A woman purchases warm clothing in Srinagar

Srinagar, December 1
Kashmir region was enveloped in a severe cold, with mercury at Gulmarg resort falling ten degrees below the freezing point, which is the lowest temperature of the season in the valley so far.

The extreme dip in minimum temperature comes hours after heavy snowfall was recorded in parts of Kashmir region on Thursday. The state weather department has forecast the mercury to fall further during the night time, contrary to day temperature, which, it is predicted, will witness a rise.

Mercury in Gulmarg resort in north Kashmir overnight fell to minus 10.6 degrees Celsius, a state Meteorological official said. Gulmarg this week received 1.5-foot snowfall. At Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 6.8 degrees Celsius.

There was moderate to heavy snow this week in the remote parts and higher reaches of Kashmir region, leading to suspension of traffic on several key roads to border areas.

In the city here, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, which is a fall of five degrees from the minimum of last night, when city was warmer, with mercury settling at 3.1 degrees Celsius. The weather department said the night temperature in the city tonight is likely to remain the same.

The day temperature in the city was recorded at 11.3 degrees Celsius, which is a degree down from the normal temperature for this time of the year, the official said.

In Leh town of remote Ladakh region, mercury overnight fell to minus 13.4 degrees Celsius and the day temperature there rose to a meagre 3.6 degrees Celsius.

In the adjoining Kargil district in Ladakh region, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 7.4 degrees Celsius, the official said. The maximum temperature in Kargil could only rise upto 2.6 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature in Ladakh region usually hovers many degrees below the freezing point in winter months, sometimes falling down to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius. The Ladakh region remains cut off from rest of the state for most of the winter as heavy snow along the Srinagar-Leh road shuts the access to the mountainous Ladakh.

Kashmir valley is gearing up for a harsh winter which is set to begin this month, little over a fortnight later when 'Chillai Kalaan' — a 40-day long harsh phase of the winter — begins.

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature in frontier Kupwara town in north Kashmir was recorded at 2.3 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature in the south Kashmir's Qazigund town was recorded at minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, the official said.

Frislan (Pahalgam), Dec 1
Ibrahim Sheikh is a worried man these days, with his bed-ridden wife diagnosed with leukaemia and five children to take care of, without a source of income or a home to stay in.

Sheikh lost his house to the devastating fire which engulfed half the Frislan village a few days ago.

He is not alone in his woes, as 37 other families who lost their homes to the blaze are going through a harrowing time.

After the upper reaches of the Valley received the first snowfall of the season, uncertainty looms large over the victims of the fire.

The victims say as the mercury takes a dip, it is becoming impossible to live under the open sky, or for that matter in the makeshift tents they have been provided by the administration.

"The temperature is hitting new lows with each passing day and it's getting ever more difficult to live in these cloth tents," said Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh, a victim of the inferno.

He said that the nail biting chill, especially during the nights, is taking a severe toll on the health of their little ones. "The health of our children is at a high risk in wake of the sub-zero temperatures," he stated.

The inferno victims say that they have appealed to the government that they be provided pre-fabricated huts to ensure that they are guarded from the harsh weather to some extent; however, nothing has been done so far in this regard.

"It has already snowed once. Thankfully, it did not snow much, but the next two months or so are going to be really cold and the next snowfall is going to be heavier," said Ibrahim Sheikh, another victim.

As the weather gets harsher, the victims have their fingers crossed in hope of some help from any quarter whichsoever.

Srinagar, December 1
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was tasked by the High Court to probe the killing of teenager Tufail Mattoo, has closed its investigation into the matter, saying the culprits remain ‘untraced’. This has been stated by the SIT in its final report submitted to the High Court this week.

On June 11, 2010, Tufail Mattoo, a teenager, was returning home from tuitions when the police fired a teargas shell, which allegedly hit him, near Gani Memorial College in old city. He was killing on the spot. Mattoo’s death had triggered a cycle of violence in the Valley. More than 120 persons were killed in subsequent firing by the police and security forces.

“All the possibility of collecting evidence in this case was explored to reach some conclusion but SIT was not able to find any conclusive evidence”, the final report of SIT, submitted to the court, said. During an earlier hearing, the SIT was directed by a single judge bench to submit its final report by or before November 30.

“This is worth mentioning that the law and order situation in 2010 was very grim and violence erupted at every nook and corner. In the particular incident, violence erupted at more than one point”, the SIT has said in the report.

It added, “therefore, in such a grim law and order situation, it becomes impossible to contain the situation at one place as multiple points get affected.”

“The investigation of the case has been closed as untraced. However, the secret search will continue. If anything comes to the knowledge of SIT, the investigation of the case shall be reopened”, the SIT said, while concluding the eight page final report.

