Srinagar, June 18
A District Development Board meeting turned into a battleground between a National Conference minister and two People’s Democratic Party legislators in north Kashmir’s Bandipore district.

The verbal duel between Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone and PDP Bandipore MLA Nizamuddin Bhat continued for over 10 minutes and PDP MLC Naeem Akhtar also came under attack.

Sources who attended the meeting said the hot exchange of words took place when Bhat raised a query during the board meeting which was chaired by Congress Minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir to which the minister objected.

“The verbal duel between the minister and the MLA halted the proceeding of the meeting. The minister also exchanged hot words with Akther and as the situation was getting out of hands, the chairman decided to go for a lunch break,” said a senior official who was present in the meeting.

The PDP alleged that Lone had crossed all limits and even abused the two public representatives during the meeting. The minister could not be reached for his comment.

Meanwhile, the district’s annual plan of Rs70.17 crore was approved in the meeting for the current year.

“The plan includes capital component of Rs 50.97 crore and revenue component of Rs 19.19 crore against last years’ approved annual plan of Rs 68.42 crore. During the last fiscal, an expenditure of Rs 63.44 crore has been incurred on development of the district under various sectors thereby registering 99.46 per cent utilisation,” an official spokesman said in Srinagar.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of State for Animal and Sheep Husbandry Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Member Parliament Sherief-ud-din Shariq and Congress MLC Ghulam Nabi Monga. 

Anantnag, June 18
At least seven persons, including a tehsildar and two minor schoolgirls, were injured when a protest against shortage of power supply turned violent, allegedly after the police used force at Kanelwan village under the jurisdiction of Bijbehara tehsil in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

One of the injured was referred to Srinagar in a critical condition. Local residents said he was not even a part of the protest.

Sources said residents of Kanelwan blocked the Bijbehara-Pahalgam road near their village in protest against erratic power supply and overcharging by the Power Development Department (PDD).

“The police along with Bijbehara tehsildar came to the spot and instead of talking to the people, started beating protesters ruthlessly,” said a local resident.

Motorcyclist Wakeel Ahmad Wani, a resident of Wulerhama, was mercilessly beaten up by the police and had to be referred to Srinagar for treatment.

“The police hit him on his head with butts of their guns despite the fact that he was just a passerby,” the resident alleged. “They did not even spare small schoolgirls, who were coming back from their school,” he said.

The alleged highhandedness of the police was followed by throwing of stones and tear gas shelling in which Bijbehara tehsildar Abdul Rashid was injured.

The protesters were later pacified by officials of the district administration who visited the spot and gave an assurance to them that their grievances would be addressed on a priority basis.

Police officials, however, maintained that the lathicharge was a reaction to throwing of stones by agitated locals.

“The tehsildar along with some constables was injured and we had to use force to control the mob,” said Anantnag Senior Superintendent of Police R K Jalla. 

Kupwara, June 18
Commuters and drivers are suffering immensely due to deplorable condition of the Kupwara-Chowkibal road. They urged the government to repair the vital surface link connecting many areas with the district headquarters. They said the 27-km long road was full of potholes.

“From Kupwara to Ticker, the 2-km stretch has not been repaired for the past many years. It takes more about 30 minutes to cover the distance, which could be covered in just five minutes. The road is full of ditches and pits and authorities continue to ignore it,” said Shabir Ahmad, an employee working in the power department.

Residents of various villages, including Chowkibal, Hirri, Trehgam, Batergam and Gulgam, also demanded patchwork on the road. They said travelling on the road had become a nightmarish experience for them.

“It is becoming increasingly cumbersome to travel on the dilapidated road. Drivers take much more time than anticipated in covering the distance to Kupwara. Despite a few representations to the office of the Executive Engineer, Roads and Buildings department, Kupwara, the road has not been taken up for repair,” said Abdul Rashid, trader from Chowkibal.

Drivers said they were forced to repair their vehicles at regular intervals. “We own loans to the bank and cannot afford repair and replacement of parts of our vehicles. Due to deplorable condition of the road, we have to get our vehicles repaired at regular intervals,” said Bilal Ahmad, a driver.

Students and employees said the dilapidated road caused delay in reaching to schools and offices, respectively. “Visit to Kupwara is delayed due to the dilapidated road as drivers take enough time to reach the destination. We appeal the authorities concerned to take up the repair work at the earliest to ensure smooth flow of traffic,” said Feroz Ahmad, a resident of Shumnag.

Deputy Commissioner Itrat Hussian said, “Macadamisation of the road will start in a few days. We have already started the macadamisation on the Kupwara-Sopore road near Kulangam. Kupwara-Chowkibal road will also be macadamised wherever necessary.” 

