Srinagar, March 22
Protests broke out today at several places in the Kashmir valley, including in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district where six protesters and two policemen were injured in clashes.

In Baramulla, protests erupted after Friday congregational prayers and when the police attempted to disperse the protesters, clashes took place.

A police official said six protesters and two policemen suffered minor injuries during the clashes. However, a local resident said four protesters were injured by pellets fired by the police and paramilitary personnel.

According to eyewitnesses, the protesters clashed with the police and paramilitary personnel at tehsil point in Baramulla town.

A demonstration was also held in the old city when several hundred people marched from the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta to Gojwara chowk.

The demonstrators, who marched immediately after the Friday congregational prayers, demanded that moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s house arrest be ended. Reports of clashes between protesters and the police and paramilitary personnel were also received from Saraf Kadal and Rajouri Kadal in the old city.

A protest was also held in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, which was later dispersed off peacefully.

Situation in the rest of the region, including in the districts of south and north Kashmir, remained calm.

Srinagar, March 22
Shalinder Kumar, a 43-year-old 1995-batch IAS officer, today took over as the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir. “My focus will be to ensure that there is no undue firing and nobody gets killed,” Kumar told The Tribune after assuming the charge as the Divisional Head of the civil administration in Kashmir relieving his predecessor Asgar Samoon.

Kashmir’s new Divisional Commissioner Shalinder Kumar after taking charge in Srinagar on Friday. Tribune photo: Yawar Kabli

Since the execution of Afzal Guru on February 9, Kashmir has been on the edge and separatists have been issuing weekly calendar for demanding Afzal Guru’s mortal remains. Since then, three youths have been killed in the firing by security forces.

The new Divisional Commissioner said while his priority was to see no untoward death, on development front, he said he would like to take many initiatives.

“In the next few days I will meet all the stakeholders, including senior citizens, Bar Association members, chamber of commerce, hoteliers and others. After their feedback, I will set my priorities on the development front,” he added.

Kumar, who was the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar between 2003 and 2005, is a known face among local residents. When he reached his new office today, an old bearded man received him when he came out of his car. The old man wished him and offered him tabruk. Senior administrative officials were also present to receive him.

Soon after assuming the charge as the new Divisional Commissioner, Kumar convened a meeting of officers. He asked the officers to work with dedication and honesty for the welfare of people.

Srinagar, March 22
The arts stream has once again emerged as a favourite among students of postgraduate courses in Kashmir University, with Education subject alone getting 7,400 applications for 300 seats in Masters in Education (MEd) course this year.

This is followed by Masters in political science which has received around 2,500 applications. Other subjects that have received applications in large numbers include history, economics, public administration, social Work and even language subjects like English, Urdu and Arabic.

On the contrary, science subjects have not been able to receive as many applications. This time, the number of applications received for various science subjects is at an all-time low.

Physics, in particular, has received the least number of applications at 350 followed by mathematics, chemistry, biotechnology and botany.

The university’s two professional courses — Masters in Mass Communication and Masters in Business Administration — are also popular among students. The admission to MBA course this year was decided by Competent Management Admission Test (CMAT), which was held by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in June and September 2012.

In total, 37,000 applications were received this year for 37 degree and diploma postgraduate courses whereas the total intake capacity is 3,000 seats. Although the KU management was expecting over 45,000 applications for PG courses, the number of applications received was lesser due to regular interruptions in the admission process owing to curfew and shutdowns.

The trend of decreasing popularity in science subjects has caught the attention of experts who say that pursuing career in civil services could be a reason for the same.

Students from the Valley are preferring arts subjects over science for cracking the civil services examinations both at the national and state level.

“Scoring in science subjects like physics, chemistry and botany is tougher than arts subjects. Hence, students are applying for these courses. Moreover, there are less job opportunities available in the Valley for masters and even PhDs in science subjects as compared to arts subjects,” Akhter Hussain, curator at Botany Department, Kashmir University, opined.

Furthermore, studying science subjects at 10+2 levels and colleges has ceased to become interesting as there is barely any infrastructure available in schools and colleges where practical work can be undertaken.

“There are many loopholes in the existing infrastructure, especially in terms of establishing adequate laboratories where experiments can be done and interest can be generated among students to take up science subjects for their careers,” opined Dr Ruwaida, a zoology teacher at the Government College for Women, Nawa Kadal, Srinagar.

Srinagar, March 22
Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was detained today when he left his residence to offer Friday congregational prayers while chairman of the moderate separatist faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq continues to remain under house arrest. Geelani was detained by the police when he left his Hyderpora residence to offer Friday congregational prayers, a statement released by the hardline separatist faction said.

“The police did not allow him to offer the prayers and later detained him at Humhama police station,” the statement said.

The 83-year-old hardline separatist leader has been regularly denied to offer Friday prayers since 2010.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who heads the moderate separatist faction, continues to remain under house arrest at his Nigeen residence. According to a statement issued by the moderate Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz “was once again stopped by the authorities from offering prayers and delivering Friday sermon” at the historic Jamia Masjid of the old city.

