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Multi-crore scam exposed in Poonch Municipality MC's CEO engages kin on different posts; gives work to family firms 11/21/2016 11:45:58 PM K Koushal Early Times Report Jammu, Nov 21: In one of the biggest scams in the state, a top official in Poonch has allegedly embezzled crores of rupees. Irshad Hussain Sofi, Chief Executive Officer, Municipal Council Poonch, along with his wife Zaitoon Begum had withdrawn huge amount of money from the government exchequer in the name of an unregistered firm 'Sofi Traders'. "During his stay as Executive Officer Municipal Committee Surankote and CEO, MC Poonch between 2010-2015, Irshad Sofi in connivance with officials of Directorate of Urban Local Bodies Jammu released huge amount of money in the name of his wife for running a firm, which is unregistered," revealed in reply to an RTI filed by Advocate Kovid Khosla on the behalf of the council. They said Irshad Sofi did not stop here and engaged his son Asghar Ali Sofi in MC Poonch in 2008-2009 as casual labourer. Irshad also reportedly secured engagement of his son in MC Surankote in 2010 on need felt basis during his tenure as CEO, MC Surankote. "He also secured engagement of his son in MC Surankote in 2011 as consolidated...   READ MORE

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Treasury officials in Valley 'demand bribe' for release of payments 11/21/2016 11:45:43 PM Ishtiyaq Ahmad Early Times Report Srinagar, Nov 21: The approach of officials of the Treasuries is forcing Valley-based contractors to launch an agitation against them. Contractors allege that bills worth crores of rupees on account of works executed by them are pending in different treasuries and the reason is that the higher officials are demanding commission from them. "Our pending bills are not cleared by the Treasuries. All our pleas have fallen on the deaf ears. The officials including Treasury officers make us to frequent the offices," a contractor told Early Times. He said they look like beggars outside these treasuries. The contractors' community works under pressure situa...   READ MORE   Will Chief Justice of Jammu Kashmir High Court intervene to save cricket in J&K? Affiliation stopped some 50 years ago 11/21/2016 11:45:36 PM Syed Junaid Hashmi Early Times Report JAMMU, Nov 21: If it took Supreme Court to force BCCI to do course correction, will Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court intervene and force Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association to reform itself purely for the promotion of cricket in the state. 32 clubs which includes government institutions and bodies controlled by state is all what Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has in the name of finding cricketers who would make it to the national level. The talent pool is restricted and limited. A talented cricketer has no option but to somehow find place in one of these clubs or institutions if he aspires to make it to the national scene...   READ MORE   So-called calendar for RSD punctured Separatists make last ditch attempts to keep themselves relevant 11/21/2016 11:45:25 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Nov 21: People coming out of their homes in large numbers across Kashmir on Saturday, Sundayand even on Monday has sent alarm bells ringing in the separatist camp. The desperate attempts of separatists to prolong the shutdown are not bearing any results as people have realized that these "dream merchants" are nothing more than a bunch of paid agents, which are out to implement the agenda of Pakistan in Kashmir. Exasperated by people defying the shutdown and chalo calls and puncturing the so-called protest calendar for Right to Self Determination (RSD), the separatists issued a statement stating: "Conscious and honorable nations can't afford to forget the sacrific...   READ MORE   AEE asks Akhnoor residents to approach MLA for water Playing to his MLA's tune 11/21/2016 11:45:13 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Nov 21: Playing under the patronage of Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and working to appease him, an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) has ordered aggrieved persons to approach MLA Akhnoor for water. According to sources, an AEE of Public Health Engineering (PHE) was called by an aggrieved person from Gandharwan Tanda in Akhnoor, to which AEE asked him to get consent from the MLA. "The aggrieved person was told to approach MLA-Akhnoor to get his consent. When the aggrieved person resisted, the AEE disconnected the call and asked MLA's men to talk to the aggrieved person," said sources, adding that AEE told the aggrieved person that he will not release w...   READ MORE   11/21/2016 11:44:05 PM ...   READ MORE   On hind side of Kanpur railway tragedy, security concerns of Jammu railway station haunt again 11/21/2016 11:44:03 PM Abodh Sharma Early Times Report JAMMU, Nov 21: Death of over 130 people in a gory rail accident near Kanpur the previous day has shaken the conscious of entire nation and has once again brought to the fore the pathetic state of affairs with regards to passenger safety and security in the Indian railways while as the nation is nurturing ambitions of running bullet trains. While an inquiry has been ordered to probe the reason behind the Kanpur tragedy, Jammu railway station is an example of indecisiveness, complacency and criminal neglect of the railway authorities, who have not woken up to the vital measures suggested by a high level committee after the last terror attack on Jammu railw...   