Contributed by a reader

List of points for informal discussion with the representative of MHA on the points / issues raised in the representation received from Sh P S Nair, General Secretary, AICPM Forces Ex-Service Men Welfare Association and forwarded by Shri Gurudas Dasgupta, MP regarding Pay and Service condition of Para Military Forces (discussion on which to be held on 8^th February 2011).

            The petitioner has stated that the PMF have sacrificed life of more than 8000 Jawans during last 5 year in various operations which is much higher than the casualty suffered by Army during the corresponding period. But when the question of granting benefit comes CPMF personnel are treated as Central Government Civilian Employees viz – a – viz Army personnel.  This is against the ethics of natural justice and equality as enshrined in Constitution of India.

            What are the comments of Ministry in this regard?  Give a brief account of difference in Pay structure and pensionery benefits of Armed Force personnel and civil Central Government Employees. 

            What is the nature of duty of CPMF personnel?  Please draw a broad comparison of their function with that of Armed Force personnel.

4   (b)   Please comment if it is not justified to give equal facilities to CPMF personnel as are being given to the Armed Force personnel.    

            Does the Ministry thinks that the current Pay, perks privileges being offered to CPMF personnel are justified in view of the arduous task under taken by them, if so the reason thereof and if not action taken or proposed to be taken in this regard. 

7.         Does the Ministry feel that the CPMF personnel are not being given their dues in terms of their Pay perks and privileges provided to them.  Give reason in support of reply.

20.       The petitioner has requested for formation of an organised service for Group – ‘A’ Officers and to merge 2IC rank in Pay scale of Pay Band – IV, filling of 100% posts of DIG and 50 % posts of IG and above promoting cadre officers as approved by the Government.  What are the comments of Ministry in this regard?

21.       What are the functional difficulties in merging 2IC rank in Pay Band – IV?  If there is any give details thereof. 

22.       As alleged by the petitioner please state if the Government has approved of the above demand if so furnish details of the non implementation of the same by the Government.  Also give the expected times by which the same are likely to be accepted.