“All Parties Hurriyat Conference considers it as a direct infringement into the religious affairs of Mirwaiz and condemns it,” the statement said.

The group said Mirwaiz continues to be under house arrest since February 9 when 2001 Parliament attack convict Muhammad Afzal Guru was hanged. “The government has restricted his social, religious, and political activities by placing him under house detention,” the statement said.

Srinagar, March 22
A meeting to review arrangements for the annual darbar move of offices to Srinagar was held at the Civil Secretariat premises here. The darbar move to the summer capital takes place by April-end, while the offices usually open here in the first week of May.

An official said the meeting was chaired by the Director, Estates, Mohammad Hussain Malik, yesterday where he reviewed the work for the modernisation of four halls in the Civil Secretariat.

He also inspected the additional blocks where the construction work is currently underway .

Later, Malik, along with a team of officers, visited various estate colonies, including Budshah, Tulsi Bagh, Phase II, Jawahir Nagar, Dalgate and Hotel Lala Rukh, where darbar move employees are to be housed.

Malik directed the engineering staff to start the facelifting of colonies and necessary repair works wherever required, so that the employees don’t face any inconvenience on their arrival.

The annual darbar move practice was started in 1872 by the then ruler of the state Maharaja Gulab Singh.

While the practice costs the state exchequer crores of rupees, several quarters, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, have expressed reservations over it.

The darbar move has nevertheless continued to date.

Kupwara, March 22
People across north Kashmir are busy planting different kinds of trees, including fruit bearing plants. The sale of plants like willow, poplar, walnut, apple, cherry and apricot has increased manifold during the past few days.

The plant sellers said they were doing brisk business as people were buying all kinds of plants.

“Demand for walnut, apple and apricot plantations is on the rise. The plants are available in good quantity and the sale is good,” said Shamim Ahmad, a plant seller.

North Kashmir’s Kupwara district has the distinction of being the largest producer of wall nuts in the Valley. Mohd Amin, a farmer said, “Plants play an important role in our lives. It is our moral duty to plant at least ten trees every season, to enhance the green cover around us,”

People have employed labourers to plant trees in fruit orchards and around their surroundings. “Trees are our best friends. They play a very important role in our life. They give us timber for construction of buildings, houses and firewood,” said Aijaz Ahmad, an employee of the Health Department.

The Department of Horticulture has made lakhs of plants available in the major towns of north Kashmir. A senior officer said plants of almost all kinds had been made available in all major markets.

The Forest Department is also busy in re-forestation in Bandipora forests and forest barren land. In an effort to enhance the green cover, the department has launched a massive re-forestation drive to cover at least 618 hectare of land in three forest ranges. The department plans to plant more than 4.75 lakh saplings of various plant species.

Calling it a value-addition plantation, a senior officer said the department had embarked on rural livelihood and soil conservation enhancement mission through its on-going massive saplings plantation programme, under various forest schemes like CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) and CMPP (Chief Minster Participatory Programme).

Srinagar, March 22
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar yesterday exhorted upon the officers to ensure maximum benefit of the development and welfare schemes of the state government to the people. This was stated by Sagar while addressing a meeting of officers, convened to assess the functioning of various development works being executed in Srinagar city.

An official spokesman said Sagar took stock of the situation about the works being executed at Syed Merak Shah Road besides the beautification and renovation work of Khankahi Mohalla.

He urged the officers to speed up the pace of work and complete the tasks within the stipulated time. He said the officers must perform their duty with full zeal, enthusiasm and a sense of responsibility.

Sagar also conducted an extensive tour of the city and enquired about development works being carried out in the city.

During the tour, he visited various areas, including Miskeen Bagh, Daulatabad, Mirza Bagh, Mughal Mohalla, Raieteng, Rainawari and other adjoining areas.

He said in the Miskeen Bagh area, construction work on three bridges would start soon at an estimated cost of Rs 29 lakh. He was accompanied by officers of the R&B, UEED, PHE, PDD, LAWADA, Tourism and other departments.

Srinagar, March 22
Former Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon kick started a week-long plantation drive at University of Kashmir, Naseem Bagh campus, on Thursday, by planting a chinar sapling.

The drive was organised by National Service Scheme (NSS) wing of the university which is cooperating with the Landscape Development wing of the university.

The drive started in the afternoon from Naseem Bagh where Asgar Samoon, Zafar A Reshi, Registrar, University of Kashmir and NSS Coordinator, KU, Prof Farooq Ahmad Khan, Director of Bussiness School, Shabir Ahmad Bhat, besides senior university functionaries and NSS officers, planted trees at various locations in the chinar garden of the Naseem Bagh.

“People must understand the importance of heritage,” said Samoon, while launching the drive.