Srinagar, June 18
The Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Chemicals and Fertilisers visited Red Cross House here today.

The aim of the visit of the committee, comprising 11 members headed by Gopinath Munde, was to review the implementation of the Jan Aushadhi scheme, a Government of India initiative through which quality generic medicines are being made available at affordable prices for the general public.

Pertinently, Indian Red Cross Society, J&K, has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the scheme in the state. As many as three Jan Aushadi stores, one each at Srinagar, Leh and Anantnag are already functioning in the state.

“An interactive session was also held in the office of the honorary general secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, J&K, in which the principal, GMC, Srinagar, and president of the Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Units of India (BPPI), participated,” an official spokesman said.

The committee also visited the Jan Aushadhi Generic Drug Store in the complex.

Honorary general secretary Roma Wani highlighted the benefits of the Jan Aushadhi scheme and said opening of many more Jan Ashudhi stores was on the cards and steps were afoot to extend the benefits of the scheme to large number of people of the state.

The members of the standing committee expressed satisfaction over the efforts of the Red Cross Society and the state government in implementing the scheme in the state. 

Srinagar, June 18
Urging the government to accelerate “delayed” investigations into civilian killings of 2010, rights watchdog Amnesty International has demanded reopening of the Tufail Matoo killing case, which has been closed as untraced by the police.

The statement of Amnesty comes a week after the parents of teenaged Tufail Matoo had express their surprise over the response of international human rights organisations, especially the Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch over the killing of their son so far.

While addressing mediapersons on the 3rd death anniversary of his son Tufail, Moahammad Ashraf had claimed that he had received no response from the Amnesty despite having written several letters to the rights body.

Tufail was killed on June 11, 2010, while returning home from tuition when a police fired teargas shell hit him near Gani Memorial College.

“Amnesty International India asks authorities in the state to reopen investigation into the death of a boy (Tufail), allegedly killed by police personnel in the Kashmir valley in June 2010, and accelerate delayed investigations into similar killings committed during the same period,” the rights body said in a statement.

Tufail’s death had triggered violence leading to unrest across the Kashmir valley, during which more than 100 civilians were allegedly killed in the subsequent police and security force action.

The SIT in its final report to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had said the Tufail Matoo case was closed and the culprits remained “untraced”. Subsequently, the lower court before which the matter was pending disposal, also closed the case file as “untraced” based on the closure report filed by the police.

Apart from seeking reopening of the Matoo case, the Amnesty has also urged the authorities to “accelerate” investigations into other cases of civilians killed in 2010 unrest, adding that under international law, the state government has an “obligation” to conduct “prompt and thorough” investigations into these deaths.

“Delayed, partial or incomplete investigations violate the rights of the victims’ families to effective remedy and accountability, and contribute to the prevailing climate of impunity in J&K”, it said.

Srinagar, June 18
The police today arrested senior Hurriyat leaders and foiled a protest march against human rights violations and detentions. The authorities also took Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik into custody to prevent him from distributing relief material among Doda earthquake victims.

The police arrested senior separatist leaders, including Shabbir Shah, Nayeem Khan and Javed Mir, when they tried to take out a protest march from the Sanatnagar area of Srinagar over the alleged human rights violations by the security forces, a spokesman said here.

The leaders had planned to hold a dharna at the Pratap Park in Srinagar. However, before they reach the venue, they were intercepted at Sanatnagar locality and lodged at Sadar police station.

Apart from Hurriyat activists, the separatist leaders were also joined by Mohammad Ashraf Matoo, the father of slain teenager Tufail Matoo, who was killed on June 11 in 2010 allegedly by the police.

Earlier in the day, the police took JKLF leader Yasin Malik into custody along with a dozen activists and front leaders from south Kashmir.

He was stopped at Awantipora on the Srinagar-Jammu highway by the police along with the material, a JKLF spokesman said in a statement here.

Condemning the arrest of Malik, the JKLF spokesman said this action by the police had exposed all claims of democracy in Kashmir.

“This act of the police also shows that apart from processions, there is a blanket ban on social work, providing relief to victims of natural catastrophes,” he said.

On May 29, the police had arrested Yasin and his supporters in Doda when they reached there to distribute relief material among the victims of the earthquake. 

Srinagar, June 18
Bharti Airtel and J&K Bank have joined hands to offer “mobile money” to the people of the state, especially for those who don’t have bank accounts.

Announcing this at a press conference here today, Sriraman Jagannathan, CEO Commerce, Bharti Airtel, said around 800 ‘Khidmat’ centres established by the bank would now also work as a distribution channel for “Airtel money”. He said by availing the service, customers could pay bills, book tickets and shop through their mobile phones. He said the service would be beneficial, especially, for people who don’t have bank accounts and those residing in the rural areas.