While arguing before the court during an earlier hearing, advocate Mian Qayoom, counsel representing the victim’s family, had submitted that the police had been delaying its investigation into the case since 2010. He had also submitted that SIT is employing ‘delaying tactics’ aimed at ‘hushing up the case’.

Srinagar, December 1
The J&K Police has closed its investigation into the Tufail Mattoo's killing case of 2010, saying the culprits are ‘untraced’. His family said the fight for justice would continue. “We will continue our fight,” said Mohammad Ashraf, Tufail's father.

The Tufail Mattoo’s death had led to widespread protests and also triggered a cycle of violence in summer 2010 in which more than 100 people were killed. Ashraf said they would take further actions after consulting the lawyers and Tahaffuz Huqooqi Committee (protection for committee of rights).

“We will decide the future strategy on Tuesday after having a meeting with lawyers and the members of the Tahaffuz Huqooqi Committee. We will fight for justice no matter what may come,” he said.

Tufail, then 16 was killed on June 11, 2010 when he was reportedly hit by a teargas shell fired by the J&K Police while he was returning home after attending his tuition classes.

The police had initially claimed that Tufail was killed by some unknown youth, but after strong protests the police had registered a murder case against unknown persons.

On the directions of the high court, the police had last year constituted a five-member SIT headed by Superintendent of Police North, Srinagar to probe the teenager’s killing case.

The Sit had submitted its report on November 30.

Srinagar, December 1
A local court here today remanded 16-year-old boy Danish Farooq to police custody till December 9.

Danish, who was arrested on charges of attempt to murder and throwing petrol bomb, was today produced before the court of Second Munsif in the afternoon, wherein his lawyer sought his remand.

Calling for the release of teenager, International Human Rights group Amnesty International had on November 30 said the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir had arbitrarily detained Danish. They were treating him as ‘an adult rather than a child’.

The police had arrested Danish, who according to the police is 16 years and five months old, a resident of Srinagar’s Chattabal locality, was arrested on November 19. The boy was first locked up at the Shaheed Gunj police station for nearly a week.

However, the police authorities of the Kralkhud police station arrested him again after he got bail on November 26.

Subsequently, his parents had moved a contempt petition against the SHO of Kralkhud police station for not obeying court orders.

The court had directed him to produce a report with regard to the bail application of Danish on November 29.

“Today in the afternoon, the police produced Danish before the court of Second Munsif, Srinagar, which sent him to police remand till December 9,” counsel Babar Jan Qadri said.

In the meantime, the police has also submitted a statement of facts in the contempt petition filed by the parents of Danish, wherein it has been alleged that the teenager was involved in a number of stone pelting incidents including a petrol bomb attack.

The contempt petition has been put for arguments by the court on December 3.

Srinagar, December 1
Following submissions by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that certain witnesses were not coming forward for giving their views in teenager Tufail Mattoo’s killing case, a local court here said warrants may be issued against such witnesses, if approached by the SIT.

This was stated by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Srinagar, Rajeev Gupta in his orders passed today. Wamiq, a Class seven student, was allegedly killed due to a teargas shell fired by the police on January 31, 2010, in Srinagar.

“If at all the eyewitnesses fail to deduce evidence before the SIT, the latter can apply for issuance of a warrant against the witnesses”, said the CJM. The SIT, while submitting its status report of the investigation before the CJM on November 26, had submitted that some eyewitnesses were summoned, but had refused to testify till date.

The SIT also stated it had approached the ballistic experts and the Head, Forensic Medicine Department, Government Medical College, Srinagar, to answer certain doubts, as desired by the court.

“The report from the FSL experts is still awaited”, the report added.

The family of the deceased has maintained that Wamiq was killed after the police fired teargas shell that hit his head, while he was playing carrom on a street near Gani Memorial Stadium, Srinagar. It has been demanding registration of a murder case against the accused police officers.

On the other hand, the police has named Wamiq as a ‘miscreant’ in its FIR.

Srinagar, December 1
All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) has urged panches and sarpanches to vote for a candidate who is a visionary, with respect to minority development.

In a statement, the APSCC Chairman, Jagmohan Singh Raina said minorities had been playing a key role in the state, but had been ignored.

“Despite the significant role played by minorities in J-K, we still are the biggest sufferers till date. Our demands including minority status, reservation in Legislative Council, refugee status to POK displaced, are still pending,” he said.

He said minority youth were jobless and no concrete policy had been made by the state government towards their development and providing job packages to them at par with migrants.

