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International drug abuse day
PM promises to look into tourism issues
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Kashmiri Sikhs meet PM, seek minority status
1996 NISHAT CONTRACTOR'S KILLING
Road show in Anantnag
Mughal Road car rally arrangements reviewed
Rasheed flays NC, PDP for failing to represent people’s sentiments
Programme to motivate students towards research in science kicks off
JKLF condemns Malik’s house arrest
Omar reviews security situation
PM, Soz discuss party affairs
Handicrafts dealers fined
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Just 2 de-addiction centres for 70,000 hooked on drugs
300 addicts await admission to 10-bed centre in Srinagar Bismah Malik Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 26 At a Police Control Room (PCR) run drug de-addiction centre in Batamaloo, Srinagar, a 10-bed centre, 300 patients are already on the waiting list to seek admission for treatment. Dr Muzaffar Khan, a clinical psychologist at the PCR drug de-addiction centre, said the centre was usually filled to its capacity and a huge number of patients got treated after months together. “This is because the drug addiction treatment takes at least three to four weeks and in chronic cases, the duration goes up to two months. With just 10 beds, it is nearly impossible to cater to such a large number of patients,” Dr Khan said. He added that although two off-shoot centres had been started in two more districts of Baramaulla and Anantnag with five beds each, but the treatment facilities were nowhere near demand. Dr Khan said the problem of drug abuse was becoming more severe in the Valley, particularly among the youth. The time had come for the state government to take serious note of the same. “It is high time that the government addresses this issue pertaining to the youth and sets up a drug de-addiction and rehabilitation institute which, besides offering treatment facilities, also provides them vocational training and counselling,” he added. He ensured that if the government started some entrepreneurial schemes for the youth discharged from the centre, they would not go back to drugs. “We need to engage these youth in jobs and business. The banks should provide them easy loans so that they can start their lives again. They should not be marginalised,” he added.
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PM promises to look into tourism issues
Srinagar, June 26 “We requested the Prime Minister to apply the similar medicine to the ailing tourism industry of the state that he had administered to the ailing economy of the country with his expertise,” Faiz Bakshi, Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Federation (KHAROF) president, said. The KHAROF delegation along with the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and the Industry (KCCI) and Travel Agents Association of India J&K chapter met the Prime Minister yesterday. The KHAROF delegation discussed with the PM matters related to the role of tourism in the economic development and employment generation in the state, promotion of sustainable tourism and preservation of environment among other matters. A memorandum was also submitted to the Prime Minister where the hoteliers demanded additional rail connectivity to the state, putting a cap on the airfares, operation of late night flights, improvement in the power supply by granting additional power quota on reasonable rates, use of water resources for new power projects. Upgrading of hotel infrastructure of around 60,000 beds, setting up of few luxury hotels at identified destinations under the strict scrutiny of environmental norms and formation of tourism master plan with zonal plans. “The Prime Minister heard the delegation with keen interest and enquired about the difficulties faced by the tourism industry and assured that he will examine the issues raised by the delegation in the memorandum,” Bakshi added. Highlighting the issue of increased airfares, especially during the peak tourist season, the memorandum said: “It has become a regular practice with the national and private sector carriers to raise fares on the sectors connecting Jammu and Kashmir to unimaginable levels thereby adversely affecting tourism in the state. The fare is disproportionate by any standards considering the distance and other factors. The travel to Srinagar, Jammu is twice costly than to Dubai or any South East Asian countries like Bangkok, Singapore, Malaysia etc.”
