Srinagar, October 1
The Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), an amalgam of various organisations of government employees, today started its five-day-long agitation by courting arrest despite the government warning that strict action would be taken against the protesters.

Farooq Trali, a JCC leader, said around 25 employees courted arrest near the Civil Secretariat even as the government had said it would follow ‘no work no pay’ policy.

Trali said employee leaders, including Fayaz Shabnam and Rauf Ahmad Bhat, had been detained yesterday only to foil their protest programme.

Stating that they would not succumb to the ‘pressure tactics’ of the government, he said the JCC would hold a ‘mashaal’ march tomorrow along with a march towards the Chief Minister’s residence. On October 3, the JCC would go for ‘secretariat gherao’, followed by a two-day ‘lockout strike’ on October 4 and 5.

After the talks between the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) and the JCC ended in a deadlock on Friday, the employee leaders had then issued a fresh protest calendar.

After a series of protests and strikes by the employees last year, the government had reached an agreement with the JCC wherein the employees were assured that a decision on their demands would be announced by September 30. However, the JCC then resumed protests, saying the government had failed to fulfil the promises made to them.

The employees’ demands include release of arrears recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission, enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies and regularisation of daily wagers and casual workers working in various government departments. The other JCC demands are inclusion of five years of contractual service of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers in the service book and regularisation of education volunteers after seven years of service.

Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey had already issued orders to all divisional, district and police authorities to ensure that the employee leaders did not forcibly prevent others from attending work.

He had also directed the Secretaries to personally visit various offices during the protest days to ascertain the situation and report the attendance of the employees so that immediate action could be taken against those found absent.

Kupwara, October 1
Residents of many villages, including Poshwari, Gofabal, Shaloora, Taratpora and Kalmoona, under the jurisdiction of Kupwara tehsil are facing problems due to an incomplete bridge on Nullah Vij for the past eight years.

The residents said the construction work on the bridge was suspended many times in the past eight years and never resumed after July 2010.

The bridge is supposed to connect these villages with Trehgam and Kupwara district headquarters. They said they were forced to cover double distance to reach Trehgam town through alternative roads.

“It takes about two hours to reach Trehgam through alternative roads. The authorities have failed to complete the construction of the bridge for past eight years as we continue to suffer immensely. About 10-km distance to Trehgam can be covered in just 20 minutes had the bridge been motorable,” said Mohd Aslam, a resident of Gofabal village.

They demanded that the work on the bridge should be paced up and it should be made motorable at the earliest. “Despite many requests to the administration to speed up the construction work on the bridge, nothing has been done. I appeal the minister concerned to intervene and complete the construction work at the earliest,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a senior citizen from Gofabal.

The residents said their problems got aggravated in emergency situations like ferrying of a patient to hospital in Trehgam. “We are forced to carry the patient on stretcher till half way and hire a vehicle from there to the hospital. It takes enough time and delay in treatment can prove fatal. The bridge will not only shorten the distance but also facilitate easy travel to the destinations,” said Muntazir Bhat, a resident of Taratpora.

Three persons had already drowned in the fast flowing waters of the nullah while they were trying to cross to the other side. “The authorities continue to remain unmoved despite three deaths in the past due to incomplete bridge. For how long the authorities will continue to test our patience,” said Zahoor Ahmad, a resident of Kalmoona.

Srinagar, October 1
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has granted the government one more week to file its response to a public interest litigation (PIL) opposing the ongoing construction of a “skewed” bridge over the Jhelum in Srinagar.

The matter was listed today before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice AM Magray.

Earlier on July 22, while refusing to grant interim stay, the High Court had issued notices to the state government and other official respondents, including the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) authorities, in the PIL asking them to file their response/objections.

“The matter came up before the Bench. Though the petitioners’ counsel insisted on granting stay, however, the court granted government and other official respondents a week’s time to file their response/objections,” said a lawyer connected with the case. The 170-metre bridge, passing over the river in the middle of Srinagar city, is being constructed by the JKPCC at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore. The work on the project is currently going on and is expected to be completed in three years.

On one side, the “skewed” bridge is being constructed over ‘The Bund’, used by British as leisure walkways before 1947. Off late, its pristine glory was sought to be revived by the PDP led government by beautifying the banks of the Jhelum on either side and constructing parks along it.

In the PIL filed by Aftab Hilali Shah and other civil society activists, including Zarief Ahmad Zarif, Qurut-ul-Ain, it has been prayed that the High Court intervene in stopping the construction of the bridge over the Jhelum in Srinagar and it has triggered a debate in the Valley over its developmental benefits and environmental losses. In the PIL, it has been prayed that the bridge is being constructed only to benefit some influential people, as they want to commercially exploit the areas which the bridge seeks to connect on the Rajbagh side.

Srinagar, October 1
At least eight panchayat members, including some senior leaders, of the All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference were detained by the police while they were marching towards the Civil Secretariat here today.

Sources said a large number of panches and sarpanches of Kashmir valley gathered in Exhibition Ground and started a march towards the Civil Secretariat demanding the implementation of 73 Amendment of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir and protesting against the failure of Panchayati Raj in the state.

“As they were marching ahead, the police intercepted them and asked them to disperse. The protesters resisted and the police detained eight members of the AJKPC,” the sources said.

The panchayat members were raising slogans in favour of Panchayati Raj and against the state government. The agitating sarpanches alleged that the Panchayati Raj had completely failed in the state and the government had rendered the institution completely defunct.

Those detained included AJKPC provincial president Imtiaz Afzal Beig and provincial secretary Bashir Ahmed Malik. Those detained were lodged in Shergarhi and Shaheed Gunj police stations.

“Our struggle will continue,” said Ghulam Hassan Panzoo, spokesman of the AJKPC.

Srinagar, October 1
An Islamic scholar in Kashmir has issued a fatwa authorising killing of dogs in the region. Mufti Nazir Ahmad Qasimi, who runs a prominent seminary in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, said it was the government’s responsibility to start a “planned campaign”, ordering killing of dogs in the region.

“When dogs are in abundance, then it is the responsibility of the government to start a planned campaign and issue orders to kill them,” Mufti Nazir said in the fatwa. He, however, said it was not necessary to kill dogs, if they were not abundant in number “because they were also God’s creation”.

The Mufti quoted several incidents from Prophet Mohammad’s life where orders were issued to kill dogs.

The fatwa came in reply to a question asked by a resident of Bemina locality, asking for “guidance in the backdrop of Islam” about how to deal with the growing dog population in the region.

The dog population in the region’s main city has been estimated to be around 1 lakh.

The state government has so far failed to script any effective policy to curtail the number of dogs, whose numbers are alarming in the region. The government’s sterilisation programme for stray dogs, which began in May 2012, has been slow and no visible change has been seen on the ground.

Mufti Nazir rubbished the sterilisation programme, saying it will not end the danger posed by stray dogs. He said if the government failed to kill stray dogs, then residents could themselves kill the canines around their residences and localities.

Dr Javed Ahmad Rather, Veterinary Officer at the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, said the sterilisation programme for dogs had remained suspended from November last year, following apprehension raised by the Animal Welfare Board of India that dogs may die due to hypothermia, if operated in cold weather during the winter months.

“We had to suspend the programme during winter and then wait until our own facility was built where we would operate. It was completed recently and now the programme may restart soon,” Rather said.

So far, 1000 dogs have been sterilised under the programme. In 2008, the state government had cancelled plans to poison thousands of stray dogs in the region.

Last year, the government had stated in the Legislative Assembly that Srinagar had 91,110 stray dogs. The rise in the canine population had led to increased dog bite cases triggering several campaigns by civil society groups to press for effective measures to curtail their number.

In March this year, an official of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation quoted a survey of a Gujarat-based agency and put the number of dogs in the city around 49,000, which was half the number given by the government. The official said the city had been cleaned of waste which forced the stray dogs to migrate to places outside the city. However, the threat posed by stray dogs continues. An eight-month-old girl died last week after she was mauled by a pack of stray dogs which forced its way into a house in the old city here.

Srinagar, October 1
The government has spent Rs 18 crore for the development of tourism infrastructure in Kargil since the formation of the Kargil Development Authority.

The information was provided at a meeting of the Kargil Development Authority Board held here today, which was chaired by the State Tourism Minister.

The meeting was called to review the physical and financial achievements registered for the development and upgrade of tourism infrastructure in the area, an official statement said.

“The meeting was informed that tourism developmental projects had been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore in Kargil under the Centre and state plans against which Rs 17.69 crore were expended till the last fiscal. The meeting approved Rs 1.50-crore action plan of the RDA for the current financial year,” read the statement.

The meeting was told that under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme, the development work in Kargil, Drass-Panikhar and Drass-Sankoo as tourist destinations had been completed by the creation of varied tourist infrastructure. Preservation and beautification work of the historical monuments and wayside facilities and development of tourist infrastructure in Kargil was taken up at the total sanctioned cost of Rs 8.60 crore under the Destination Development Scheme phase-1, against which Rs 1.71 crore were expended on several monument works in the area so far, the statement said.

The meeting was further told that over Rs 4 crore had also been incurred on upgrade of the tourist infrastructure in the area under the state plan during the last four years in the area.

Meanwhile, the minister also reviewed physical and financial achievements of the Zanskar Development Authority (ZDA) at a separate meeting.

The meeting was informed that since the inception of ZDA, the government had expended Rs 14.01 crore on the tourist-related infrastructure in Zanskar and Padum destination under the Centre and state plans.

The meeting also was informed that the development of tourist destination at Zanskar was completed at a cost of Rs 465.51 lakh, while beautification of Padum and its adjoining tourist resorts was apace at a cost of Rs 399.16 lakh against which Rs. 139.73 lakh were expended till date.

Srinagar, October 1
Two medical camps were organised by the CRPF in Srinagar on Monday. The first camp was organised at Aluchi Bagh in Srinagar by 25 Battalion of the CRPF which was attended by a large number of local residents of the locality and its adjoining areas.

A CRPF spokesperson said locals, including women and children, came to take medical consultation from CRPF doctors.

“All patients were given medicines free of cost. Tests were also conducted during the camp, which was inaugurated by Pramal Singh, Commandant, 25 Battalion,” he said.

Another medical camp was organised by 29 Battalion, CRPF, at Chanpora, Srinagar. “The objective of the programme was to provide free medicines and medical aids to the needy and poor people with the low economic status. 

Srinagar, October 1
Minister of State for Animal and Sheep Husbandry Nazir Ahmed Gurezi said today the government schools had considerably shown improvement in results.

The minister, while replying on the behalf of the Education Minister, said the government had taken various steps for increasing the enrolment of students and improving performance of the government schools.

He said academic monitoring was being done by the Directorate as well as by the State Institute of Education.

“In order to attract a large number of students towards government schools, the teachers are imparted training by the concerned DIET as well as the state institute of education for better classroom transactions and introduction of mid-day meals and provision of scholarship at the elementary and secondary level to retain children,” he said.

The minister said trainings were also being imparted to the heads of secondary schools as well as higher secondary schools under the RMSA to enhance the quality initiatives at the secondary level.

He also said the department had constituted state education advisory board for the purpose of obtaining advice on matters pertaining to education policy and administration.

Jammu, October 1
The hosts J&K suffered defeat in both the boys' and girls' categories in the inaugural matches in the North Zone Inter-State Badminton Championship which got underway at the Indoor Sports Complex, MA Stadium, here today.

In Narang Cup U-19 boys' category, the Delhi team got the better of the J&K 2-0. In the first single, Amrit beat Divyam Gupta of the J&K team 21-6 and 21-8. In the doubles, Arush and Karsh beat Shantul and Satyam 21-11 and 21-13.

In Shafiq Qureshi Cup U-19 girls' category, the J&K lost to the Rajasthan team 0-2. Sehar of the J&K was beaten by Karma 8-21 and 8-21 while in the doubles, Karma and Sunali beat Sehar and Suvidha 21-17 and 21-12.

In another match in the girls' category, the Chandigarh team beat the Punjab team 2-0. Muskan beat Dipakshi 21-10 and 21-13 while Muskan and Karlash beat Aditi and Harleen in the doubles.

In the boys' section, the Haryana team beat the Rajasthan team 2-0. In the first single, Arun beat Piyush 21-13 and 21-10 whereas Himanshu and Sandeep beat Mehul and Ajay Meena 14-21, 22-20 and 21-19.

Earlier, Jammu Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Sahu declared open the event in an impressive function. He lauded the efforts of the J&K Badminton Association (JKBA) for making the arrangements for the event.

JKBA president Sudarshan Singh Wazir, general secretary Dr OD Sharma and J&K State Sports Council sports officer Rajan Sharma were among those present on the occasion.

A 24-member team is represent the state in the championship.

The team comprises Rahul Sharma, Avnish Sharma, Vikram Saini, Vipul Saini, Vasu Bhagat, Aman Badyal, Sahil Verma, Divum Gupta, Shantul Raina, Satyam Raina, Divyam, Diksha Salgotra, Sulakhni, Akanksha, