Srinagar, June 12
There seems to be no end in sight to the rising man-animal conflict as a 10-year-old boy was attacked and killed by wild animals in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday evening.

Though the police is saying the boy was killed by two leopards, the wildlife authorities in Kashmir have ruled it out, saying the boy fell prey to a pack of wolves.

Since 2011, over 50 persons have been killed by wild animals and more than 600 injured or maimed in incidents of man-animal conflict.

The minor, identified by the police as Tariq Ahmed Sheikh, was killed when he was attacked by the wild animals in an apple orchard at Watergam, Kralcheck village, which falls under Kreeri tehsil of Baramulla district, the police said.

The boy hailed from the same village.

Even as the police maintained the boy was attacked and killed by two leopards, wildlife authorities in the region say Tariq was attacked by a pack of wolves.

“I have personally inspected the area. This particular attack is not by the leopards. It is an attack by wolves,” Wildlife Warden for Baramulla Rouf Ahmad Zargar told The Tribune.

Asked how they reached the conclusion, Rouf said the area in which the attack took place is part of the Karewa region, and is home to deep furrows and muddy caves, a perfect hiding place for wolves, particularly in summers when the grasses and bushes grow dense and long.

Srinagar, June 12
Against the sanctioned strength of 1,580 posts, the traffic police in Jammu and Kashmir is facing a staff shortage of 351 personnel. The issue of filling these vacancies has been raised by the traffic police authorities with the DGP, who has been urged to take up the issue of manpower creation with the government.

This was revealed during a recent high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, which was convened to prepare an action taken report (ATR) in compliance with High Court directions issued in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking an end to traffic mess in the state’s summer capital Srinagar.

At the meeting, it was also stated that during 2012-13, more than 3.8 lakh vehicles owners were challaned for violation of traffic norms and a fine of Rs 15 crore was realised as penalty during the same period.

As revealed in the official documents about the minutes of meeting, the meeting was also attended by the Inspector General of Traffic, Kashmir range and Transport Commissioner.

“Against a sanctioned strength of 1,580 personnel in the traffic wing of Jammu and Kashmir police, there are currently 1,229 personnel posted. Hence, there is a deficiency of 351 personnel,” official documents reveal.

Srinagar, June 12
The Kashmir region received intermittent light rains on Wednesday, providing some respite from the sweltering heat, as the weather department said rain and thundershowers would occur at a few places in the region in the next 24 hours.

The rainfall, which was widespread across most of the region though it remained light and intermittent, brought down the soaring mercury down by up to eight notches. Kashmir’s summer season is reaching its prime as the mercury in recent days has crossed several degrees above average in the region where mercury falls to freezing levels in winter months.

In Srinagar, Kashmir’s main city and the state’s summer capital, the state weather department said 1.3 millimetre rainfall was recorded through the day which was marked by an overcast sky.

The maximum temperature in Srinagar city on Wednesday fell to 25.3 degree Celsius, which is around three notches short of the average high for this time of the year and eight degrees short of yesterday’s maximum temperature when mercury had risen to a high of 33.1 degree Celsius.

The state Meteorological department said there is a possibility of rain and thundershowers in and around Srinagar city in the next 24 hours. “One or two spells of rain and thundershowers will occur in Srinagar on Thursday,” an official of the weather department said.

Kashmir has been witnessing hot summer days as mercury rose to as high as 34 degree Celsius, which is five to six degrees more than the average normal.

Srinagar, June 12
The 407th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev was observed with the holding of shabad kirtan and prayers across the gurdwaras of the Valley.

Despite spells of rainfall, devotees thronged the gurdwaras throughout the day. The main function was held at the Chattipadshahi Gurdwara in Rainawari.

Manjeet Singh, a devotee, said well-known shabad kirtan reciters Bhai Devendar Singh and Bhai Rajendra Singh were called from Jalandhar at the gurdwara. Besides recitation of shabad kirtans, langar was also organised.

Singh said religious functions were held at other gurdwaras of the Valley as the day was observed by the Sikh community throughout the world. A large rush of devotees was also seen at the gurdwara located in Baghat area of the city.

He said Guru Arjan Dev was martyred during the Mughal rule and was also remembered as 'Shaheedon ke Sartaj' by the devotees.

