|
|
|
|
|
Dog Menace
High Court asks Bar body, petitioners to file response
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Doctors warn of serious ailments as mercury touches sub-zero levels
Teenager Danish Farooq gets bail
Preservation of Valley’s cultural heritage must, says KU VC
Tributes paid to NC founder Sheikh Abdullah
15 injured in road accidents
State health infrastructure inadequate, says minister
Man escapes electrocution
Blood donation drive tomorrow
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Dog Menace
Srinagar, December 5 The Expert Committee was constituted by the state Chief Secretary following the high court directions in June this year. The Committee was tasked to suggest ways for controlling the growing number of stray dogs in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley. Subsequently, the Committee members met on September 3 and framed a five-page report, which has now been submitted by the state government to the high court for consideration. “The SMC, as a primary agency for management of stray animals, including dogs, will have to ensure widespread awareness and advocacy campaigns to educate and inform the public at large”, read the Expert Committee report, copy of which is with The Tribune. “This (awareness) will ensure that the fear and confusion vis-à-vis stray dogs often fuelled by rumours and media hype will be contained”, it adds. The report suggests that “user-friendly messages” especially in local language should inform the people, particularly “children”, about how to “engage and deal” with stray dogs “without panic, fear or aggression.” “This will essentially create better harmony (between dogs and humans) and radically reduce the (dog) bite rate”, the Expert Committee has suggested in the report. The report also says that the suggestion relating to mass killing of stray dogs by poisoning is not legally tenable in view of Section 7 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1990, as according to the committee report, it (the Act) prohibits killing of any animal unnecessarily. However, it has advocated adequate manpower and equipment for the SMC to “act as a public grievance cell for addressing victims of dog bites”. The Committee has also disapproved the suggestion about chemical sterilisation of stray dogs, saying this method of animal birth control was yet to be approved by the World Veterinary Council for safety and efficacy. The Committee also did not approve the suggestion related to shifting of stray dogs from Srinagar city to some other places, saying that the dogs have a tendency to come back to their original place. However, the Expert Committee in its report has approved ‘sterilisation or animal birth control’ employing surgery the only “long-term, humane permanent and sustainable solution. The report has also said effective garbage management by the SMC will also help in controlling the population of dogs in Srinagar city. ‘Contain fear, aggression’ The Committee was tasked to suggest ways for controlling the growing number of stray dogs in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley. The report suggests that “user-friendly messages” especially in local language should inform the people, particularly “children”, about how to “engage and deal” with stray dogs “without panic, fear or
aggression.” |
||
|
High Court asks Bar body, petitioners to file response
Srinagar, December 5 The high court, which is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an end to the increasing number of stray dogs in Srinagar, had in June directed the Chief Secretary to constitute an Expert Committee to suggest ways and means for eradication of problems arising out of increased canine population in the city and
other areas. Subsequently, the Expert Committee report was submitted to the high court in the last week of November, in which the suggestion related to mass killing of stray dogs by poisoning was disapproved. The High Court Bar Association, which has been included in the PIL as interveners, has been pressing for the destruction of stray dogs in terms of Section 304 of the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, which empowers the authorities to destroy the diseased dogs. However, as the PIL came up for hearing before a Division Bench of the high court this week, the counsel representing Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) pleaded that the government counsel be directed to provide him a copy of the five-page Expert Committee report, which was granted. Subsequently, the Bench also directed the petitioners as well as interveners, including the Bar Association, to file its response to the Expert Committee report, which is already before the Bench. The PIL has been listed for further consideration after two weeks. In the PIL filed by advocates Nadeem Qadri, AR Hanjura, and a law student Syed Musaib, intervention of court has been sought to address the dog menace in the Srinagar city, whose population according to the SMC has touched