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Kashmiri Sikhs meet PM, seek minority status
Srinagar, June 26 Raina said the delegation reminded the Prime Minister of his promise to look into the problems being faced by Sikhs in Kashmir, during his previous visit to the Valley in 2010. Jagmohan said despite fulfilling all criteria, the Kashmiri Sikhs were being denied the minority status. “Due to the turmoil, thousands of Sikhs living in the villages have left behind their property and have settled down in cities and towns. We are demanding agricultural and horticultural losses to the community since the same are more than Rs 25 lakh per family. The state subject is being denied to the Sikh youth since they have left their native places and settled in Srinagar and various district headquarters,” Raina added. He said in the absence of the required state subject of their native place, the Sikh youths were not able to apply for jobs in the government sector. He added that the Prime Minister was urged to hold an inquiry into the affairs of Kashmiri Sikhs so that truth could come out and responsibility was fixed. “Neglect of the Punjabi language in Kashmir also came up for discussion. As on date, Punjabi is taught in just two out of 14 colleges in the Valley. Given this situation, the Sikh youths are not able to apply for the posts of lecturer in Punjabi in the colleges of the Kashmir Valley. We also appealed to the Prime Minister to take meaningful steps to ensure lasting peace in the Valley,” Raina said. He also demanded an employment package for the Sikh youths living in the Valley. He said special reservation for jobs should be kept for the youths of the community in the government and the semi-government sectors in Kashmir. Other members of the delegation included Niranjan Singh, Daleep Singh
Deepak, Sant Singh and Harjeet Singh. |
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1996 NISHAT CONTRACTOR'S KILLING Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 26 While demanding whereabouts of his father, the slain contractor’s son Zahooar Ahmad said the grave would remain empty till his father was located and the family got justice. Ali Muhammad Mir, a resident of Brein Nishat, was allegedly kidnapped and subsequently killed on June 26, 1996, by a counter-insurgency group led by Ghulam Muhammad Lone alias Papa Kishtawari, who is currently in judicial custody and facing trial in the case. However, the slain contractor’s son, Zahoor, who has been fighting the case in courts, chose to mark an empty grave for his father, whose whereabouts are not know, on his 17th death anniversary today, which coincides with UN’s International Day in support of victims of torture. “So far, we have not been able to locate his dead body. Nor the government has been able to disclose the whereabouts of my father, who was subjected to enforced disappearance and later killed by counter-insurgent Papa Kishtawari”, Zahoor said. “We chose to mark an empty grave in our ancestral graveyard at Brein Nishat, which will serve as a reminder of my father’s abduction, torture and disappearance,” he added. Zahoor said the grave would also serve as a reminder that nobody should die of torture. He appealed to the international community to help him locate his father. Geelani demands
fast-track trial
To observe the death anniversary Ali Mohammad Mir, many human rights activists and separatist leaders today visited the family at Nishat to pay their condolences and express solidarity. Expressing his sympathies with the Nishat contractor’s family, hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani demanded that Mir’s dead body be returned to the family. Besides, Geelani demanded a fast track trail in the case and said he would continue to support the family demand for justice. The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), headed by Yasin Malik, also expressed its solidarity with the family. Case timeline
The police started investigations into the case in 2007 after the deceased’s son, Zahoor, filed a petition in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court pleading for police action. In the complaint lodged in 1996, the victim’s family blamed Papa Kishtawari and his men for the contractor’s disappearance. The victim’s son had alleged that after picking up his father on October 29, 1996, Kishtawari killed him at Frestabal in Pampore. The police investigation named Ghulam Muhammad Lone, alias Papa Kishtawari, and his three accomplices as the accused. They were subsequently booked for the murder and trial of the case is going on at the Sessions Court at Srinagar. |
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Road show in Anantnag
Anantnag, June 26 People from different walks of life, including chemists and distributors, schoolchildren, Bar Association members, Traders Federation, civil society and mediapersons, participated in the march, which finally culminated at the Town Hall. The participants were carrying placards and banners reading “Say no to drug abuse and substance abuse”. Later, a seminar was also held at the Town hall. Speaking on the occasion, the DDC appealed to the people to stand up against the drug menace. “The drug abuse has eaten the vitals of our society. So it is our duty to rise on the occasion and get rid of this menace,” said the DDC. Assistant Drug Controller Muhamad Iqbal asked the chemists to coordinate in order to get rid of this drug abuse. “I appeal to all chemists to stick to the prescriptions of doctors only,” said he. He said youth had been using other addictive substances like shoe polish, nail polish, iodine etc, so it is now more of a substance abuse than a drug abuse. “Everybody, including doctors, chemists, lawyers, the police and the media, have a major role to get society rid of the menace,” said Muhamad Iqbal. He said in Anantnag district a complete ban had been put on sale of abortive drugs. |
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Mughal Road car rally arrangements reviewed
Srinagar, June 26 The event would have two separate rallies- the Extreme and the Enduro through this route. The Extreme is the fast paced event with professional drivers, while the Enduro is the slower event promoting tourism through motoring in the state, an official spokesman said. Under leg one (Exteme) the rally will pass through Srinagar-Khanabal-Dooru-Verinag-Kokernag-Daksam-Sinthan Pass and back to Srinagar and under leg 2 (Enduro) the rally will pass through Jammu-Bhamla-Reasi-Gool-Ramban and return via National Highway to Srinagar. The 4th Mughal Road car rally organised by the Himalayan Motor Sports Association, Shimla in sponsorship with the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department aimed to showcase adventure and varied tourism potential across the Mughal Road and other tourist circuits connected with the inter regional link. The minister called upon the people to give rousing welcome to the rallyists while passing through various villages of the area. He also asked for the removal of all obstacles from the roads for the smooth movement of the rally. He said the rally would also encourage the youth of the state to come forward and participate in the adventure sports. |
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Rasheed flays NC, PDP for failing to represent people’s sentiments
Srinagar, June 26 Addressing a press conference here, Rasheed questioned Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's silence on restoration of autonomy 'before' the Prime Minister and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. "Why did he not press for autonomy during his speech at Banihal. He also did not remember the AFSPA. Why did not the PDP come forward and demanded self-rule. The NC and the PDP had failed to represent the sentiments of the people," he said. Rasheed, MLA, Langate constituency, said this in reference to Omar's speech at Banihal where Dr Singh and Sonia inaugurated the Qazigund-Banihal railway link today. He went on to claim that the PDP had deliberately avoided meeting the Prime Minister as people would have asked them about its letter that had been written to Dr Singh regarding the Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. He also flayed the NC and PDP for failing to play a positive role to bring Guru's mortal remains, who was executed at the Tihar Jail, New Delhi earlier this year. Referring to Sonia's statement where she said people of the state wanted peace, he said: "Peace is not possible as long as the Kashmir issue is not resolved." |
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Programme to motivate students towards research in science kicks off
Srinagar, June 26 During the inaugural function, MA Shah, Professor of Physics, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, spoke about career options in science and advised students to pursue their dreams and become scientists of tomorrow. He also spoke about nano technology and its benefits. Aamir Ali, Deputy Chief Warden, Civil Defence, delivered a lecture on school safety measures and disaster preparedness. He urged the students to take up the Disaster Management as a full-time career option. He gave practical demonstrations about safety measures to be taken in case of fire, safe use of LPG, first-aid, search
and rescue measures. Shabir Ahmed Shabir, chairman of the J&K Students Welfare Society presented vote of thanks. |
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JKLF condemns Malik’s house arrest
Srinagar, June 26 Most of the key separatist leaders, including hardline Hurriyat Conference’s Syed Ali Geelani, moderate separatist chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chief Yasin Malik, were detained inside their residences in the wake of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit yesterday. “We strongly condemn the continued house arrest of chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and also the restrictions imposed in many parts of Kashmir for the consecutive second day today,” a JKLF spokesman said in a statement. In the wake of the PM’s visit and the shutdown called by the separatists against his visit, the police and CRPF personnel were deployed in strength across Srinagar city on Tuesday where eight Army soldiers were killed in a militant attack at Hyderpora on Monday. The Hurriyat faction headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while terming the visit of Prime Minister to Kashmir as “absolute failure”, adding that the “complete shutdown in Kashmir ” to protest his visit should serve as an eye opener for him.
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Omar reviews security situation
Srinagar, June 26 The Chief Minister was apprised of the coordination between various security agencies in dealing with militancy-related incidents and ensuring safety and protection of the people. He was also provided a detailed account of the preparedness of the security agencies to ensure safety and secure conduct of Shri Amarnath Yatra starting shortly, an official spokesman said. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Home, Director General Police, J&K, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, GOC 15 Crops, IG CRPF, IG BSF, Joint Director IB, IG CRPF (Operations Kashmir), Commissioner SB, DIG SSB, IG CID J&K, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and IGP Kashmir were present in the meeting.
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PM, Soz discuss party affairs
Srinagar, June 26 Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for
inaugurating the railway link from Banihal to Qazigund today. He also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for
announcing a special package of Rs 710 crore for the construction of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). |
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Handicrafts dealers fined
Srinagar, June 26 “The dealers found selling fake items in the name of Kashmiri handicrafts and without a valid registration certificate were penalised and Rs 7,800 has been recovered as fine on account of violation of the Tourist Trade Act, 1978,” an official said. “The wing also conducted inspections of handicrafts dealers at International Airport, Srinagar. The dealers found violating the norms of the Tourist Trade Act were penalised on the spot. |
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