Srinagar, July 26
Mystery shrouds the death of a 12-year-old Class III student, Najeeb bin Noor, who died last morning. His body was recovered from his school washroom.The claims of the authorities of Salih Sublime Public School that the boy committed suicide have not been corroborated by the police yet as investigations are still on. Meanwhile, the postmortem of the body has been conducted, after which, the body was handed over to the family of the deceased boy.

"The investigation process is still on. It is too early to comment whether this was a case of suicide, natural death or murder.The body has been handed over to Najeeb's mother for his last rites," said Bashir Ahmad, SHO, Raj Bagh police station.

The police officer said the school authorities, the orphanage management where Najeeb was living and his relatives are being quizzed and the investigations are on.

Najeeb's mother and brother raised a hue and cry after the school authorities said it was a case of suicide.

His mother said they were suspicious, especially after students said the teachers in the school were dealing very strictly with them, using very harsh punishment.

"Nothing can be overruled right now. We found a belt tied around Najeeb's neck. No other evidence could be found," said the SHO.

Meanwhile, the management of the Al-Mahmud orphanage where Najeeb was staying described him as a normal child who was average in his studies.

"There was nothing abnormal about him. Nor did any tragedy strike him. He ate his pre-dawn meal (Sehri) as usual since he was fasting. After that, he was preparing to go to school and polished his shoes. We conducted our routine inspection and after that, students were sent to school," a management official at Al-Mahmud orphanage said.

Srinagar, July 26
One person died and five others were injured in road accidents across the Valley, the police said today.

Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, a resident of Kralpora village of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, was severely injured when he had craned his neck outwards from the window of a car while vomiting, a police spokesman said.

Bhat was hit by an unidentified load carrier at Kralpora and was admitted in a hospital, where he succumbed to injuries.

In north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, a cab hit and injured a cyclist Shabir Ahmad Zadoo at bus stand Nowgam near Sumbal.

In another accident in Bandipora district, an unidentified vehicle hit and injured a pedestrian identified as Rehman Teeli at Panzinarah near Sumbal town. The injured was admitted in JVC Hospital in the city here.

A cab and a car collided at Nilgrath near Sonamarg resort in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, resulting in injuries to the cab driver Irshad Ahmad Parry, a resident of Check Kawoosa Magam.

In the city here, an unknown vehicle hit and injured a pedestrian near Fruit Mandi Parimpora. The injured was shifted to SKIMS Hospital for treatment, said the spokesman.

In another accident in the city, a car hit and injured a girl identified as Hadiya of Hyderpora locality. The injured has been admitted in a hospital, where she is under treatment, said the spokesman.

Srinagar, July 26
Kashmir's private schools are up in arms against the recent directives of the state government appointed panel which say that no private school can hike fees without prior permission from the authorities.

At a meeting today, the Private Schools Association stated that they were not consulted before the state government decided to go ahead with these directives.

"The government's move to regulate the fee/infrastructure was discussed and it was felt that the constitution of the commission is in itself contradictory as the major party ie private schools are not being taken on board while framing the guideline concerning the private schools," said the official handout of the association.

The association further said such moves by the government are aimed at destabilising the private sector of the state, particularly education.

Srinagar, July 26
A total of Rs 15,200 was recovered as fine from erring shopkeepers of the city and those in south Kashmir's Anantnag district today.

"The market checking squad headed by Assistant Director, Consumer Affair and Public Distribution conducted market checks at Natipora, Nowgam, Haft Chinar, Sanat Nagar, Goni Khan, Mahraj Bazar, Court Road, Lasjan and other places," an official said.

"During the market checks, 48 business establishments were inspected and an amount of Rs 12,800 was recovered as fine from 19 erring shopkeepers for violation of the Essential Commodities Act," he added.

In Anantnag, fine was imposed on 10 shopkeepers. "During the market checks, Rs 2,400 fine was imposed on 10 erring shopkeepers and 150 kg of rotten vegetables, 50 kg of sub-standard milk and 40 kg of rotten fruits were destroyed on the spot," said an official.

Srinagar, July 26
Government employees have expressed their disgruntlement with the state government for paying no heed to their demands even if they have been protesting for many years now.

The Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) spokesperson Nissar Ahmad today said EJAC will launch fresh protests against the government's insensitivity on August 3 at Press Enclave Srinagar to press the authorities for fulfilment of their demands.

He added that the agitation of the government employees is not over yet and that the agitation will have to be revived, especially with the authorities seeming to be in no mood to listen to them.

