The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

12-yr-old found dead in school washroom
School authorities claim boy committed suicide; police says investigations are on
Bismah Malik
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 25
As the schools reopened today after a 10-day summer break in the Valley, a 12-year-old boy Najeeb bin Noor allegedly hanged himself at a washroom in Sublime School, Raj Bagh here. He was found dead in the washroom.

Najeeb had been living in the Al-Mahmood orphanage home of Srinagar.

His family hails from Tengpora bypass of Batamaloo Srinagar.

According to the police's statement, the school principal reported Najeeb's death to the nearby Raj Bagh police station. The school authorities had found the boy dead under mysterious conditions in the washroom.

"The school had its routine check underway after the summer vacations. We were trying to find Najeeb when our morning assembly was on, but we couldn't locate him. He was found hanging in the school washroom. He had used his school belt to hang himself," the school authorities said.

Meanwhile, a few students in the school claimed the teachers subject the students to harsh punishment.

The school authorities however denied the allegations and said the school had been providing the students moral and religious education.

"There are no reasons whatsoever for the teachers adopting a harsh attitude against this boy or any other student of the school," claimed the authorities.

The police and forensic team later visited the spot and the student's body has been sent for postmortem.

"We have initiated proceedings under Section 174 of CrPC," the police spokesperson said.

SHO of Raj Bagh police station, Bashir Ahmad, said two persons had reached the police station claiming Najeeb's body and they will be questioned soon.

"The two persons who contacted us claim to be the deceased boy's mother and brother. Police investigations are on," the SHO said.

Education Dept’s ZGCs demand enhancement in salary, regularisation of jobs
Amin Masoodi

Srinagar, July 25
Zonal Gender Coordinators (ZGCs) appointed under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for enhancing enrolment of girl children in schools have alleged delay in enhancement of their salaries over the past five years.

A delegation of ZGCs headed by Gulnaz Begum said although the government enhanced salaries of all contractual employees engaged under SSA, it ignored ZGCs.

"At the fifth meeting of executive committee of Ujala Society held on March 24, 2009, it was unanimously agreed that all categories of contractual employees of the Ujala society SSA would be paid a minimum of the identical revised pay scales of the sixth Pay Commission," said Gulnaz.

"Also, society order number 215 Ujala of 2009 dated 15-10-2009 was issued for enhancement of salary of all categories of contractual employees under SSA with the approval of the then minister of Education, who was also chairman of governing body of the society," she added.

Another member of the delegation said, "But we fail to understand why only 119 ZGCs were left out and marginalised. This is sheer injustice with us. The authorities should realise that women creating awareness about girl education have done a commendable job for the last seven years."

The delegation members said they approached State Project Director (SPD) SSA Srinagar with their "genuine" demand and she wrote a letter to civil secretariat school education department Srinagar for clarification and directions.

"In response to the letter by SPDA, Financial Advisor/CAO School Education Department issued letter to SPD Srinagar dated January 31, asking SPDA to furnish information before seeking concurrence for enhancement of salary in favour of ZGCs which include number of ZGCs and their present emoluments," they said.

The project director send a detailed report vide number Edu-SPDA/1065/5903/13 dated 28-05-2013 with recommendations for enhancement of salary of ZGCs on the same analogy adopted in respect of other contractual employees besides break-up of financial implications.

"It has been more than a month now that the SPD report has not reached the civil secretariat school education department. The civil secretariat has shot another letter dated, June 28, asking SPD to expedite the information so that the case can be submitted to the finance department for approval," the ZGCs informed.

ZGCs are paid Rs 3,000 per month and deprived of benefits of the 6th pay commission.

HC asks CAPD to explain process of fixing prices of essential commodities
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 25
Observing that the issue of price of essential commodities concerns to a common man, the J-K High Court directed the authorities of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) to explain what inputs are taken into account for determining the prices of essential commodities.

They were asked to explain the process for declaring a particular edible commodity as an essential commodity.

The directions were issued today by a division Bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice DS Thakur while hearing a PIL by GM Wani about the high prices of the essential commodities, particularly the exorbitant prices of local Kashmiri bread set arbitrarily by the local traditional bread makers, called ‘Nanwais’.

“Respondents were directed to file a supplementary affidavit highlighting the particular statutes and the legislations used for the purpose of showing what inputs are taken into account for determining the prices of essential commodities,” the High court said in its orders today.

Besides, in the affidavit, the authorities concerned have also been asked to explain the process for declaring a particular commodity as an essential commodity within the meaning of the Essential Commodities Act and Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Essential Commodities Act.

The court said the ‘needful” should be done within two weeks.

Earlier in its observations, the Bench said the affidavit filed by the CAPD authorities failed to show the parameters and the factors which were taken into account by the authorities while fixing the prices of the essential commodities, like meat, chicken, vegetables and other edible items.

The High Court further observed that the consumers’ voice, which is significant aspect of this process, was not taken into account while fixing the prices of the essential commodities by the authorities.

“From the affidavit, it appears that the consumer has not been represented while fixing the prices,” the High Court observed.

Wildlife Dept to conduct survey of identified conservation reserves
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 25
Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Mian Altaf Ahmad today asked the officers of the Wildlife Department to conduct a joint survey of the identified conservation reserves and submit its report within one month so that services of an expert agency would be hired for framing comprehensive and long-term wildlife protection projects in the state.

The minister said this while chairing the sixth meeting of the Standing Committee of State Board for Wildlife here today. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Abay Kumar, Chief Wildlife Warden AK Singh, and senior officers from the Forest and Wildlife Departments were present at the meeting. An official statement said the meeting held a detailed discussion on the proposed projects being taken up for protection of wildlife, development of wetlands and conservation of reserves across the state. “It was given out that Rs 268 crore are being spent on protection of wildlife and creation of related infrastructure in the state,” the statement added.

Separatists urge calm, unity
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 25
Regretting the tragic incidents of Budgam, separatists in Kashmir have said they are saddened by the sectarian violence and have appealed to the people to maintain calm and unity.

The sectarian violence and strife in the district has forced the authorities here to deploy the Army to control the situation.

Separatist leader and National Front chairman Nayeem Khan Sin today said he was ‘saddened’ by the tragic incidents of Budgam. The people ‘involved in infighting’ are the ‘enemies’ of Islam.

“People in Kashmir are being killed without discrimination, but unfortunately some vested interests are busy dividing the Kashmiri Muslims and our common enemy is silently doing his job,” National Front spokesman said in a statement.

He made an appeal to both the communities to jointly defeat the enemy’s policies and stay united.

“The National Front salutes the efforts of local youth who are busy in getting the “two brother communities” closer, said Nayeem Khan.

Demanding stern action against the murderers, Khan said such incidents had no place in an Islamic society.

On the other hand, JKLF chairman Yasin Mailk in his message stressed upon the need of forging unity and eradicating strife.

This was stated by the chairman JKLF Mohammed Yasin Malik while speaking to the people in various areas of strife-hit Budgam today, where he has been camping since Wednesday.

On the other hand, the Peoples Conference (PC) has appealed to the people for peace, calm and amity. PC vice-chairman Mohammad Kamaal Malik today toured various areas of Budgam district and he underscored the need for upholding the traditional Kashmiri values of brotherhood and sectarian unity at all costs.

Budgam incident

People in Kashmir are being killed without discrimination, but unfortunately, some vested interests are busy dividing the Kashmiri Muslims and our common enemy is silently doing his job.

— National Front spokesman

I was saddened by the tragic incidents of Budgam. The people involved in infighting are the ‘enemies’ of Islam.

— Nayeem Khan Sin , chairman, National Front

9 students get job offers from J&K Bank
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 25
Jammu and Kashmir Bank (JKB) has selected nine students of the Department of Management Studies, Central University of Kashmir (CUK), for the post of Relationship Executive.

The list of appointed candidates, including those of selected CUK students, was released by the bank recently.