READ MORE   HC upholds allegations of favouritism, malpractices against Presentation Convent school Parents seek 19 lacs in Consumer Court 11/21/2016 11:43:57 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Nov 21: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has reportedly upheld the allegations of favoritism and illegal means, allegedly being adopted by management of Presentation Convent School Gandhi Nagar Jammu, levelled by parents of a student, who was denied admission in her choicest stream, despite having very good marks in matriculation examination. Moreover, the parents have also filed a case in J&K State Commission for Consumers, seeking damages to the tune of over Rs. 19 Lakhs from Presentation Convent School management, and Consumer Court has reportedly directed the school management to present before court in the month of December. As per the case filed by Anandit...   READ MORE   JKCL paid Rs 5 cr extra to procure clinker without requirement 11/21/2016 11:43:46 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Nov 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Cements Limited had paid Rs 5 crore extra to procure clinker worth Rs 14 crore without the company requiring it. Sources told Early Times the clinker (stony residue from burnt coal) is used in manufacturing of cement, but despite having sufficient clinker the JKCL procured it from open market that too at exorbitant rate. "The contract was given to two firms without inviting tenders which led to these firms making a fortune," sources said. They said the JKCL had projected requirement for procurement of clinker from market to the extent of 8000 MTs in its budget proposal. But it procured approximately 21000 MTs of clinker at a cost ...   READ MORE   BJP minister takes Rs 13 cr, car, flat as bribe from party MLC Cash Hain To Aish Hain! 11/21/2016 11:32:38 PM PS Bali Early Times Report JAMMU, Nov 21: A senior minister of ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) allegedly took Rs 13 crore in cash as bribe from his party MLC to help him establish a business in the winter capital, sources told Early Times . They said the BJP cabinet minister helped the MLC to clear departmental hiccups to establish estates business in Jammu outskirts. "The MLC paid Rs 13 crores to the minister, purchased a luxury car and a flat for him in one of the posh colonies in Jammu city. After getting the kickbacks the minister called a senior bureaucrat to his home in the wee hours to settle the MLC's issue," the sources said. The cabinet minister, according to the sources, "p...   READ MORE   EC may postpone Anantnag LS by-polls 'Normalcy has returned, but tempers still high' 11/21/2016 11:32:24 PM Early Times Report Jammu, Nov 21: The Election Commission may postpone the by-elections for Anantnag Lok Sabha seat as one-off case in view of the ground realities of the place, where semblance of normalcy just returned but future still remains uncertain. The EC has to hold by-election by December 20, and the entire electioneering process has to be completed by January 4, 2017 as per the constitutional requirement. Sources said the EC can defer the polls as one-off case as there is provision for it. "The EC has to hold elections with all logistical support and the proper ground reality. The Home Ministry and the state government have to provide the logistical support. So their view and...   READ MORE   Orders keeping schools open in Kashmir during winter Education Minister continues to build castles in air 11/21/2016 11:31:22 PM Jehangir Rashid Early Times Report SRINAGAR, Nov 21: Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar has a habit of building castles in air without knowing the realities on the ground. Same has been depicted in a latest directive (farmaan) issued by the department headed by Akhtar. Over the past few days enough hints have come to the fore that the education department is contemplating to keep the government as well as private schools in Kashmir valley open during the winter this year. This is despite the fact that the facilities at the government schools in the valley are poor and the same are not upto mark at private schools as well. Most of the government schools in Kashmir don't have window pan...   READ MORE   Massive fire near Dal leaves one dead, 15 houses gutted 11/21/2016 10:56:20 PM Early Times Report Srinagar, Nov 21: An elderly person died while several others were reportedly injured after a massive fire broke out at congested Malteng area of Dalgate that also left fifteen concrete structures damaged here this morning. Locals said that the cause of fire could not immediately ascertained however it was presumed that it might broke out due to blast in gas cylinder "we cannot say anything with authority as what to what led to blaze, we heard a bang this morning and when...   READ MORE   "Mitti Mafia" moves to Damodar to threaten airport security 11/21/2016 10:55:08 PM Early Times Report Srinagar, Nov 21: "Mitti Mafia" which was earlier active around Budgam and Chadoora areas of central Kashmir has now found a new area for excavation of soil and this may cause a direct threat to the security of Srinagar Airport. Authorities at the helm of affairs seem not at all worried over this dangerous development... Details available with Early Times reveal that dozens of JCB's, tippers and load carriers are seen plying on the Wathoora Banhaar area which is close to Srinagar Airport near Karewa Damodar. From last two months soil is being excavated in this area which is hardly 1km away from the Airport runway. JCB's and heavy duty bull dozers are on the job ...   READ MORE   After announcing mass promotion, Govt asks class XI students to appear in exam Confusion To Hai Atal! 11/21/2016 10:55:00 PM Early Times Report Srinagar, Nov 21: After announcing mass promotion to students for classes other than those appearing in the ongoing board exams, the government has issued date-sheet for students of class 11th, triggering widespread chaos and confusion in Kashmir. A week after the government announced mass promotion, the students who have been promoted to class 12th woke up to read notification of the Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education (JKBOSE) that they will have to appear for first term of the class 11th exams, which were underway in July when massive agitation erupted in the wake of killing of Hizb terrorist Burhan Muzaffar Wani and his two colleagues. The exams wer...   READ MORE   Students question Nayeem's absence 'He should have been around to encourage examinees' 11/21/2016 10:54:50 PM Early Times Report Srinagar, Nov 21: At a time when the student fraternity in Kashmir is defying the separatist call and braving the threat by appearing in annual exams of Class 10th and 12th, questions are being raised from all corners over education minister's absence from ground and logic behind issuing diktats from Jammu. "The education minister should have been here in Kashmir, encouraging students and hailing them for appearing in exams despite severe threats. But he is in Jammu and hasn't deemed it necessary to even pay a single visit to any exam centre here," a group of parents said while waiting for their wards outside one of the exam centres in old city. Others seconded the...   READ MORE   Process of J&K integration Lal Bahadur Shastri in news 11/21/2016 10:54:30 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Nov 21: Late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri has become a subject of positive discussion in the social media these days. The context is J&K and its integration into India and the man who is under severe criticism is none other than first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru during whose time J&K acceded to India and the nation started facing trouble in the Valley and the process continues even today. Shastri was a great integrationist, the people are saying, and adding that it was during his short regime that J&K was brought closer to New Delhi then ever before. They are right. It was during his regime that the offices of Sadar-e-Riyasat and Wazir-e-Azam...   READ MORE   ICDS Anantnag holds cultural events… on papers to swindle money Beti bachao, beti padao? 11/21/2016 10:53:22 PM Saahil Suhail Early Times Report Anantnag, Nov 21: Taking undue advantage of the ongoing turmoil in the Valley, the ICDS Anantnag, in league with a contractor, is allegedly swindling money meant for organizing cultural programs in this southern district to spread message of 'Beti bachao, beti padao.' According to official sources, Song and Drama Division of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has allotted the contract of conducting cultural programs to a Srinagar-based firm and has directed District Project Officer ICDS Anantnag to provide logical support to the firm. The firm was scheduled to conduct programs from November 18. It has however failed to do so. Sources said that ...   READ MORE   Explosive licenses to contractors offering heavy commission returns 11/21/2016 10:33:31 PM Asif Iqbal Naik Early Times Report Kishtwar Nov 20: The contractors under the banner of Contractors Association District Kishtwar held a strong protest against the management of Chenab Valley Power Project Limited over insertion of "explosive clause" where the contractors has been asked to manage the explosive material to carry out the blasting at construction site as majority of the contractors had no license for transportation of "explosive" material. Jammu and Kashmir being a militancy infested state and as per past practice, the concern department provide the explosive material to the contractors as and when there is any requirement to carryout blasting at construction site. As pe...   READ MORE   Treasury officials in Valley 'demand bribe' for release of payments 11/21/2016 10:31:39 PM Ishtiyaq Ahmad Early Times Report Srinagar, Nov 21: The approach of officials of the Treasuries is forcing Valley-based contractors to launch an agitation against them. Contractors allege that bills worth crores of rupees on account of works executed by them are pending in different treasuries and the reason is that the higher officials are demanding commission from them. "Our pending bills are not cleared by the Treasuries. All our pleas have fallen on the deaf ears. The officials including Treasury officers make us to frequent the offices," a contractor told Early Times. He said they look like beggars outside these treasuries. The contractors' community works under pressure situa...   READ MORE   Separatists, Farooq speak in one language Message from Srinagar, Mumbai 11/21/2016 10:31:30 PM Early Times Report JAMMU, Nov 21: Who says National Conference president and three-time J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah is a mainstream leader? He is not. He has been making statements similar to what the separatists of all varieties make on a daily basis. Has he not said Kashmir never was and will never be an integral part of India? Has he not at regular intervals demanded autonomy from India? Has he not repeatedly said that J&K was a Muslim-majority state and it must enjoy a status different from other states of the Union have? He has repeatedly put forth divisive and communal views. And see what he and the separatists said on the Kashmir situation on Sunday. Farooq spoke in Mumbai...   READ MORE   On leave Patwari being made scapegoat State land encroached in Chowadi 11/21/2016 10:31:18 PM K Koushal Early Times Report Jammu, Nov 21: In a bizarre case of hushing up the departmental transgression, the district administration has attached an on leave Patwari after senior officers accused him of facilitating encroachment of state land in Chowadi. The Patwari, who has now been attached, was on leave to mourn the death of his mother. However, the senior officers to cover their transgression blamed him, sources told Early Times. They said senior officials did not take notice of illegal construction on state land on khasra no. 96 in Lower Chowadi. Instead, the Patwari of Chowadi was attached with the office of Divisional Commissioner Jammu for his alleged involvement in the land...   READ MORE   JAKFED MD, GM in dock for observing court orders in breach 11/21/2016 10:31:07 PM Early Times Report Srinagar, Nov 21: For observing its directions in breach in a case involving promotion of an employee of the cooperative society, J&K High Court has issued bailable warrants against Managing Director (MD) as well as General Manager (GM) of J&K Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (JAKFED). A bench of Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey, directed Inspector General Police (IGP) Jammu to execute the warrants against the said authorities by November 28. "Neither compliance of order, dated October 14, 2016, has been filed, nor are the respondents-- MD as well as and GM of JAKFED-- present in person," the court said, adding no option is left with it but to adopt th...   READ MORE   With winter chill, Power crisis returns to Valley PDD warns of darker days ahead 11/21/2016 10:30:53 PM Saqib Ahmad Early Times Report Srinagar, Nov 21: With winter beginning to get ferocious in the valley, the Power Development Department (PDD) and the consumers are at loggerheads over prolonged power cuts and payment of power bills. While people are taking to the streets protesting against the erratic power cuts amid cold weather in the Valley, the Power Development Department (PDD) has blamed consumers for the unscheduled power cuts and warned of darker days ahead if people did not refrain from violating their agreement with the department. For the past over a week, scores of protests have been held across the Valley against the unscheduled power cuts. The protestors accused the gov...   READ MORE

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Younis Kuchey upbeat with double title Govt orders waiver of fee for girl students Play on environment hazards performed Biannual congregation of Baba Achoo Ji Mahararaj on Nov 27 5 POK guests arrive, only one Kashmiri cross to over side of LoC SAFP to be launched in presence of 'Sri Sri' on Nov 23 Bunkers to be built in J&K along Pak border for civilians PHE workers hold protest rally BJP launching misleading campaign against 'Azad', accuses Dr Manohar Need based employees of PDD hold protest, highlight demands Koushur speaking / learning workshop cum symposium organized NGO helps for Marriage of a poor girl JKNPP stages protest against exploitation of youth in J&K at Jantar Mantar Rotary Club organizes free Eye & ENT camp JFI extends unflinching support to PM Modi Another BSF jawan martyred in Pak shelling, 7 injured Water supply scheme totally defunct HC directive in LPA on DoB controversy Alleged attack on RTI activist Abrogation of Article 370 can bring permanent solution to JK : Kundan Kashmiri JK bank robbed; gunmen escape with banned Rs 500, Rs 1000 notes worth Rs 13 lakh Assault case victim dies in GMC&H Medical College principal among 3 held with Rs 2,83,700 Youth falls unconscious allegedly due to drug overdose Delay in release of Class IV posts' selection list resented Contractual workers under CITU hold protest Mughal road to remain open from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm BSF constable dies in road mishap Power shutdown Bovine smuggling bid foiled, 13 animals rescued Three women laborers injured in road mishap Man receives burn injuries Abducted Jammu girl traced from Delhi Excise deptt destroys 1000 Kg Lahan, 30 bottles of illicit liquor Road accident victim succumbs Two killed, 5 injured after tree falls on passenger vehicle Upper reaches experience snowfall, cloudy sky in plains in Kashmir Highway connecting Ladakh with Kashmir through despite snowfall Air traffic remains suspended from Srinagar for 4th day today Free medical camp organized ALMSA organises blood donation camp Bank will extend system driven flexibility in restructuring of loans : Parvez Ahmed Bank will extend system driven flexibility in restructuring of loans : Parvez Ahmed Chehlum-e-Hussaini observed across State J&K Grameen Bank issues new currency Hakla condemns ceasefire violation by Pak Army in civilian areas No normalcy in Valley, talks with Hurriyat, others must: Farooq Abdullah SKUAST- J intensifies awareness campaign on soil testing Repairs of bridges and roads soon LPEF condoles demise of Lal Din Sheikh Chinars turn into blaze; magnificent look un-noticed due to unrest in Kashmir   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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May Fair School organizes Quiz Compititon 9th fencing competition held at GHSS Ghagwal JP World School emerges as State Champion in Badminton JK shines in 'Celebrating Diversity' at Bhopal Qoumi Ekta Diwas organized at Ramisht College of Education A Seminar on 'Plant Biotechnology in human Welfare'   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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