"We kept silent respecting the month of Ramadan. We will revive our agitation after that. At no point are we going to succumb to the pressure from the government. The agitation was deferred but it did not end. This should not be thought of as our weakness. We are firm that we will get all the issues of employees solved," added Nissar.

The Employees Joint Action Committee also expressed its support to the urban local body employees who have been protesting non-payment of their salaries.

"We warn the state government that if the issues of urban local bodies are not resolved and their pending salaries are not released up to August 2, the EJAC will hold a protest demonstration on August 3 at Press Colony Srinagar," the EJAC statement said.

The employees have been demanding regularisation of all daily wagers/casual labours/ad hoc/seasonal workers working in different departments, retirement age enhancement by two years, removal of pay anomaly pending in all government departments, inclusion of five years service in case of RETS teachers, 15 years' service in case of migrant substitute teachers and 20 years service in case of ad hoc teachers and release of pay in favour of urban local body employees as per the approved reorganisation and staff strength.

Anantnag, July 26
A teenaged girl today committed suicide at her home in Lower Munda area of Qazigund here in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, the police said.

According to the police, the 19-year-old consumed some poisonous substance at her home.

“She was rushed to the District Hospital in Anantnag,” police reports said, adding, “She breathed her last there.”

Police in Qazigund, after conducting all legal formalities, has handed over the body of the deceased girl to her family for her last rites to be performed.

The police maintain that it's unclear as to what drove her to take the extreme step.

“We have initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of CrPC in this regard,” said a senior police officer from the area.

“Anything can be said about the case only after the investigation is completed,” he added.

Handwara, July 26
Officials of forest division Langate in Handwara tehsil on Thursday seized forest herb locally called "Pitrees" (aconitum roots), and Tripitri worth lakhs of rupees in Rajwar forests. Two accused, Mohd Shafi Mir and Mohd Sadiq Mir from Dardpora Kralpora, were arrested and the vehicle was recovered.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged in police station Handwara under the Forest Act. "Under the directions of Range officer Rajwar, Noor-ul-Amin, we laid a trap near Goriakar. We chased a vehicle and recovered around 34 kilograms of forest herb Pitrees and Triptri. Both the accused were arrested on the spot and a vehicle bearing registration number HP-32A0213 used for transportation of the herb seized," said Block officer, Badarkala Handwara Mansoor Ahmad Ganie.

The seized herb amounts to about Rs 15 lakh in the international market, said a forest officer. "We have intensified search operation in the forest to nab the accused engaging in illegal trade of the herb. We may also seek the help of police in putting a check on the illegal trade," said the official.

Reports said medicinal herbs worth lakhs of rupees are being collected and smuggled from forests in different parts of the district. Residents of some villages including Doben, Kalaroos, Himli, KK Gali in Hayhama, Machil, Bduhnumbal, Jummagund, Bungus, Mawar and Nowgam said in absence of effective monitoring of forests, smuggling of medicinal herbs like Pitrees, Tripitri and seeds of coniferous "Deodar" and "Kail" (pine) has thrived.

They said wild herbs were being smuggled. "The Supreme Court has put a blanket ban on trade of forest herbs. The forest officials are working hard to enforce the ban and whosoever is found guilty will be dealt with under law," said Range officer Rajwar, Noor-ul-Amin.

Police in district Kupwara has registered seven cases under Forest Act and seven persons have been arrested in the past five months. A large quantity of rare medicinal herb and seeds have been seized from the accused.

Anantnag, July 26
At least four people, including a journalist, were injured in Pulwama town of south Kashmir as protests turned violent in many parts of the town after Friday congregational prayers.

Clashes were also reported from Tral, Shopian and Qazigund townships of south Kashmir.

Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for peaceful protests after Friday prayers against the alleged desecration of Border Security Forces (BSF) personnel in Gool area.

According to reports, violent clashes between the forces and the protesting locals erupted in many parts of the Pulwama town, including Main Chowk, Rajpora Chowk, Tahab Chowk and other places.

“The police and the CRPF resorted to tear smoke shelling and baton charge to disperse the protesters,” reports said, adding that, “Four people were injured during the clashes, including a local journalist.”

All injured were treated at the District Hospital in Pulwama and were reported to be stable.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik today visited Tral town in Pulwama district and addressed a mammoth rally at the main chowk of the town.

“The hypocrisy and double standards of the so called rulers of Kashmir lays bare before the people of Kashmir,” Malik said.

Malik said young boys were arrested and tortured in police stations. “The arrested youth are being subjected to humiliation and often heavy ransom is demanded for their release,” he said.

He also visited the families of three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants who were killed in an encounter with the forces earlier this month.

