Srinagar, August 30
While as the state government has failed to restore the portion of the prime land five days after it was encroached upon by taxi drivers, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Srinagar, has directed the police to investigate and file a compliance report in three days.

The Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) today approached the CJM with a plea that the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Srinagar, and Station House Officer (SHO), Kothibagh, might be directed to evict the illegal encroachers from the SDA Divisional Store opposite the Sangarmaal city centre on Maulana Azad Link road.

The SDA had also pleaded that despite filing a criminal complaint on August 25 with the Kothibagh police station, no action had been taken in the matter by the police against the encroachers.

“The facts would clearly suggest that the SSP and SHO have failed to discharge their statuary duty and to the information of the application, no FIR has been so far been registered by the two officials in the matter. The encroachers continue forcibly to occupy the aforesaid store premises,” Deputy Director, Enforcement, SDA, said in his plea to the CJM.

The CJM admitted the plea with a direction to the police investigate into the matter. The CJM also directed the police to file compliance report in three days.

On the intervening night of August 24 and 25, dozens of taxi drivers allegedly forced their entry into the compound housing the Divisional Store of the SDA on the MA Link road and parked their vehicles on a portion of the SDA land. They have occupied six kanals of land worth crores of rupees and turned it into a taxi stand.

Sources said a senior minister from the ruling National Conference was at the back of these encroachers and was ensuring that the civil and the police administration did not evict these taxi drivers.

The encroachments took place despite the High Court directions which is hearing a public interest litigation on traffic regulation and has banned any establishing any new transport yard in the city centre.

Srinagar, August 30
More than 24,000 candidates will appear in the State Eligibility Test (SET)-2013 tomorrow. The test was earlier scheduled to be held on August 18, but was postponed due to clashes in Kishtwar.

The state government is conducting the SET after a gap of two years. Kashmir University is the conducting authority of this year’s test and it will be conducted at 15 centres located at different educational institutions, including universities, colleges and schools in the Jammu and Srinagar regions.

The SET determines the eligibility for lectureship in colleges and universities of the state.

“Out of 24,000 candidates, 14,000 are from the Valley and 10,000 from the Jammu region,” said GM Rather, coordinator, SET, Jammu and Kashmir.

Rather said the SET would offer an alternative platform to the candidates seeking jobs as lecturers (assistant professors) in the state colleges and universities.

“Usually, it is the National Eligibility Test (NET) which is conducted by the University of Grants Commission (UGC) that determines the eligibility criterion for applying to the post of lecturers (assistant professor) in colleges and universities in the country,” Rather said.

“This time, the state government has revived the SET which will provide an alternative platform to apply for these posts in the state colleges. The last SET examination was conducted in 2010 with Jammu University as the nodal agency. Kashmir University has been given the charge this year,” Rather added.

The SET will be conducted on the pattern of the NET with a candidate having to appear in three papers of objective type pattern. One of the papers will be of general knowledge and the remaining two will be based on the subjects selected by the candidates.

Srinagar, August 30
On International Day of Disappeared Persons today, Abdul Majid Zargar, member, Kashmir Civil Society and Developmental Studies (KCDS), said the state’s civil society had not come out in full solidarity with the kin of disappeared persons of Kashmir.

Zargar, while participating in a protest, said, “Over the past 24 years, the civil society members have not been able to support the victims of disappeared in full strength.”

“I admit there have been weaknesses on our front. We should have been more vocal when it comes to our support to the members of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP). But better late than never,” Zargar said.

He said some members of the KCDS had through their writings and academic work nevertheless raised the problems of the relatives of the missing people.

“It is not that we have been all quiet. Yes, we need to engage in many levels which we haven’t,” he said.

Zareef Ahmad Zareef, a veteran writer and KCDS member, while expressing his solidarity with the APDP members, the insensitivity of the state government in helping them was alarming.

“I am alarmed that none of their cases has been resolved. Not even a single missing person has come back or his dead body has been returned. This is simply a blot on the face of Kashmir’s history,” Zareef said.

APDP chairperson Parveena Ahangar expressed solidarity with those killed in Gool, Ramban and called for an end to communal tension.

“We have lost our sons. We know the value of human lives. So we express sympathy with each family which lost its dear one,” Ahnagar said. The organisation also called for constituting an independent commission of inquiry into the alleged enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings, rapes and other human rights violations.

Srinagar, August 30
Moderate separatist chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today urged the international human rights organisations and the world community to play a role to help trace Kashmir’s missing persons.

Mirwaiz, who was speaking at Jamia Masjid, appealed the world community to “play a role in finding the fate of thousands of Kashmiris who were subjected to enforced disappearance”.

“Human rights organisations have remained insensitive to this grave issue and it was emboldening the perpetrators of the crime who are involved in oppression of Kashmiris,” Mirwaiz said.

Mirwaiz demanded an impartial inquiry to know the fate of missing persons and appealed the International Court of Justice to play their role in granting justice to the affected people.

”Some conscious people in India raised their voice against the bloodshed in 2008 and 2010, but it was highly shocking that those people sitting in the Assembly for the sake of power and claiming to be representatives of people have not even given a lip service to the issue of enforced disappearances,” he said.

Srinagar, August 30
On the occasion of International Day of Disappeared Persons today, the International Peoples’ Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir (IPTK) today said the scheduled Zubin Mehta concert to be held in Srinagar on September 7 would send a wrong impression to the international community, especially pertaining to human rights violations in the Valley.

“Any event of such nature held at an international level and sponsored by the state is most unfortunate and devoid of any connection to ground realities of Kashmir,” an official handout of the IPTK read.

It stated that in 2008, the European Parliament passed a resolution which recognised the presence of unidentified graves, condemned human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, urged legislative reform that would assist investigations and prosecutions of crimes, urged the state to ensure independent and impartial investigations of graves, and called on the European Commission to offer financial and technical support to the Indian Government in this regard.

“It is condemnable that the German Government does not choose to question the state on its human rights violations or its complete disregard for the 2008 European Parliament resolution,” the IPTK stated.

It said in March 2013, the report on human rights atrocities in the Valley was submitted by the IPTK to the European Union and German Embassy representatives in New Delhi.

It said the German Embassy had still chosen to ignore the massive human rights atrocities that happened in the Valley and was instead planning to hold a musical concert here.

The IPTK urged the Central Government allow the United Nations Special Rapporteur on enforced or involuntary disappearances to visit Jammu and Kashmir and to ratify the convention against Enforced Disappearances.

Srinagar, August 30
Congress leader and former minister Abdul Gani Vakil called on Governor NN Vohra here today.

Vakil discussed with the Governor various matters relating to the measures needed to be taken for the growth of horticulture sector, particularly the need to establish fruit processing units in the state, for ensuring value addition and generating employment. He said measures for enhancing cold storage facility and establishing a cold chain would benefit the growers.

Among the other matters which Vakil discussed with the Governor included augmentation of water and power supply and all required measures being taken for securing the speedy economic development of the state.

Vakil thanked the Governor for taking keen interest in the welfare of the people of the state and felicitated him for his appointment for the second term.

Kupwara August 30
Increasing numbers of stray dogs are posing serious problems to people in Kupwara. Local residents said herds of stray dogs were on the prowl in various areas of the town, including the busy main chowk and bus stand, Kupwara.

In Handwara villages, the situation is equally worrisome. Stray dogs attacked and wounded at least six persons in Rajwar, Kahipora and Handwara during the past two weeks.

Local residents said they were forced to accompany their children to the school due to fear of attacks from canines. “Dogs move in packs posing serious danger to our lives. The schoolchildren are more prone to attacks and we are forced to accompany them to their schools. The municipal authorities are doing nothing in this regard,” said Mohd Anwar, a resident of Handwara.

