Srinagar, April 7
A family from North Kashmir’s Bandipora district held a protest outside Lal Ded Maternity hospital alleging that one of their twin babies had been stolen.

The police, however, said preliminary investigation had found that the woman had given birth to only one baby. The previous diagnosis of the woman at Bandipora district that she was carrying twins was wrong, the police said.

Rabia Khanday of Laherpora village of Bandipora district gave birth to a girl, the police said.

The couple alleged that the other baby had been stolen and started protesting in the hospital compound along with their family members.

The investigating officer said preliminary investigation had found that Rabia gave birth to a girl. “When she was referred here (from) Bandipora they told her she was carrying twins but only one baby was born after surgery,” the officer said. The police was now investigating whether there was actually a discrepancy in the diagnosis or it is a case of a stolen baby. The Medical Superintendent of the Lal Ded Maternity Hospital declined to comment.

Srinagar, April 7
The High Court has asked the state government to set up a committee to set up livestock checkposts to monitor the quality of mutton being supplied in the state.

The court has asked the state to set up the check posts at the entry points to the state, including at Lakhanpore in Jammu and Lower Munda in Kashmir along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

The court has asked the state government to examine the suggestions and other issues submitted to the committee, which shall submit its report by next date of hearing after three weeks.

A division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal passed the directions this week during hearing on a Public Interest Litigation.

“To check the slaughtering of animals and sale of quality mutton, there is deficient mechanism in place to control the activities of the butchers. BA Khan, appearing counsel for the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has produced a copy of the suggestions as formulated by the Municipal Veterinary Officer, which are quite appropriate, same are taken on record,” the Bench observed in its orders.

“In addition to those suggestions, setting up of livestock checkposts at Lakhanpore (Jammu), Lower Munda (Kashmir) and Shopian Hirpora (Mughal Road) are required to be considered,” the Bench added in its orders.

“We direct the Chief Secretary to constitute a relevant committee, which shall examine the said suggestions and submit its report by or before the next date of hearing,” the High Court stated in its orders.

Besides, the High Court has also asked the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and Commissioner Secretary to government, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) and Director, CAPD, to file an affidavit wherein they have been directed to indicate as to whether the mutton sold in the markets was “categorized” and what price had been fixed for each category of the mutton by the authorities concerned.

“Further, in case the price of the mutton is fixed, same shall be made public through the print media. In addition, checking squads shall be constituted which shall conduct surprise visits to the mutton shops to see as to whether quality mutton is available on those shops and is being sold at rates fixed,” the Division Bench said in its detailed orders.

“Call numbers of head of the checking squads shall be published so that the consumers are able to inform the squad for action against the violators,” the High Court orders state. The court has also asked the authorities concerned to take “police assistance” wherever it is required to check the violators of these orders.

In this regard, the authorities concerned have been asked to file a compliance report in this regard by next date of hearing.

Srinagar, April 7
Introduction of more trains between Qazigund and Baramulla has been delayed a month. The railways had planned to introduce two trains during April but sources say the railway was now focusing on the train services up to Banihal only. The trial run of the train between Qazigund and Banihal was completed on December 25 last year and the railway traffic on Qazigund Banihal stretch is likely be start in May.

“Hopefully the train to Banihal will start in May and simultaneously we will introduce new trains in Kashmir to cater to the huge rush,” an official of the railways said.

“Few coaches have already arrived in Budgam and introduction of new trains is directly linked to the train connectivity up to Banihal,” he added. Sources said introduction of new trains was also delayed due to the situation in the Valley since the hanging of Afzal Guru as employees from the of railway coach factory, could not reach Budgam to provide technical help. Since the hanging of the Afzal Guru, the train services had to be frequently suspended by the authorities.

Officials said since February 9, the train service between Qazigund to Baramulla was suspended for 15 days. An officer said the capacity of already running trains would also be increased from eight coaches to 12 after the introduction of new trains. “We will reschedule the train timing,” he said.

The railways had planned to introduce two trains during April but sources say the railway was now focusing on the train services up to Banihal only. The trial run of the train between Qazigund and Banihal was completed on December 25 last year and the railway traffic on Qazigund Banihal stretch is likely be start in May.

Srinagar, April 7
Three structures were damaged in separate fire incidents in the Valley over the past 24 hours, the police said. A house was damaged in South Kashmir as fire broke out in the house of Mohammad Yaqoob Ganie and Mohammad Sultan of Chatergam, Kund Kulgam.

“Though the fire was brought under control with the help of fire tenders and local police but the house was damaged in the incident,” the police said.

Srinagar, April 7
One person was killed while six others were injured in separate accidents across the Valley, the police said. Nazir Ahmad Bhat, a resident of resident of Pushwara, Khanibal in South Kashmir, was killed when the car he was driving collided with a tractor near Halmulah Bijbehara, Anantnag, on Sunday. Nazir died on the spot. The body was handed over to his relatives.

In another accident, two motorcycles collided in North Kashmir leaving five persons injured. The police said the accident took place near Panzipora in Sopore. The injured have been admitted to the hospital.

In another accident, a tractor overturned near Humhana, Nagbal, in the jurisdiction of Zanipora police station, leaving the driver Waseem Ahmad Khan of Dumbani, Shopian, injured. He was admitted to SKIMS, Srinagar.

Srinagar, April 7
The Divisional Commissioner (DC), Kashmir, Shalinder Kumar, has directed the civil departments to coordinate with the local police officers in case protests erupted for various civic amenities.

The directions were issued to officers during a video conference, which was held by divisional head and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir zone, Abdul Ghani Mir. The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of different ranges, Deputy Commissioners and police district chiefs of the Kashmir zone, including Leh and Kargil, attended the video conferencing. In this meet, DC Kumar and IGP Mir discussed various issues pertaining to the administration and the security situation with the officers.

“The Divisional Commissioner in his address emphasised that during the protest for civic amenities by the people, the concerned departments should coordinate with the police, besides redressing the grievance immediately,” an official spokesman said.

The DC directed the administration to ensure the presence of doctors and other paramedical staff in the hospital during the night hours. The DC also directed the traffic and the municipal authorities to remove encroachments on the roads for free flow of traffic.

IGP Mir while addressing the officers also highlighted the need to evolve an effective coordination between the police and other departments of the civil administration for mitigating the grievances of the public in shortest possible time.

“Referring to the road accidents and other disasters, the IGP impressed upon the police officials to provide all help for timely shifting of injured and sick persons,” the spokesman said. Mir also directed the officers to brief the policemen on providing help and assistance to tourists for making the tourist season a success.

The DIGs of three ranges, Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of the zone, briefed the DC and the IGP, regarding the law and order situation and development scenarios of their respective districts.

Srinagar, April 7
Kashmiris are not immune to lifestyle diseases such as high blood pressure. Experts at an awareness programme on high blood pressure organised by Sher- e- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, on the World Health Day said.

High blood pressure had become a common ailment in Valley. People in general and especially patients of high blood pressure need to make lifestyle changes such as reducing salt intake, eating a balanced diet, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, exercise and maintaining body weight, experts said.

Experts at SKIMS said high blood pressure was a major health concern in Kashmir affecting a large population and stress was the major contributing factor for in increase in high blood pressure. The disease also needs to be controlled to avoid complications like heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure, they added.

The programme outlined specific objectives to increase awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure.

World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 to mark the foundation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948.

Programme coordinator Dr Khursheed Banday of the Department of Nephrology, thanked the participants while Dr Muzaffar conducted the programme.

Medical Superintendent, SKIMS, Dr Aijaz Mustafa moderated the discussion. Dr Fayaz Sofi, Dr Abdul Majid, Dr Imtiyaz Ahmad Wani and Dr M Sultan Alai were part of the discussion panel.

Srinagar, April 7
Taking a note of food adulteration, the High Court has directed the authorities concerned in the state to collect more samples of food items from the market and manufacturing units for analysis.

As revealed by the authorities in their compliance report to the High Court, only 199 samples of food items were collected for analysis in the Jammu division in February 2013, while a mere 39 samples of food items were collected from factories and manufacturing units in Kashmir.

Earlier on December 31, 2012, the court had directed the authorities concerned to collect samples of food items from all the districts for analysis on a regular basis.

The J&K High Court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of food safety standards to check food adulteration in Jammu and Kashmir.

“In compliance to the direction issued on March 12 related to direction B passed on December 31, (compliance) a report, as filed, would indicate that out of 133 samples collected from the wholesalers and retailers from February 1 to February 28 in the Jammu division, 2, 3 and 12 samples were declared unusable, sub-standard and misbranded respectively. In the Kashmir division, where only 39 samples of various categories of food have been taken in February,” the High Court observed.

In the compliance report by the authorities concerned, the slow pace in collecting the samples in the Kashmir division, the High Court said in its orders, is “attributed to the long spell of civil curfew and disturbance.”

“We reiterate and direct that the process of taking samples shall be increased and the samples taken shall be sent to the food testing laboratory for analysis,” the High Court said in its orders, while directing the authorities concerned to file “action taken” in this regard by the next hearing.

“The authorities concerned in all districts of the state are directed to take samples on a weekly basis from all the factories or industrial units, which manufacture and produce spices of all kinds. The samples should be taken in respect of other eatables too,” the court had said in its December orders.

The High Court in its fresh orders has also presented the contents of a communication addressed to the Commissioner Food Safety, J&K Jammu by ‘Food Analysis, Food Testing Laboratory, Srinagar’ on January 9, 2013 in which the shortage of manpower and equipment in the said lab had been pointed out.

In the said communication, it had been pointed out that hundreds of samples were being received for analysis but the infrastructure available at that point of time does not permit such large scale analysis at Food Testing Lab, Srinagar.

The High Court has now directed Commissioner Secretary Food Safety, J&K, to file an affidavit, within three weeks’ time, indicating what measures have been taken in the light of the said communication to provide requisite technical staff and the latest equipment to the laboratory. 

Srinagar, April 7
Adbee Markaz Kamraz (AMK) today established its support unit of teachers to involve the teacher community in its movement for preserving Kashmiri language and literature. This came to light in a teachers’ conference organised at SP Higher Secondary School here today.

Shafaqat Altaf was elected as president, Raheem Rehbar vice-president and Dr Ghulam Nabi Haleem as general secretary of the AMK Teachers’ Unit. Arsullah Habib was elected as media secretary and Rohi Jan as treasurer of the unit.

The unit will establish its district sub-units in the coming days, following which a teachers’ conclave will be held in Srinagar.

Prof Muhammad Zaman Azurdah, a litterateur, termed the establishment of the teachers’ unit as an important step for preservation of the language. He said Kashmiri people, who love their mother tongue and want to protect their identity, should support the movement.

AMK President Aziz Hajni appreciated the teachers for joining hands with the AMK.

AMK general Secretary Shujaat Bukhari said more support units would be formed in Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Kishtwar districts of the Jammu province. “The efforts of the AMK to sensitise different sections of society about their mother tongue are being welcomed and the teachers’ community is taking a lead for this purpose,” he said.

Ghulam Nabi Malik Kashmiri, president of the PG Kashmiri Masters’ Forum, announced to dissolve his organisation and extended support to the AMK Teachers’ Unit. Besides members of the AMK executive and general council, prominent poets and writers, including Ayub Sabir, Muhammad Ahsan Ahsan, Shabir Hussain Banhali and Fareeda Shouq attended the event.

Srinagar, April 7
Mutahidda Majlis-e-Mushawarat, a separatist council demanding return of bodies of 2001 Parliament attack convict Muhammad Afzal Guru and 1960s militant commander Mohammad Maqbool Butt, has cut down a week-long protest calendar to a signature campaign on a social networking site and a Friday afternoon protest.

In its latest protest calendar, the separatist council avoided calling for any shutdown this week. The shutdowns called by the council in the recent weeks have evoked a feeble response as many businesses and traffic services remained functional in most parts of the Valley.

The protest calendars of the past weeks had included call for demonstrations by different sections of society on almost daily basis. However, in the recent weeks, the region has shown some positive signs as the tension, which gripped the region in the aftermath of Guru’s hanging is slowly defusing.

Mutahidda Majlis-e-Mushawarat has both the factions of separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference, hardline women separatist outfit Dukhataran-e-Millat and the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. It was formed in the wake of Guru’s execution to spearhead the protests to seek the return of mortal remains of Guru and Butt.

Guru was hanged in Tihar jail last month and Butt was hanged there in February 1984. Both of them are buried inside the jail premises.

This week, the separatist council has called for an online signature campaign on a social networking website to demand the return of the bodies. It has also called for protests on Friday afternoon and appealed to mosque preachers to lead the demonstrations.

Srinagar, April 7
The University of Kashmir in collaboration with the Indian Thyroid Society organised free health camps in the interiors of Dal lake and Mir Behri areas of Saida Kadal, Srinagar, from April 1 to 7.

The main feature of the camps was to take care of the growing problems of hyper and hypothyroidism, diabetes and other allied endocrinology health ailments.

As many as 500 persons availed the free medical checkup facility in the camps. The committees from the Directorate of Lifelong Learning (DLL) and the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, organised the camp.

“The prime aim of the camps was to provide the disadvantaged people the health care facilities with free consultation, medicines and diagnostics,” GH Mir, director , DLL said.

“Department of Clinical Biochemistry in a joint venture with Directorate of Lifelong Learning and Indian Thyroid Society took this initiative to help the people in taking care of their health particularly, endocrinology problems,” said the head, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Prof Mohammad Afzal Zargar. He added that such health camps will be organised in future also for better health of the people.

The Valley’s renowned endocrinologist, Dr Ashraf, who is also a member of Indian Thyroid Society, attended the camp. He provided free consultations, diagnostics and medicines to people.

Various consultants from Srinagar-based hospitals, specialising in endocrinology, psychiatry, general medicines, attended the camp.