Srinagar, October 7
Private transporters are taking the people of uptown Srinagar, especially from Natipora, Nowgam, Chanapora and Baghi-Mehtab areas, for a ride by charging undue fares and refusing to ply their vehicles on Sundays and during evenings .

Being major residential areas, these routes witness half of Srinagar’s traffic rush and people have to rely on private transportation like buses, Sumos and auto-rickshaws for commuting.

However, the transport operators have been taking undue advantage of the same by increasing the fares randomly against the fixed rate lists and plying their vehicles only during day time and on week days.

On the other hand, the commuters have to face a lot of problems due to the arrogance of transporters and the State Transport Department and traffic police failing to address their concerns.

Though bus fare has been fixed at Rs 7 for each passenger till Lal Chowk, the bus drivers of some of these routes charge Rs 10 from the passengers under the garb of non-stop buses.

Commuters allege that the non-stop buses are a new farce of the transporters and the traffic police mints money from the drivers. The traffic police personnel does not even intervene when there are scuffles between the drivers and passengers.

“We even made a representation before the Traffic Police Department regarding the high-handedness of the transporters and undue charging by them. However, no action has been taken against them and they continue to fleece the people,” said Muhammad Ashraf, a commuter.

Meanwhile, the police put the onus of transport fares and rules on the State Transport Department, saying they were only concerned with the traffic problems and not the laws being framed.

“It is the State Transport Department which should ensure strict implementation of the laws and the people need to approach them. The allegations that the police personnel undermine the rules are not true. It is because of the police intervention that recurrent jams have been avoided to a great extent,” a senior traffic official posted at Rambagh traffic post said.

Srinagar, October 7
The J&K High Court has directed the Kashmir Police to furnish a factual report related to the suicidal death of 16-year-old Class-X student, who died last month at Baramulla in north Kashmir.

The orders of the high court came after the parents of the deceased boy, Panveer Singh, moved a petition before the court this week, demanding CBI and judicial probes into the circumstances leading to his death.

“The petition came up yesterday before a single Bench of the high court. Before proceeding further, the court has directed the Kashmir Police to furnish a factual report into the death of the boy within a week’s time”, said advocate Karnail Singh Wazir, who filed the petition before the court on behalf of the parents of the deceased.

Panveer Singh, a Sikh student of Baramulla Public School, had died on September 3, a week after he attempted suicide by jumping from the second floor of his school building following alleged harassment at the hands of the school authorities.

In the petition before the court, the family has alleged that the police had remained silent over initiating action against the school authorities, adding that it (police) had failed to record the boy’s dying declaration at the hospital for at least four days.

Though the police had registered an FIR into the boy’s death under Sections 325 (blunt injury) and 306 (abetment to suicide), the family had been insisting on adding Section 302 (murder).

Besides, the family has also blamed the school authorities for negligence, alleging that even after having jumped from the school building, the boy kept lying on the school premises for half an hour and the school authorities failed to provide him medical help.

Asking for a judicial inquiry and an independent probe, preferably by the CBI, the petitioner family has also demanded stern action against the teacher, Altaf Hussain Teli, for allegedly abetting suicide.

Srinagar, October 7
Even as a city court directed Fabiyan Wahid Gilkar of Hajeej India Limited to present himself before the police by October 4, the private tour operating company continues to dupe aspiring hajis of the Kashmir valley.

Gilkar, who heads Hajeej India Limited company, a private haj and umrah services operator, is the prime accused in the infamous Hajeej duping and fraud case of 2011, which is still pending in a Srinagar court.

A delegation of haj aspirants told The Tribune that the office of the company was locked since many days and they were still waiting for the visa papers and other travel documents, as was promised by the firm.

The aspirants, numbering around 250, had deposited their money with the company in 2011, as advance for haj-2012, but were still waiting for their travel documents.

The company had recently taken Rs 30,000 each from many duped haj pilgrims in addition to the amount deposited by them earlier, assuring them that they would undertake the holy pilgrimage this year.

“Hajeej had, in 2011, invited applications for advance booking for performing haj in 2012 from hundreds of aspirants. Despite completing all the formalities, we are still waiting for the visas and other documents”, a delegation of such aspirants told The Tribune.

However, neither the documents have been delivered by the company to date nor has it given a proper response to the applicants. The whereabouts of the company managers are also not known, they added.