over 1 lakh. Besides, there are daily reports of canine attacks on humans from different parts of Srinagar and other areas in the Valley. |
||
|
Day temperatures decline in Valley; rain, snow expected
Srinagar, December 5 He said the day temperatures at other places too had declined as most parts of the Valley witnessed overcast conditions. The border town of Kupwara recorded day temperature of 8.1 degrees Celsius while south Kashmir’s tourist resort Pahalgam recorded maximum temperature of 7.2 degrees Celsius. Similarly, Qazigund - the gateway town to Kashmir - recorded maximum temperature of 11.7 degrees Celsius. The night temperatures across the Valley continued to remain below the freezing point. The minimum temperatures recorded at
Srinagar, Qazigund, Pahalgam and Kupwara were -2.4, -2.6, -4.3 and -1.3 degree Celsius, respectively. The ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded the coldest night of the Valley at -6 degree Celsius. The MeT office has forecast rain and snowfall at isolated places in Kashmir in the next 24 hours. The weatherman has also forecast snow and rain during the intervening night of December 7 and 8. In view of expected inclement weather conditions, the authorities had yesterday announced closure of the Srinagar-Leh National Highway for tomorrow. Beacon, the organisation responsible for maintaining the highway, had said it was withdrawing all its resources from around the Zojilla Pass due to "erratic weather conditions, intermittent snowfall on higher reaches, extreme cold temperature and slippery road surface on 10 km" on either side of the pass. “All resources deployed at various locations beyond Gangangir will be withdrawn by December 6. So it will not be possible to provide any help to the trapped passengers as well as vehicles,” an official spokesman had said. |
||
|
Doctors warn of serious ailments as mercury touches sub-zero levels
Srinagar, December 5 With the weatherman predicting a harsher winter this time, doctors have warned of serious health-related problems such as high blood pressure, asthma, cardiac arrests, joint and muscular pain. According to experts, cases of minor health complications increase by 25 per cent on an average every winter but medicos have cautioned phenomenal increase in such cases this time. People with a history of health complications have been advised to take extra precautions in combating cold. “As a general rule, people should not neglect even minor symptoms because these tend to develop into serious cases later. Freezing temperatures in the Valley act as a catalyst,” Dr Tanveer, a general physician at the SMHS Hospital in Srinagar said. As a trend, the people, who can afford to spend winters in warm, escape the wrath. The susceptibility to put oneself at risk is also being cited as one of the major reasons why people move out of the Valley in winters. “Both my parents are patients of hypertension and asthma. There is no way they can stand cold temperatures. So, we shift our base to Jammu in winters. This time, as the winters are a bit harsher, we decided to move out early,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a businessman. But for not so affluent class, sticking to a doctor’s advice would be a rule of thumb. “Regular checkups are often required in the three-month-long winter period of the Valley, especially if a patient is experiencing symptoms of joint, muscle pain, chronic chest pain and fluctuations in blood pressure. Consuming protein-rich diet, hot drinks and ensuring good heating facilities is a key to prevent any minor/major cold-related disease. Light exercises are recommended, though rigorous workouts should be avoided,” Dr Munazah Manzoor, a postgraduate scholar at the SKIIMS Medical College said. |
||
|
Teenager Danish Farooq gets bail
Srinagar, December 5 However, the court which ordered Danish’s release on bail has set a condition that he should cooperate with the prosecution and should not influence the witnesses during the investigation of the case. The police had arrested Danish, a resident of Srinagar’s Chattabal locality, on November 19. He was first locked up at the Shaheed Gunj police station for nearly a week. However, the Kralkhud police arrested him again after he got bail on November 26. “The Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, Rajeev Gupta, granted him bail today and directed the police to release him forthwith,” Danish’s counsel Babar Jan Qadri said. “Subsequently, the Kralkhud police released him in the evening after the bail order was served upon them,” Babar added. Babar said the CJM had dropped the contempt proceedings against the station House officer (SHO) of Kralkhud police station following submissions by the police that ‘a delay in submitting the report was not deliberate’. Danish’s parents
had moved a contempt petition against the SHO of Kralkhud police station for not obeying
the orders issued by the court, which had directed him to produce a report with regard to the bail application of Danish on November 29. Why Farooq was arrested
|
||
|
Unjustified arrests