Malik expressed solidarity with the families of the slain militants.

Violent clashes were witnessed in the Tral town soon after Malik left. The clashes continued for a couple of hours. However, no reports of injuries were reported from the town.

A complete shutdown was observed in the Highway town of Qazigund in Anantnag district.

According to the reports, shops and other commercial establishments remained closed throughout the day today. Clashes between forces and the locals were also reported from some parts of the town after the Friday prayers.

Srinagar, July 26
Moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday led the funeral-in-absentia for the four civilians who were killed in Ramban district last week.

The moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman led the special funeral prayers at the city’s Jamia Masjid, where hundreds of residents had gathered for Friday congregational prayers.

Mirwaiz demanded an impartial probe into the Ramban incident where four civilians, who were part of the protest against alleged desecration of Quran by paramilitary personnel, were shot and killed by the BSF.

Kashmir had remained shut for three days amid protests against the Ramban killings.

The separatist leader also called for an immediate release of the youth who were detained following the Ramban incident.

Mirwaiz said the “wanton” arrests of youth by the police and imposition of restrictions on the religious and political activities of pro-freedom leaders was shameful and a highly condemnable act.

The Hurriyat faction chairman termed the sectarian clashed in central Kashmir’s Budgam district as highly regrettable. “On one hand the government was indulging in bloodshed of Kashmiris, while on the other Kashmiris are playing into the scheming of anti-people and anti-movement forces who are hell bent to create division among Kashmiris,” he said.

Meanwhile, protests erupted at several places in the region and in parts of the old city after Friday congregational prayers.

Srinagar, July 26
Rich tributes have flown in on the demise of the Kashmir's noted Majeed Muzmar Valley's known academician, fiction writer and language critic who passed away on Thursday at an age of 59 after brief illness.

The Kashmir University Teachers Association (KUTA) held a condolence meeting today headed by Vice-Chancellor Talat Ahmad in which hundreds of members participated.

The KU fraternity, including teachers, scholars, students and other staff of the varsity, expressed deep shock and grief over the demise of Prof Muzmar and offered their sympathies to the bereaved family.

Vice-Chancellor Talat Ahmad while expressing his grief over the sudden demise of Muzmar assured all help to the family of the deceased. Prof Talat termed Muzmar as a thorough gentleman and a reputed Urdu scholar and said Prof Muzmar had highly contributed to the corporate life of the university during his illustrious career as an academician.

The meeting ended with Fatihah (prayers) for the departed soul. Khalid Bashir Ahmad, secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, also expressed profound shock and grief over the demise of Majid Muzmar.

Describing the deceased as a fine academician, writer and noble person, Khalid said his demise was a great loss to the academic and literary fraternity of the state and a personal loss to him. He prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and courage for the bereaved members of the family to bear this huge loss.

Hailing from Badusgam village of south Kashmir, Muzmar has more than 12 books and around 50 research papers to his credit. Among his publications, Urdu Ka Alamati Afsana, Rang Baten Karen, Kashmiri Drama aur Fiction, Naqoosh-e-Adab, Rooh-e-Adab, Urdu Adab Mein Kashmir and translations from English published by Sahitya Akademi, including Kalhan, Rasul Mir, Sheikh Noor-ud Din Wali and Ali Mohammad Lone, are valuable assets for both the languages which will guide the teachers and students alike.

He had been writing scripts for radio and television and drama serials for TV and participating in literary programmes for more than 30 years.

Srinagar, July 26
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar has condemned the attack on sarpanch Khazar Mohammad Parray at Krankshvan village in Sopore today.

The minister described the incident as inhumane. "This type of attack is against the spirit of Islam and the people who are responsible for this dastardly act should be condemned by one and all," Sagar said.

He said such attacks cannot weaken the democratic set up and the forces who are carrying out these attacks want to create an atmosphere of chaos and disrupt the peaceful environs of the state.

Srinagar, July 26
The Medical Council of India has accorded approval to the start of diploma course in gynaecology and obstetrics (DGO) at the Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar.

An official spokesman said this was a major achievement for the college. He said the Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, had been pleading for the start of the course in the view of heavy rush and deficiency of trained staff in gynaecology in the state.

The minister today directed to refer 12 vacancies to the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations so that the selection process of candidates gets a kick-start and the course is started at the earliest.

The start of DGO at GMC would help in overcoming the shortage of gynaecologists and obstetrics in the state which are in huge demand, particularly in rural and hilly areas. The Centre has recently increased the intake capacity of MBBS seats in the Government-run medical colleges in the state by 150.