“We have been regularly going to Hajeej office located at Munawar Abad. But the office is locked since many days. We appeal to the Chief Minister to come to our rescue”, said MA Shah, who was a part of the delegation and is waiting for the travel and visa documents.

Kupwara, October 7
The non-availability of critical-care ambulances in the hospitals of north Kashmir is posing a threat to the lives of ailing patients, especially accident victims.

Expressing concern over the absence of such ambulances, doctors said the vehicles equipped with a life-support system were a must for ferrying critical patients to the hospitals.

A critical-care ambulance is equipped with necessary life-supporting gadgets like ventilator, oxygen cylinder, folding emergency stretcher, fully computerised ECG machine, portable vital signs monitor, vacuum splint kit and a suction pump.

“The ambulance assumes importance in view of the increasing road accidents in north Kashmir. Ferrying of accident victims, blast injury cases and other patients in critical condition in ambulances without a life-support system could put their lives in danger,” said Dr Ghulam Nabi, a senior surgeon at sub-district hospital in Kupwara.

What makes the matters worse is the fact that even the existing ambulances in the hospitals are devoid of basic life-saving drugs.

“The ambulances should have at least basic life-saving drugs like dexamethazone, adrenaline, hydrocortisone and phucimide to defer complications during the shifting of patients,” said another doctor. Maintaining that the lack of such ambulances in the hospitals had proved fatal in the past for many accidents victims, people in north Kashmir had demanded that the ambulances should be made available at the hospitals to save the precious lives. “In the absence of such vehicles, the attendants are forced to ferry the patients in normal ambulance, which is devoid of a life-support system. The authorities are playing with the lives of people by deferring the availability of such vehicles,” said Mohammed Shafi of Handwara.

Besides the sub-district hospital, all the major hospitals in north Kashmir, including district hospitals of Handwara and Baramulla, lack critical-care ambulances. Voicing his concerns over the non-availability of ambulance in the Baramulla hospital, CMO Dr Mohd Younis said, “Most of the referral patients must be carried to tertiary hospitals in a critical-care ambulance. For instance, a patient suffering from cervical fracture needs to be shifted to another hospital, which is not humanly possible without a critical-care ambulance.”

As per data available in Kupwara, Handwara and Baramulla hospitals, at least 8-10 critically-ill patients were referred to the SMHS and SKIMS hospitals in Srinagar for tertiary care. Director Health Services Kashmir, who was in Delhi, could not be contacted for his comments.

Srinagar, October 7
The representatives of striking Power Development Department employees on Saturday met the Principal Secretary, Power, Sudhanshu Panday, and presented their demands, including health insurance for the electric workers.

A government spokesman said the Principal Secretary assured the representatives that their demands shall be looked into by competent quarters in a time bound manner.

The PDD employees union, also known as the Electric Employees Union (EEU), which had called for the strike, was demanding framing of rules for working of the employees in case of privatisation, health insurance for the employees, amendments in the service rules which were framed in 1983 and defined working hours for the employees.

“The employees had some misgivings and inhibitions about unbundling of the department. The roadmap of unbundling was shared with them and they were convinced about the efficacy of dispensation likely to come up both in terms of public delivery and much needed CAPEX for the system,” the spokesman said.

He said, “The employees demanded insurance cover for burns and other health hazards associated with their job which they were assured shall be explored with various insurance agencies in consultation with them.”

Power Development Commissioner, Power Technical Secretary and chief engineers were present at the meeting.

Srinagar, October 7
The state Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accorded approval to the establishment of the State Water Resources Regulatory Authority (SWRRA) in terms of Section 139 of the J&K Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act 2010 and the appointment of former Chief Secretary SS Kapur as its chairperson.

Besides, the Cabinet also approved the appointment of VK Abrol and Abdul Rashid Tak as members of the authority.

An official spokesman said in another decision the Cabinet approved the creation of the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge at Handwara.

The Cabinet also approved re-employment of Dr Mohammad Amin Wani as the Superintendent, Super Specialty Hospital, Srinagar, for a period of one year.

The Cabinet also accorded administrative approval for the upgradation of Ramnagar-Dudu road upto Latti in the Udhampur district, approved by the Special Task Force, Jammu, at an estimated cost of Rs 34.60 crore.

Srinagar, October 7
Eight persons were injured in different road accidents across the Valley.