Srinagar, December 5 Zamarud condemned the unjustified arrests and also the recent announcing of life sentence to two Kashmiris by the TADA court. She flayed the recent life sentence against separatist leader Ashiq Hussain Faktoo alias Dr Qasim. Zamarud said they would continue their struggle till the movement was taken to its logical conclusion. She said the acquittal of two locals by the Delhi High Court in the 1996 Lajpat Nagar blast case was an example of how Kashmiri youth were treated. ‘It is a revenge-taking policy,"
she said. The protestors also raised slogans in favour of Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru. Zamarud described Guru as a national hero while claiming that he had been framed in the case. She sought the intervention of international human rights bodies to seek justice for the political prisoners. |
||
|
Preservation of Valley’s cultural heritage must, says KU VC
Srinagar, December 5 Prof Raina, while addressing a gathering of student, scholars and teachers from interdisciplinary sciences, academicians emphasised on the need to leverage scientific tools to dig the history of modern sciences. “We need to know how science attains its present form and in order to understand it, we need to know its history,” Prof Raina said. Vice-Chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad emphasised the need for preservation of cultural heritage of Kashmir and disseminate the information among general public by publishing and projecting the research findings on the various aspects relating to the Kashmir studies. He said India is emerging as one of the leading economies of the world and hence the need is to come up with novel ideas which could contribute to science and technology sectors in a bigger way. Earlier Prof Sidiq Wahid, director, Madanjeet Singh Institute of Kashmir Studies University of Kashmir (MJS-IKS) talked about the growth and establishment of (MJS- IKS ) and said there were 16 scholarships available under Madanjeet Singh Scholarship (SAF) scheme for all the eight SAARC countries. Among the other present on the occasion were Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Naeem Akhter, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, besides Deans, head of the departments, directors of the centers, students and scholars of the varsity. |
||
|
Hardline Hurriyat’s peace march foiled, Geelani placed under house arrest
Srinagar, December 5 Policemen stopped him from moving out of his Hyderpora residence, Hurriyat Conference spokesman Ayaz Akbar said. “There were strict restrictions in place around Geelani’s residence and no one was allowed to enter his house. When he tried to move out, the police did not let him go anywhere and again placed him under house arrest,” Akbar said. The hardline separatist group led by Geelani had earlier this week announced it would hold a ‘peace march’ on Wednesday in the old city of Srinagar. The march was supposed to begin from the shrine of Khwaja Habibullah, located at Nowshahr, from where the participants will move to the ‘affected areas’. Authorities had imposed curfew last week in several areas of the old city after clashes broke out between two groups. Curfew was in place for two days in the jurisdiction of Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Safakadal, Khanyar, Rainawari, Nigeen, Lal Bazar, Zadibal and Parimpora police stations. Most of the areas, where the curfew was imposed, are in the Srinagar’s volatile old city. The parts of Srinagar’s old city were again placed under curfew on Sunday this when fresh clashes broke out in the Zadibal area. The separatists had appealed to the people to ‘maintain mutual harmony and brotherhood’ saying some ‘mischievous elements have created a sort of havoc in some parts of the city by their doubtful activities and propagating against both the communities.’ Geelani had planned to lead the ‘peace march’ which aimed to clear confusion between the two Muslim folds. |
||
|
Tributes paid to NC founder Sheikh Abdullah
Srinagar, December 5 The main commemoration function was held at the grave site of Sheikh at Hazratbal in the city, where the Chief Minister, top cabinet ministers and National Conference members participated in the memorial service amid tight security. Speaker of state Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone, state Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Law Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, Medical Education Minister R S Chib, Higher Education Minister Abdul Gani Malik, and Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo were among those who attended the function. Omar while speaking at the memorial function described Sheikh as an architect of ‘progressive, educative and prosperous’ Jammu and Kashmir. “Sheikh Sahib’s concept of single line administration to ensure good governance is all time relevant and effective initiative to guide us in rendering needed service to the people,” Omar said. The Chief Minister, who is the grandson of Sheikh, said he was ‘personification of amity, brotherhood and pluralistic ethos’. He