He said it was imperative to preserve heritage sites for safe and healthy posterity. He appreciated the efforts of the NSS coordinator and his officers for the initiative.

Samoon stressed upon planting of indigenous varieties of plants as deodar for preserving the flora of the Valley.

Zafar Reshi, Registrar, KU, briefed Samoon about various initiatives like green campus drive, launched by the university last year, on the directions of Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, KU, to help make the campus environs clean.

Spelling out the aims of the programme, Farooq Ahmad Khan said the drive would continue for a week and students would also be involved in the drive. 

Srinagar, March 22
The police has seized illicit timber during an operation in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, a police spokesman said here today.

“During the intervening night of March 21 and 22, the Achabal police four logs of illicit timber at Nowgam, Anantnag, from the possession of Irshad Ahmad Tantray, son of Ghulam Nabi and resident of Shangus, Anantnag,” the spokesman said.

The police has registered a case.

Srinagar, March 22
Taking notice of the news item ‘Power Development Department shaming power defaulters’, published in these columns today, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) today slammed the Power Development Department (PDD) for posting the names of defaulters at local mosques.

The KCCI has termed the PDD’s step shocking and deplorable. It said the department has disrespected the sanctity of religious places such as mosques by using it for bringing embarrassment to locals who haven’t paid their electricity tariffs.

In a statement issued by the KCCI, the PDD was urged to refrain from such “unreasonable juvenile” tactics which would in turn embarrass the department and the state government.

“We fear that next on the list would be temples, churches and gurdwaras etc,” a handout by the KCCI read.

“Mosques are revered as per Islamic teachings and traditions and their misuse by government officials to cover their shortcomings and mismanagement is bound to have negative effect,” the KCCI said.

The KCCI suggested that instead of resorting to public shaming of domestic power defaulters, the PDD should constitute a committee and include the KCCI in it to monitor the transmission and distribution (T&D) losses of electricity.

“The attention should also be paid towards providing uninterrupted electricity supply to consumers,” the KCCI said.

Rajouri, March 22
A Gojri play Qabiloo - based on nomadic lifestyles of Gujjar-Bakerwal tribes, was staged here today. Top dignitaries of Gujjar and Bakerwal community, including local writers, poets and intellectuals, drawn mainly from twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, were present on the occasion.

Organised by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, the show was held at Himalayan Education Mission auditorium, a few kilometres from Rajouri town.

The play was written and directed by Shokat Naseem and today’s production was supported by Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was staged in collaboration with North Zone Cultural Centre Patiala.

Dr Javaid Rahi, Secretary, Tribal Foundation, while welcoming the audience, said Gujjars have strong traditions of performing arts including folk theatrical inheritance and through this production, which emerged after a 15-day workshop, the main folk elements of Gujjar-Bakerwal heritage were incorporated in the play. This was the first show of this play and more shows will be staged in tribal areas of the state, Dr Rahi added.

Versatile Urdu and Gojri poet Dr Sabir Mirza, who presided over the programme, stated the play was full of variety and the vibrancy of nomadic Gujjar culture was portrayed properly and forcefully, which is appreciable. Muslim Wani, secretary of the mission, Kuldeep Raj Gupta, local BJP leader, and Dr Shrief Chohuan, principal, B Ed College, also spoke on the occasion and appreciated the production.

The play revolves around the nomadic lifestyle of four nomadic clans - Tass, Dehdhdedh, Khathana and Kassana of Gujjars-Bakerwals, headed by Muqdam Saraj-ud-Din.

Srinagar, March 22
As many as 50 youth joined the BJP at the party headquarters located at Raj Bagh area of the city. In a statement issued here, BJP’s Kashmir unit general secretary Mohammad Altaf Thakur said two groups comprising around 50 youth joined the party during a function held at Raj Bagh yesterday.

Thakur said the youth joined the party in the presence of Kashmir unit president Mohammad Ashraf Reshi. He said one group was headed by Surinder Singh, who was former vice-president of the Rahul Gandhi Fans Association, while the other group headed by Javed Ahmad Bhat that joined the BJP was from south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

BJP’s Kashmir youth wing president Sheikh Bashir, vice-president Arif Raja, south Kashmir unit’s vice-president Ajaz Ahmad and other party leaders were also present on the occasion.

Thakur said the new members were welcomed by the local BJP leaders present at the function.

The BJP has so far not won a single Assembly seat in Kashmir and is currently enrolling members to strengthen the party base in the Valley ahead of 2014 Assembly elections.

Srinagar, March 22
One person was killed in a road accident in south Kashmir’s Shopian district today.

Ghulam Hassan Mir, son of Abdul Rehman, a resident of Tahab, Pulwama, was injured when his motorcycle was hit by a tractor near Darazpora Turkwangam in Shopian. He was shifted to District Hospital, Pulwama, from where he was referred to Bone and Joints Hospital, Srinagar. However, he succumbed to his injuries on way to the city-based hospital.

The police has registered a case in this regard.