The police said an unidentified school bus hit and injured Rafeeqa, wife of Nazir Ahmad Bhat, resident of Kanlibagh, Baramulla, near Guru Nanak Public School, Baramulla. The injured was shifted to the hospital. A case has been registered in the police station, Baramulla.

In another accident, a Tata 407 minibus bearing registration number JK03/8604 was hit by an unidentified Tipper at Pazalpora National Highway, Anantnag, resulting in injuries to six passengers. All the injured were shifted to Sub District Hospital, Bijbehara.

In another accident, an unidentified Army vehicle hit and injured six-year-old Zeshan Mansoor, daughter of Mansoor Ahmed Zargar, resident of Bandipora. The girl was shifted to hospital. A case has been registered in this regard.

Meanwhile, one person died and four others were injured in separate road accidents across the Valley since Friday evening.

Abdul Gani Rather, 55, was injured when a tractor hit him at Champora, Handwara, in north Kashmir. He was shifted to Public Health Centre, Vilgam, where he succumbed to his injuries.

In another accident, a Tavera bearing registration number JK01K/5378 collided with a loaded carrier bearing registration number JK01S/1735 at Green Tunnel near Bijbehara on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, injuring four persons.

The injured were identified as Shabnum Akhtar, wife of Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Marhama, Shareefa, wife of Mir Alam, resident of Reasi, Jammu, Nisar Ahmad Khan, son of Bashir Ahmad, resident of Check Doda and Rohi Jan, wife of Sarfaraz Nawaz Shah, a resident of Baba Mohalla, Bijbehara. All the injured were shifted to sub-district hospital, Bijbehara, for treatment. The police has registered a case.

Srinagar, October 7
The demise of socio-religious leader of Kargil in Ladakh region, Sheikh Ahmad Mohammadi, was widely condoled today.

Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family and Sheikh’s followers, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir had been deprived of a great scholarly personality.

Sources said Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad too conveyed sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and president Mehbooba Mufti also condoled the demise.

“Mohammadi’s death is a severe blow to Millat-e-Islam. Mohammadi had several unique qualities; perspicacity of history, literary merit par excellence, humane at heart, intellectual vision coupled with humility and modesty and above all keen desire to spread message of humanity in the light of Quranic verses and traditions of the Prophet Mohammed (SAW),” a statement issued by the PDP leaders said.

Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Qamar Ali Akhoon and Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani attended the last rites of the religious leader at Kargil today.

Sheikh, who was also the president of Islamia School Kargil, had passed away yesterday evening in Kargil after prolonged illness. He was 76.

Srinagar, October 7
The second season of Kashmir's Sufi music festival ‘Shashrang’ concluded here today with the enthralling performances by renowned Kashmiri Sufi singers, including Kailash Mehra and Waheed Jeelani amid thunderous applause of audiences at the Sher-e-Kashmir Convention Centre (SKICC), Srinagar.

People from all walks of life attended the music concert, which saw many politicians, police officials and bureaucrats enjoying the rhythms of the santoors, tablas and tubakhnaris.

‘Shashrang’, began on Saturday with some brilliant performances by popular artists of Jammu and Kashmir.

The festival was organised by the Kashmir Music Club Co-Operative Limited, an initiative of renowned classical Kashmiri singer and musician, Waheed Jeelani.

Minister for Higher Education Abdul Gani Malik, advisor to Chief Minister Mubarak Gul, Information director Zafar Ahmad, Jammu and Cultural Academy director, Khalid Bashir and senior officials from judiciary and police departments were the others present on the occasion among the enthralled audiences.

Among the many performances, which the audiences enjoyed, included those of Deepali Wather, Shazia Basheer, Muhammad Amar, Zahoor Bhat, Muneer Mir and some poetry recitation titled ‘Tymber-Phulai’ of Rehman Rahi by Waheed Jeelani.

Kashmir University’s music faculty performed a chorus song which was well appreciated by the audiences.

“I really appreciate Waheed Jeelani’s initiative in reviving the indigenous music industry of the state and bringing together the artists from various genre of music under one roof,” opined Mushtaq Ali, a senior producer with the Doordarshan Kendra, Kashmir.

Srinagar, October 7
The District Institute of Education & Training (DIET), Srinagar, with the support of Divisional Disaster Management Authority, Kashmir, and Civil Defence, Srinagar, organised a five-day school safety and disaster preparedness training for 50 teachers of various government middle schools of the Srinagar district.