Srinagar, December 1
Army Public School (APS), Srinagar, has received the best academic maximum progress award trophy, along with a cash prize of Rs 50,000, at Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) Headquarter, Shankar Vihar, New Delhi, for attaining excellence in academic field.

The principal of APS, Sandeep Marhatta, was given the trophy by the GOC-In- Chief Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra and his wife Anshul Chachra, at a function organised at the headquarters.

Applauding the principal and the staff of the school, AWES said the achievements of the school in academic field were commendable.

The school management congratulated the fraternity for achieving the milestone in inculcating quality education to the students.

Kupwara, December 1
Court of Munsif Judge, Kupwara, convicted 11 persons to three years rigorous imprisonment (RI) in two separate cases pertaining to criminal offences committed in 2002 and 2003, on Saturday.

Judge Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone found Ghulam Mohd Khan, Farooq Ahmad Khan and Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, all residents of Meelyal Kralpora, guilty of ransacking the house of Hajra Begum, wife of Ghulam Mohi-u-din Khan, of Meelyal Kralpora and sentenced the accused.

Following a complaint by Hajra Begum that the accused ransacked her house and assaulted her, police had registered a case under FIR no 50 /2003 on 01-05-2003.

In another case, Munsif Judge convicted Mohd Shafi Shah, Naseer Ahmad Shah, Mohd Yousuf Shah, Ghulam Mohd Shah, Ghulam Rasool Shah, Bashir Ahmad Shah, Shafiq Ahmad Shah, all residents of Hundi Trehgam and Bashir Ahmad Dar of Villgam to three years RI for assaulting Haleema Begum, wife of Mohd Abdullah Shah of Hundi Trehgam.

Complainant Haleema Begum had alleged that the accused assaulted her in a vegetable field with the intention to kill her. Police had registered FIR 42/2002 U/S 148, 447, 354, 325 against the accused in police station Trehgam.

Chief Prosecuting Officer Sheikh Musharraf and Prosecuting Officer Fayaz Ahmad represented the state.

Jammu, December 1
Calling upon panches and sarpanches to teach the coalition government a lesson for eroding sanctity of the panchayati raj insitution, former finance minister and senior leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tariq Hamid Qarra, said the National Conference (NC) led government was responsible for not delegating power to the panchayats.

He said on one hand the government was claiming that conducting panchayat elections was a big achievement but it had betrayed the people by not allowing functioning of the panchayati raj institutions in the state.

Addressing a series of meetings of panches and sarpanches at Nagrota, March, Muthi and Vijaypur areas, Qarra, who is coordinator of the campaign committee of PDP, said the elected panchayat members were feeling betrayed by the ruling coalition and they were looking for an opportunity to give a ‘befitting reply’ to the state government for dishonoring mandate of the people.

Qarra added that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, during this year's Independence Day address, had also termed panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir as one of the biggest achievements to strengthen the democracy in the state. He, however, said the present government had failed to take any step to make panchayats properly functional at grass root level. "Instead of strengthening panchayati raj institution in the state by honouring mandate of the people, the sole aim of the government is to rehabilitate its blue eyed persons in the Legislative Council from the quota of the panchayat", he said.

Srinagar, December 1
The J&K PCC president, Saifuddin Soz, addressed a gathering of panches and sarpanches at Nasrullahpora in Budgam district today, ahead of the election to LC seats.

Soz assured the panchayat members that coalition was committed to ‘empower’ them by incorporating more provisions into the State’s Panchayat Act.

He said he had raised the demand for funds with Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of RDD for provision of honorarium to panches and sarpanches.

Those who accompanied Soz and addressed the gathering included the Congress (coalition) candidate, Gulam Nabi Monga, Bashir Ahmad Magrey and Zahid Hussain.

Srinagar, December 1
Member of Parliament and senior leader of ruling NC, Mohammad Shafi Uri, sought votes for the party’s candidates on Saturday, ahead of Legislative Council (LC) poll scheduled for December 3.

"The coalition government, during its four-year tenure, has done a lot for development in J-K and it is the commitment of NC-Congress coalition to fully empower panchayats in the state,” Shafi said, while interacting with panches and sarpanches at Uri town in Baramulla district.

He said the state government had taken steps to ensure peace and prosperity in the state. Victory of Ali Mohammad Dar and Ghulam Nabi Monga, the candidates fielded jointly by the NC-Congress alliance will enable the panchayat members of the Valley to put forth their problems in the state LC, he added.

He accused the PDP of misleading the people by their ‘hollow slogans’ and asked the panchayat representatives ‘not to get misled’.

Meanwhile, a NC spokesman said the Srinagar district wing of the party held a meeting today to review the arrangements for the 107th birth anniversary of the party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on December 5. — TNS