Srinagar, June 12
The implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in south Kashmir under the aegis of the State Social Welfare Department is under the scanner as around 395 ICDS (Aanganwari) centres have inadequate infrastructure.

Interestingly, around 350 Aanganwari (ICDS) workers posted in these centres along with children get utensils and rice tanks from their homes for mid-day meals as the Social Welfare Department is yet to make a provision for utensils for cooking of food and storage purposes.

If local Aanganwari workers are to be believed, there are more than 500 pressure cookers which needed to be supplied to various ICDS centres in the villages of Shopian district, but have not been provided yet.

“We do get nutrition supply like cereals, daals and rice under the ICDS scheme regularly, but the question arises: How do we cook meals for children if there are no appliances for the same? Ironically, children are being asked to get utensils from home, though they are not supposed to,” a local Aanganwari worker told Kashmir Tribune.

The Shopian ICDS supervisor, Hafeeza Bano, said supply other than nutrition for those centres which were established in 2009 has been withheld and those centres which were established in 1988 do get the supply.

“The problem lies with the budget. We have expressed our concerns relating to inadequate infrastructure to the higher authorities. But the scheme seems to be suffering due to fund crunch. They say there are no funds in place for providing the requisite supply,” Hafeeza said.

The ICDS scheme is aimed at reducing the mortality/morbidity of children in the age group of 0-6 years by improving their nutritional and health status.

Srinagar, June 12
A girl’s body was found in a river in Baramulla district while a man drowned in a stream in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

The body of Bisma Jan, 15, of Shahabad area of Sopore town, was recovered from the Jhelum at Jahama in Baramulla. The girl had drowned in the river on June 8 near her home, a spokesman said. Ali Mohammad Sheikh of Baba Salina Lar area of Ganderbal district, drowned in Hati stream at Yangoora while taking a bath. — TNS

Srinagar, June 12
Khag tehsil in central Kashmir’s Budgam district has been without a tehsildar for the last one month, which has posed numerous problems for its residents, especially in getting their state subject certificates, revenue and land allotment certificates sanctioned. The tehsil has a population of approximately 70,000.

Each tehsil has two tehsildars allotted to it, a territorial and an agrarian tehsildar. However, Khag is without either of the tehsildars, as a result of which, the residents of 60 villages in the tehsil are facing problems.

People who need their revenue documents and students who need Permanent Residence certificates are crying foul over absence of tehsildars.

“The Common Entrance Test is a month away and I need to collect permanent residence certificate and the backward category certificate. Since the tehsildar is the issuing authority for these documents, we are left to wait for the posting of a tehsildar so that our documents are furnished,” Mushtaq Ahmad, a CET aspirant and resident of Khag, said.

Revenue Department officials say the tehsildar who was posted here earlier has been transferred to Gurez district and that the posting of the new tehsildar will occur soon.

“Tehsildar of Beerwah has been given additional charge of Khag area and he does attend to people’s concerns once a week,” said an official.

However, the people continue to suffer due to non-availability of the tehsildar most of the times.

Srinagar, June 12
A high-level delegation of Parliamentary Standing Committee, comprising members of the Rajya Sabha and senior officials of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), interacted with staff and faculty of Central University of Kashmir and other state universities at the Gandhi Bhawan in Kashmir University today.

The delegation has arrived on a three-day visit to Kashmir valley. On the first day, the delegation examined the status of faculty position, infrastructure and funding pattern of Central University of Kashmir, state universities of J&K, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar and polytechnics besides holding threadbare discussion with representatives of the state government and UGC. Members of the delegation include Ramachandra Khuntia (chairman), Mahadeo Singh Khandela, Tarun Vijay, Avinash Rai Khanna, Daishnab Parida, Dr Charkes Dias and PK Biju.

Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir, Prof Abdul Wahid apprised the committee about the steps taken by the Central University to focus on holistic personality development of students and prioritise all academic programmes having core, elective, skill-based and social orientation courses selected for the new generation.

He said these programmes are aimed at assessing values, skills and knowledge imbibed by students through continuous internal assessment process.

He informed the visiting delegation that the Central University campus will be developed on a modern design with features of green campus and energy-efficient buildings, keeping in view provision for future expansion and space economy, which are integral components of the master plan.

The delegation is expected to interact with state officials in connection with implementation of the Right to Education (RTE), Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA), Mid-Day Meal (MDM) on June 13 . Matters related to status and scope for further expansion of higher and school education will be discussed on June 14. 

Srinagar, June 12
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday presented the Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medals for Gallantry to various police personnel of the J&K Police Force at the Investiture Ceremony held at SKICC here.

The gallantry medals have been awarded to the police personnel in recognition of different gallantry actions be performed from 2002 to 2011 at various places in the state.

As many as 104 police personnel were awarded the Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medals for gallantry actions.

The award winners included sub-inspector Dheraj Nagyal, assistant sub-inspector Mushtaq Ahmed, head constable Surinder Singh, constable Soom Lal, PL Gupta IGP(J)(now ADGP), Showkat Ahmed Malik SP CID (retd), Mushtaq Ahmed ASI, RR Swain SSP Srinagar (now DIGP on deputation to the Government of India), Mahinder Pal Singh constable, Late ASI Mohammad Mushtaq received by his son, Syed JM Gillani SSP (now IGP), Jagdesh Singh SGC, Viplav Kumar SSP (now on Deputation to the GoI), Manzoor-ul-Hassan HC, AR Khan, IGP (retd), Mohammad Qasim HC, Mushtaq Ahmed HC, Javid Ahmad Mukhdoomi IGP (retd), HK Lohia DIGP (now IGP), SP Pani SP (on deputation to GoI), Mohmmad Assadullah HC, Muneer Ahmad Khan IPS SSP (Now IGP), Zahoor Ahmad Inspector, Imtiyaz Hussain Mir DySP (now SP), Mehmood Ahmed ASI, Kewal Krishan SGCt, Gopal Singh Constable, SM Sahai IGP (now ADGP Armed), Nitish Kumar SP (on deputation to GoI), Shiv Krishan SI, Narinder Singh SGCt, Shams Din SGCt, Rajesh Kumar Constable, Abdul Gani SSP (now IGP), Mohammad Yousuf SI, Parvaiz Ahmed Constable, Azad Ahmad Rather Constable, Mehraj-ud-Din Constable, Rakesh Kumar Constable, Tahir Saleem Khan, DySP, Naveed Peerzada DySP, Param Veer Singh DySP, Mohammad Ashraf SI, Javid Ahmed Constable, Sajjad Ahmed Shah DySP, Pawan Kumar, Constable, Ram Lal PSI, Amit Basoor PSI, Arshad Hussain SI, Sudesh Singh, Constable, Zulfkar Azad DySP, Rakesh Akram Inspector, Kifatullah Dev SGCt, Rashid Akbar Inspector, Shabir Ahmed SI, Mushtaq Ahmed Constable, Mohammad Arif Constable, Ashiq Hussain Constable, Sageer Ahmed Constable, Nazir Ahmed Inspector, Asgar Bhat Inspector, Rafiq Ahmad Inspector, Mohammad Altaf HC, Zaffar Hussain Constable, Saroop Chand Constable, Ram Rattan HC (Now ASI), Ajeet Kumar Constable, Kashmir Singh SGCt, Niaz Ahmed SI, Mubashir Bukhari DySP, Shahzad Ahmed Salaria DySP, Javid Ahmad Constable, BA Khan SP, Mohammad Aslam ASP (now SP), Aurangzeb Constable, Khursheed Ahmed Constable, Ashok Kumar Constable, Zahoor Ahmed Constable, Nissar Ahmed Constable, Hilal Ahmed Constable, Shahid Mushtaq Constable, Manzoor Ahmed Constable, Mohammad Rafiq Constable, Taranjeet Singh SI, Khem Raj SGCt, Varinder Singh, Inspector, Mohammad Arif Reshu Additional SP, Nazir Ahmad Ganai DySP, Gurmeet Singh HC, Altaf Ahmad SP, Shamsher Hussain Additional SP, Ashiq Hussain DySP, Dilraj Singh SI, Mohammad Yasin Constable, Mohammad Mansoor SI, Firdous Ahmad Constable, Veer Bahadur Singh Rathore SI, Babu Ram Follower, Kishori Lal HC, Mohammad Arif SI, Sajjad Ahmad Constable, Shamas Din Constable, Javid Ahmad Inspector and Gulzar Ahmad SI.

The Chief Minister also presented the Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medals for meritorious service to various police officers.

The officers included Masood Ahmed Choudhary (retd ADGP), Late Roshan Lal SI received by his wife Santosh Devi, Gopal Sharma (retd DGP), Ajit Singh (retd SSP), Late Moti Lal Kaul (retd Inspector), Rajan Bakhshi (retd DGP), PS Gill, (retd DGP), Javaid Mukhdoomi (retd IGP), PL Gupta IGP (now ADGP), Abdul Subhan Lone (retd DIGP), AR Khan (retd IGP), SP Vaid IGP (Now ADGP), Ghulam Hassan Bhat SSP, Mohammad Akram Inspector (retd DySP), Sheikh Owais Ahmad Director SVO, Rauf-ul-Hassan DIGP (Now IGP), Tilak Raj (Thakur) SI, Gopal Reddy IPS IGP (Now ADGP) On deputation to GOI, Mohammad Amin Tak SSP, Javed Iqbal Farooqi (retd SP), Syed Fayaz Ahmed Inspector, Zahoor Hussain Chishti IPS (retd IGP), Bashir Ahmad Shah DySP(S), Shiv Kumar Singh Chauhan DySP, Shabir Ahmad Mir DySP, Navin Agarwal IPS ADGP and Mohammad Yousuf Bhat DySP(S). 

Srinagar, June 12
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Wednesday stressed on the importance of a decisive mandate in the next year elections saying a clear verdict can open avenues of democratic resolution of problems of the state.

“The PDP would strive to carry all stake holders along in a bid to shape an initiative from the state that could lead to an amicable and workable settlement,” Sayeed said.

The former Chief Minister said the problems of the state can be resolved only through democratic methods. “It is necessary from the people of all regions, irrespective of caste and creed to come on a single credible platform to push forward our case for justice and restoration of rights,” Sayeed said. “I have always been practicing an inclusive politics and we have provided adequate evidence of that during the previous PDP-Congress coalition,” Sayeed said, who was speaking at a function to welcome former legislator Mohammad Rashid Qureshi into the PDP.

Qureshi, a former member of state legislative council, was formerly associated with the ruling NC party. Welcoming Qureshi and his supporters, Mufti said the entry into the PDP of prominent personalities was a positive indicator of the party having emerged as a credible alternative to the NC. “No ready-made solution could be enforced on Jammu and Kashmir unless the people of the state were involved in the resolution process. The momentum for resolution has to come from the state itself and it is the effort and the desire of the PDP to channelise the urge for peace and development along the democratic lines,” Sayeed said. 

Srinagar, June 12
A 21-day training programme at the Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI) organised by the J&K Bank concluded here today.

The bank spokesman said 23 local women entrepreneurs were provided training in cutting and traditional tailoring techniques for making their product more viable and marketable. During a valedictory function at the RSETI Institute, VM Nazki, vice-president, Zonal Head, Kashmir, suggested the women to form a self help group of five to 10 persons for establishing their small enterprises.

RSETI director Shahzadi assured the trainees of all support and handholding for two years till they established their own enterprises.

Meanwhile, a zonal-level marketing team of the J&K bank conducted an awareness programme here at SP College. Students, teaching and non-teaching staff attended the programme and participants were provided with detailed information regarding the services and products offered by the bank. “The students were also counselled regarding the various self-employment generation schemes provided by the state government and the role played by the J&K Bank in delivering the same to the aspiring youth,” the bank spokesman said. 

Srinagar, June 12
The first match of A Division league in the ongoing Football League Tournament was played between Syed Tajuddin and Alfath Football Clubs on Tuesday.

Both the teams played attacking football, but none of them could find net till the end of the game. The match ended in a draw.

The second match was played between J&K Forest and Kashmir Mughals. It was the Kashmir Mughals who opened the account in the sixth minute. Tabish scored the first goal for his team.

The Forest team levelled the score in 11th minute of the game through Toufeeq Ahmad. Naseer doubled the lead in the 21st minute.

Forest Team's Toufeeq scored the third and fifth goal in the 31st and 56th minute of the game. Ubaid scored the fourth goal in the 43rd minute. Anas Gill scored the last goal through a penalty stroke in the 89th minute. The Forest team won the match by 6:1 goals.