The teachers participated in the sessions and showed keen interest in them. A mock drill was held in which the teachers handled fire extinguishers.

During the interaction, the teachers were impressed upon to prepare school safety plans, so as to be prepared to face any accident.

The teachers were imparted training in first-aid, fire-fighting, search and rescue by chief instructor Abdul Gaffar, civil defence trainers Nazir Ahmed and Mohammed Sarwar.

During the training, Regional Red Cross Committee secretary Abdul Jabbar Chakat and Civil Defence deputy controller Mohammed Rafiq also interacted with the teachers.

The valedictory function was held at Bemina where Disaster Management head Aamir Ali and OSD with Kashmir divisional commissioner was the chief guest.

DIET principal Syed Aijaz Qalandar presided over the function which was coordinated by Mohammed Rafi, head of the department, Planning and Training, DIET.

Baramulla, October 7
People in the border area of Kalapahar were examined during an ongoing cancer awareness and detection camp here.

The camp was organised by 3 Dogger Regiment of the Army in collaboration with Mazagon Dock Mumbai, a ship manufacturing company.

The patients would be provided free medical treatment in the camp. The camp will continue for another few days. Bipin Rawat, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 19 Infantry division said the objective of the camp was to reach out to the patients in the remote areas.

Dr Kiran Desie, Director, Mazagon Dock Mumbai, said the tests suggested by the doctors including X-ray, sonography, mammography, chemotherapy, radio therapy etc will be provided free of cost to the cancer patients. He said the patients detected with cancer symptoms would also be provided free treatment by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the firm.

Srinagar, October 7
As many as 300 youth from J&K will undergo a training in high-end and conventional courses under a special skill development programme outside the state.

This was disclosed during a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Madhav Lal here on Friday. He underscored the need for upgrading skills and enhancing employability of the youth in consonance with the open market requirements. The meeting focussed on skill development of youth belonging to border districts and families of construction workers.

“Training should lead to essential skill development and gainful employment”, he said, adding that all available resources of the government departments and private sector, within and outside the state, need to be converged to realise the objectives and goals of the skill development initiative.

The selected youth will undergo six months’ training course at MSME, CIPET and FFDC institutes and develop skills in machine operations, injection moulding, plastic processing, product and mould design using CAD/CAM/CAE, sheet metal processing, machine maintenance and automation, hand tools and machine tools.

Srinagar, October 7
Vegetable growers in the Valley are busy stocking dry vegetables locally called ‘Hokh-Suan’ for its consumption in the winters ahead. The demand for dry vegetables grows in the winter season due to the shortage of fresh vegetables.

Most commonly consumed dry vegetables include Ravangan hache (dry tomatoes), Vangan hache (dry brinjals), Hoch palak, (dry spinach), Hund (a wild herb) and Gogji arae (dry turnip).

Over 80 per cent of the people grow vegetables in the Valley and Budgam district dominates the produce. The vegetables are indigenously dried and preserved during the summers and are made available in the markets during the winters by the vegetable growers.

“Although winter season is yet to commence but few of the dry vegetables like ravangan hache and hoch palak are in demand. Ravangan hache is sold between Rs 80 and Rs 100 per kg,” said Javid Ahmad, a provisional store runner at Budgam.

Few other dry vegetables consumed in the winters include Gogji mus (small dry turnip with leaves), Bumb (a wild herb), Alae hache (dried bottle gourds) and Hoch meethi (dry fenugreek). “In the summers, the vegetables are cut to size, dried for weeks together and then sold during the winters, when there is shortage of fresh vegetables often due to blockade of roads mainly the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway," said Ishfaq Ahmad, a vegetable grower.

Dry vegetables are a delicacy during the winters as they offer added flavour and people prefer having it. While as dry tomatoes this year have made early inroads in the market and are available at many shops, all the locally preserved dry vegetables are expected to be in the market in the next few weeks.

‘Hokh-Suan’, which were domestically produced and consumed earlier, has emerged as a full-fledged business with shops selling dry vegetables during the winter season.

“These vegetables are even send to Delhi and other cities. Dry vegetables cannot be expected to be produced in huge quantities since drying the vegetables demands a lot of hard work and is an elongated process,” said Abdul Rashid, another vegetable grower. Given the increasing demand of ‘Houk-Suan’, more vegetable growers in the Valley, especially the Budgam and Kupwara district have joined the business.