Stating that they would hold demonstration camps across the state so that people avail the service, Jagannathan said: “Today, we see ‘Airtel money’ play a pivotal role in bringing unbanked million Indians into the banking fold and are now honoured to work with J&K Bank to proliferate the power of this service into deeper pockets of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Speaking on the occasion, OP Sharma, Executive President, J&K Bank, urged the Airtel officials to make “mobile money” a sustained service, especially, in the rural areas and during the Valley’s harsh winters. He said ‘Khidmat’ centres had been set up to make information technology reach all corners of the state. “Our tie up with Airtel will play a crucial role in extending banking capabilities to even those without a bank account,” he added.

The Common Service Centres known as ‘Khidmat’ centres had been established by J&K Bank under the e-governance programme of the Union IT Ministry.

Srinagar, June 18
To frame the modalities for the preparation of a state-level disaster management plan, one-day state-level workshop was organised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the Revenue Department here today.

Arun Kumar, Finance Commissioner, Revenue, emphasised on proactive approach for designing a disaster management plan for the state.

Keeping in view the 
significance of disaster management besides vulnerability of the area to high wind velocity, land sliding and heavy snowfall, Kumar exhorted upon the stakeholders to share their responsibilities for finalisation of the framework to develop the module for the disaster management.

“Kumar also stressed for conducting capacity-building programmes and collection of primary data throughout the state and urged for putting in efforts for micro planning to mitigate the concerns at the grass-root level,” an official spokesman said.

Pertinently the MDMA in association with the Revenue Department has engaged the Tata Institute of Social Science to develop the state disaster management plan (SDMP) for the state.

“Discussions were held for developing a mechanism for disaster reduction plans, mock drills besides creating effective awareness among people. Provisions of educational institutes, healthcare institutions, public transport and evacuation were also discussed,” he said.

It was given out during the deliberations that the Disaster Management Centres shall be set up in every district of the state. The Tata Consultancy of Social Sciences also gave a powerpoint presentation on the functioning of the emergency operation centres and utility of the disaster management on the occasion.

Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Shailendra Kumar assured that all possible assistance shall be made available for preparation of the disaster management plan by the divisional administration and informed that 13 seismo metres are being installed at different locations in the Valley.

Srinagar, June 18
The moderate faction of Hurriyat conference is holding a seminar on Indo-Pak friendship on Thursday.

The seminar assumes importance as Mohammad Ahmad Shah, Pakistan-based son of former Mirwaiz Molvi Yousuf Shah Kashmiri, will be the chief guest on the occasion.

Yousuf Shah, who was the grandfather of Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was exiled to Muzaffarabad by Maharaja Hari Singh.

He never returned and was buried there. “The Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee (AAC) has finalised its arrangements to commemorate the 49th founder’s day of the party, whose foundation was laid by Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq and his associates 49 years ago,” a party spokesman said.

The AAC headed by Mirwaiz is one of the constituent parties of Hurriyat.

On Thursday, a seminar titled “Indo-Pak Friendship rooted in the resolution of Kashmir issue” would be organised at the Hurriyat headquarters in which noted academicians, leaders and intellectuals would participate, he said.

“The seminar will be presided over by AAC head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while Mohamamd Ahmad Shah will be the chief guest on the occasion, who is currently based in Pakistan,” he added.

On Friday, the party plans to organise a rally at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, he said.

Srinagar, June 18
Hundreds of aspiring students seeking admissions in three-year diploma courses in various disciplines at different government and private polytechnics of the state are aghast over a government circular asking them to attend counselling in the winter capital.

The officials, however, maintain that the counselling of only those students will be held in Jammu who are interested in getting admission in any college in the Jammu region.

“In the first phase we will be conducting counselling for the aspirants of the state in Jammu from June 25 to July 1. It will be held only for those students who are interested in getting admission at different government and private polytechnics in the Jammu region. In the second phase, we will be conducting counselling at Srinagar for students who are interested in getting admission in Kashmir colleges likely from July 3,” said an official of the Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE).

The students said they were shocked to see a notice from the BOPEE that asked them to appear for counselling in Jammu. “We were shocked to see the notice, which did not mention that counselling for the aspiring students of Kashmir will be held in the Valley. A good chunk of students have qualified the entrance test from the Valley and we are all in a fix ,” said an aspiring student from Srinagar.

"The BOPEE has asked all students of the state to appear for counselling at Jammu and there is no mention that a similar counselling will be held in Srinagar," he added.