Giving details about the selection process, Head of the Department Management Studies Farooq Ahmad said out of 10 students who took the written test and personal interview, nine have been appointed for the managerial position with an a package of Rs 5 lakh.

“The selected candidates passed through a rigorous selection process comprising a written test and interview,” Farooq Ahmad said.

The selected students include Omer Kawa, Sana Showkat, Uzma Amin, Sana Bala, Umar Ashraf, Najiya Majid, Tanveer Zargar, Ifra Hussain and Nadeem.

University Vice-Chancellor Abdul Wahid and Registrar Abdul Gani have congratulated the selected candidates for achieving the feat.

Erring traders fined during market checks

Srinagar, July 25
A fine of over Rs 15,000 was collected during market checks here and at Pampore in south Kashmir today, an official said. Market checking of food sale establishments of Pampore town was conducted by a joint team of Food Safety and Standards, Pulwama and Municipal Committee, Pampore.

During the checking, 50 kg of rotten vegetables and fruits were destroyed on spot. An amount of Rs 3,600 was recovered as fine from erring traders. In Srinagar, the CA&PD department team conducted checks at Bemina, Tengpora, Firdousabad, Batmaloo, Zakura Crossing, Meerak Shah Colony and Rainawari. During the checks, 47 business establishments were inspected and an amount of Rs 11,900 has been recovered as fine from 16 erring shopkeepers for violation of Essential Commodities Act, 1955. — TNS

8 hurt in road accidents

Srinagar, July 25
Eight persons were injured in different road accidents across the Kashmir valley, a police spokesman said today. A Tata Sumo skid off the road on KP Road at Mattan in Anantnag district, resulting in injuries to the vehicle driver Owais Manzoor Bhat and his brother Asif Manzoor, who was also in the vehicle. Both the injured were admitted in a hospital for treatment.

A motorcycle hit and injured a pedestrian at Kokernag in south Kashmir. The injured was admitted in the hospital for treatment while Kokernag police has registered a case.

A tipper skid off the road at Zatkhusi Bridge, Gurez, in Kupwara district, resulting in injuries to the vehicle driver. The injured was admitted in a hospital for treatment.

Four persons were injured when two motorcycles collided with each other at Watpora in Bandipora district. All the injured were admitted in a hospital. — TNS

Sanitation drive at shrines

Srinagar, July 25
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation will conduct a sanitation drive and set-up assistance booths across the mosques and shrines of the city ahead of Shab-e-Qadr and other religious events during the ongoing holy month of Ramadan.

The SMC media relations officer said the Municipal Commissioner had directed the officials concerned to upkeep the sanitation during Ramadan with a focus on the upcoming Jumatul Vida and Shab-e-Qadar. Jumatul Vida means the last Friday of the fasting month and Shab-e-Qadr is mainly observed on 27th night of Ramadan. Qasba said various facilities, including improved sanitation and fumigation in and around various places or shrines, should be placed with the setting-up of assistance booths. — TNS

Research papers invited for journal

Srinagar, July 25
The journal on communication, media studies and social sciences, International Journal of Communication and Social Research (IJCS), being drafted by the Department of Convergent Journalism, Central University of Kashmir, has invited research papers from academicians, students and scholars in the areas of communication and social science.

“The call for papers for the next issue is open to faculty members, scholars and students of all universities and higher education institutions or centres across the world. The deadline for the submission of abstracts is August 15,” the official handout of the department said. — TNS

Hurriyat team stopped from visiting Gool

Srinagar, July 25
A delegation of the moderate Hurriyat Conference today was not allowed to visit violence-hit areas of the Ramban. Members of the delegation were stopped by the authorities at district headquarters, a Hurriyat spokesman said.

While condemning this, the Hurriyat spokesman termed the action by the authorities as an extremist act.

“The delegation headed by Musadiq Adil was moving to the Gool area of Ramban to show solidarity and sympathy with the victims. But the authorities did not allow them to move beyond Ramban district headquarters,” he said. — TNS