and his companions suffered themselves but not let people to suffer.” Omar said the best way to pay tributes to Sheikh will be to strengthen the democratic and secular values and work for empowerment of common man. He said establishment of a powerful and viable Panchayat Raj in the state would amount to realising Shiekh’s dream. “Transfer of power from secretariat to grass roots and making Panchayat Raj flourish in the state is determination of this government,” Omar said. Advisors to the Chief Minister Mubarak Gul and Devender Singh Rana, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani, Minister of State for Roads and Buildings Javaid Ahmed Dar, legislators Mustafa Kamal and Irfan Shah, NC provincial president Ali Mohammad Dar and others political leaders
were also present on the occasion. |
||
|
15 injured in road accidents
Srinagar, December 5 All the injured were shifted to a hospital for the treatment. The police has registered a case in this regard. In another accident, two women were injured when a Scorpio (JK05A/8892) hit a Maruti car (PB025/3160) at Kralhar Baramulla. The women injured were identified as Meema Begum, 35, wife of Mohammad Amin and Misra Begum, 25, wife of Abdul Ahad. They were residents of Kanilbagh, Baramulla. Both the injured were shifted to hospital where there condition is said to be stable. A case has been registered at the Baramulla police station. The police officer said a tipper (JK02D/1945) turned turtle at Malpora, Bandipora, resulting in injuries to Arshad Ahmad Mir and Nisar Ahmad Mir, residents of Dodhwan, Bandipore. Both the injured were shifted to a hospital for the treatment. The police has registered a case in this regard. |
||
|
State health infrastructure inadequate, says minister
Srinagar, December 5 The minister said the shortcomings in the health policy by the successive governments could be the reason for the lackluster of the health facilities. He said various initiatives which could have supported the upgradation in the health infrastructure were neither taken nor delayed. Chib was speaking on the 30th annual day function of the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIIMS), Soura, the Valley’s lone tertiary-care hospital at SKIIMS auditorium today. The minister appreciated the increase in the SKIIMS medical college seats by 30 per cent this year, describing it a commendable step in enhancing the human resources of the health sector in the state. He lauded the effort of the SKIIMS Nephrology department in carrying out a successful kidney transplant surgery, which was the first of its kind in the Valley. SKIIMS director Dr Showkat Zargar presented a detailed report listing the achievements of the institute. Dr Zargar said the patient care in SKIIMS, Soura, was suffering from various infrastructure constraints, including the requirement of at least 400 more beds, and establishment of few ward blocks and upgradation of the emergency department. He said a proposal in this regard has been sent to the Union Health Ministry which works out the expenditures to the tune of Rs 50 crore. He said the e-governance setup of the hospital has simplified many procedures, including the online pharmacy, file tracking system and material management. Prof Khurshid Iqbal, Dean Faculty and Head of Department, Cardiology, SKIIMS said this year has brought in a huge respite to thousands of Post-graduate medical students by introducing the first online PG-level entrance examinations in the state. He said everything would be available online, right from the regular classwork to research and practical work. |
||
|
Man escapes electrocution
Srinagar, December 5 Hilal Ahmed Khan, son of Bashir Khan of Magam, Handwara, was critically injured when he came in contact with high-tension wires in the locality. “Injured Ahmed was shifted to Langate sub-district hospital where doctors referred him to Srinagar
SKIMS,” said a local resident. "His condition is stated to be serious." As the news spread in the village, locals assembled in the area and staged a protest. The villagers raised slogans against the PDD and accused the department of failing to maintain electricity wires. “The electricity wires are in a bad shape in the village. We have already complained to the government about the same. But today a young man, who is a father of two kids, became a victim of negligence of the Power Department,” said a local villager. The protesters later dispersed peacefully. |
||
|
Blood donation drive tomorrow
Srinagar, December 5 In a statement issued here, Bhavesh Zaveri, country head, Operations and Cash Management Product, HDFC Bank said: “The drive, which is one of India’s largest single-day donation campaigns, will cover 572 cities across India. The bank has tied up with major hospitals and blood banks across the cities for technical assistance.” The scheduled camps would be held at bank branches in Anantnag and Srinagar in the Valley, besides Udhampur in the Jammu region. |
||
|
| HOME PAGE |
| Punjab |
Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | |
