PROMOTED: Income Tax department has promoted its three J&K officers to Chief Commissioner rank. These include B L Razdan (now DG IT Investigation Chandigarh), G R Sofi, (now CC IT Amritsar) and V K Magotra (now CC IT Ahmedabad).

ABANDONED: Paramilitary forces abandoned the 19-years old practice of hoisting the tricolour in Lal Chowk, Srinagar’s main city square. It was started by BJP at the conclusion of its Ekta Yatra when a handful of BJP leaders were flown in army choppers to curfew bound Srinagar. The practice was continued by BSF and later by CRPF. Officially, it was conveyed that the flag hoisting lacked any valid reason. BJP has criticised the CRPF decision.

CONSIDERED: The government is considering displaying the treasure of the Dogra rulers in the Mubarak Mandi Complex by the end of 2010. The treasure is currently under lock and key in the civil secretariat.

VACATED: Paramilitary CRPF has vacated the Srinagar Indoor Stadium after 20 years. The 5000 sq ft stadium thrown open in 1983 was occupied by CRPF in 1990 and at many stages, they shared it with army and BSF as well. CRPF has vacated the stadium and occupied the neighbouring Saifuddin Hall that hosts billiards matches. The repair and renovation of the stadium would cost over one crore rupees.

OPENED: In wake of Chinese incursions, the Government is considering opening Leh chapter of China Study Group. The CSG is a government body in which cabinet secretary and secretaries of home, external affairs, defence and representatives of the army are members. Its suggestions are recommendatory in nature for the government.

PROBED: Government has ordered investigations into the murder of a young man Mushtaq Ahmad who was killed while leading security forces towards a house in a Pulwama village. Residents alleged he was used as a human shield. Large scale protests forced the government to order an enquiry into his death.

PROTESTED: As many as 500 residents of Nadigam village in Budgam took to streets last week. They are seeking a station of the Railway station saying though the train passes through their village the station is 10 kms away. Police used force to disperse the crowd.

SUSPENDED: Factionalism within Congress is termed to be responsible for appointing political bosses to various boards and corporations. So far three positions have gone to NC – Shameema Firdaus (State Commission for Woman), Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari (State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People) and Rachpal Singh (State Advisory Board for Development of Kissan).

CLAIMED: Forest minister Mian Altaf Ahmad has claimed the centre has approved state’s proposal of granting Rs 330 crores for setting up Wullar Development Authority for conservation, cleaning and demarcation of the Asia’s largest freshwater lake that is also a Ramsar site. It would be tasked to remove 11 lakh trees planted by encroachers over 6000 kanals of the lake. The lake accounts for 60 percent of state’s fish production.

INITIATED: There may not be water but state is ensuring there is no dearth in procuring pipes. The latest from the Public Health and Engineering ministry is that they have sought help from the centre to procure 22 lakh meters water pipes from Srinagar and Jammu cities that would cost Rs 60 crores at Rs 600 per meter.

HONOURED: Come January and it is award season. On Jan 26, 28 police officials were awarded President’s medal. Three personalities – writer Dr Jitendra Udhampuri, Ghulam Mohammad Mir and former chief secretary Moosa Raza – bagged prestigious Padma Shri while Gujjar girl from Rajouri Rukhsana got Kirti Chakra, the second highest peace time gallantry award. She also got the state award for bravery along with her brother. State government announced awarding Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medals (SKPM) to 22 officers. State awards in different fields carrying medals, citation and cash were announced for Prof Rehman Rahi, Prof Sewa Singh, Prof Veena Gupta, Shameem Azad, Kailash Mehra, Pradhuman Singh Jindrahia, Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz, Mohammad Shariq Farooqui, B R Sharma, Basharat Ahmad Dhar, Nisar Ahmad Shah, Ishtaq Ahmad Khan, Tsering Angchok, Bilquis Mir, and journalists Sonaullah Bhat, Sofi Ghulam Mohammad (Posthumously), Arun Joshi, Nidhi Razdan, Marukh Inayat, Iftikhar Geelani, and Maqsood Ahmad.

AWARDED: Convenor INTACH, J&K Chapter Saleem Beg has been awarded the Intach Silver Jubilee awards for his contribution in promoting the idea of integrating the cultural heritage of the country with the community development programs at the state and national level. The award was presented to Beg along with Ms Shantila from Northeast on January 28 in New Delhi by Union Minister for Corporate Affairs and Minorities Salman Khurshid.

SERVED: Speaker assembly Muhammad Akbar Lone has served the arrest warrant, issued by a Jammu court in the Sidhra township scam to MLA Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari. The judge had also directed to issue bailable warrants against his brother Dr Amjad Abbas Ansari. Others accused include Jayant Bhuta and Madan Lal Kalra who have already been admitted to bail during the investigation.

 

 

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