The residents said it had become increasingly difficult to offer evening prayers in mosques due to the presence of a large number of canines. “Dogs intensify their movement in the evening hours posing great dangers to our lives. We are forced to go to the mosque in groups due to the presence of a large number of canines in the town. The municipal authorities have miserably failed to put a check on their growth,” said Mohd Ahsraf, a resident of Kupwara.

Traders said the Kupwara bus stand had become a breeding ground for canines and their business was largely affected due to the presence of dogs in the bus stand. “In order to avoid attacks from dogs, customers avoid shopping. The municipal authorities have made a portion of the bus stand garbage dumping site and it has become a breeding ground for the dogs,” said Abdul Rashid, a trader.

“During night, the dogs bark intermittently disturbing our sleep,” said Latif Ahmad, a resident of Ganie Mohalla. 

Ganderbal, August 30
Two men were rescued from a well at a village near south Kashmir’s Awantipora town, a police spokesman said.

The two men were rescued by the police with the assistance of local residents, the spokesman said.

He said Ghulam Nabi Kumar and Bashir Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Kumar Mohalla near Awantipora town, fell into a deep well in their village. “Timely action of the Awantipora police with the assistance of the local residents rescued both of them,” the spokesman said.

Srinagar, August 30
An eight-day Terracotta Sculpture Camp, organised by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages in association with the Dara Shikoh Centre for Art (DSCA), kickstarted here today. Eleven artists from the state and Delhi are participating in the camp.

The camp was inaugurated by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages secretary Khalid Bashir Ahmad at the Almond Villa estate in the foot of the Shankracharya hill overlooking the Dal Lake. DSCA director Jyotsna Singh was also present on the occasion. An official spokesman said Jyotsna, who has been active in the terracotta art, had provided infrastructural facilities for the camp.

Speaking on the occasion, Bashir Ahmad said he had recently committed to organise a terracotta sculpture camp during a painting exhibition in Jammu and he was happy that the commitment was fulfilled today. He said Kashmir had a rich tradition of terracotta art dating back to the BC era. The oldest terracotta objects excavated in Kashmir were from the archaeological site of Doon Pathri in Pahalgam dating back to 1st century AD, he said.

The academy secretary said terracotta pottery and art objects had been found at other places such as Gofkral, Huinar, Harvan and Ushkar, which speak of the perfection the terracotta art had achieved in ancient Kashmir.

He said the academy wanted to promote terracotta art and the state-level camp was the first significant step in that direction. He hoped that the participating artists found the camp a rewarding experience and produced fine art pieces. The beautiful setting of the camp, he said, would further sharpen their creative abilities. He thanked Jyotsna for her support for the camp.

The artists who are participating are Bishembar Mehta, Arvind Gupta, Shaiqa Mohi, Sukhjeet Singh Kakal, Kamod Mohinder, Mohammad Iqbal, Jasleen Singh, Vikas Khajuria, Anish Tickoo and Naresh Kumar. They hailed the move of the academy to hold the camp and described it as a significant step towards promoting the terracotta art.

The artists will be assisted by Gulzar Ahmad, an experienced potter from Pulwama.

Srinagar, August 30
Jammu and Kashmir Peace Foundation chairman Fayaz Ahmad Bhat met Governor NN Vohra here today and updated him about various activities of the foundation.

Bhat gave details of the recent programmes organised by the foundation and those planned for the coming months to secure the objectives of peace and harmony. He said the foundation was organising Peace and Communal Harmony Conference here on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti this year. The foundation will be organising conferences and seminars to promote peace.

He thanked the Governor for his encouragement to the activities of the foundation.

The Governor complimented Bhat and his colleagues for the initiatives being taken by the foundation.

Srinagar, August 30
Arrangements for smooth conduct of Hajj pilgrimage-2013 from Srinagar were finalised at a divisional level meeting of officers chaired by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shalinder Kumar here.

Threadbare discussions were held for facilitating the Hajj pilgrims with better boarding, lodging, transport and banking services, an official spokesman said.

It was informed in the meeting that two flights with a capacity of 275 pilgrims each would be operated daily directly from the Srinagar International Airport.

It was decided that 894 Hajj pilgrims from Jammu division, Kargil and Leh reporting at Srinagar Hajj House one day before their scheduled flights would be provided transport, boarding and lodging facilities.

"Out of the 894 Hajj pilgrims, 441 would be availing the available SRTC bus services while 453 pilgrims would utilise their private transport facilities," said the Executive Officer of the State Hajj Committee.

The reporting time for pilgrims of the first flight to be operated daily will be 9 am while for the second flight will be 11 am.

It was announced that for facilitating the Hajj pilgrims, Home Guard volunteers would also be deployed at Hajj House, Srinagar.

It was also informed that Air India would provide packed lunch and the District Administration, Budgam, in collaboration with J&K Bank would serve "khwa" to the intending Hajj pilgrims.

The Divisional Commissioner asked the officers concerned to ensure supply of drinking water and uninterrupted power to pilgrims, besides deploying a Junior Engineer Electrical round the clock at Hajj House.

The Divisional Commissioner also directed the officials concerned to ensure an uninterrupted broadband connectivity at Hajj House.

The Divisional Commissioner asked them to ensure that the stay and travel of the pilgrims is hassle-free and comfortable.

The Divisional Commissioner also asked for adequate medicare facilities, setting up of first-aid centres at Hajj House and the Srinagar airport besides stationing an ambulance at Hajj House.

The Divisional Commissioner also asked the J&K Bank authorities to make available adequate number of trolleys at the Srinagar airport for the pilgrims.

He asked them to provide better banking and foreign-exchange facilities to pilgrims, for which five counters would be set up at the airport.

Deputy Commissioner, Budgam; director, Health Services, Kashmir; director, Airport Authority of India; Deputy Commissioner, Customs; DIG Traffic, Kashmir; Superintendent of Police, Airport; Superintendent of Police, Security; Superintendent of Police, Budgam; Joint Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation; Joint Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Srinagar were among those present in the meeting.

Kupwara Aug 30
Residents and traders of Kupwara town have demanded that street lights installed in the town by the Kupwara Municipal committee (KMC) should be made functional at the earliest. They said the lights installed more than a year ago had remained functional only for a few weeks.

They said the lights had not been repaired or replaced for the past one year. "Despite many representations to repair or install new lights, the KMC has not bothered to make the lights functional. In the absence of lights, we are facing a lot of inconvenience during evening and night hours. What is the point of spending lakhs of rupees on lights when these are not functional?" questioned Abdul Aziz, a trader.

Another resident said they were facing problems in reaching mosques for offering evening prayers due to the non-functional lights.

"There are more chances of attacks by stray dogs in the dark than in the light. We are forced to move in groups to the masjid and carry torches in our hands to avoid attacks from stray dogs. The KMC, however, remains indifferent to our problems," said Mohd Amin, a local resident.

The residents appealed to the KMC to send a team for repairing or replacing the lights.

"We make a fervent appeal to the municipal authorities to repair or install new lights for the convenience of people. Evening life has become dull in Kupwara due to the non-functional lights," said Mohd Ramzan,a senior citizen.

A municipal official said some lights needed to be replaced which others repaired.

"We will make all the lights functional in a few weeks," he claimed. 

Srinagar, August 30
To implement the National Plan of Action 2013-14, Kargil District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) chairman Tahir Khursheed Raina organised a legal awareness programme at Syed Mehdi Memorial Hall in Kargil today.

The Kargil DLSA chairman, SSP, CJM, Bar Association president, Chief Education Officer and about 10 students from different Higher Secondary Schools delivered lectures on the topic "Fundamental rights and duties of citizens with special reference to women and child rights". Over 300 students and staff of various schools of Kargil participated in the event. — TNS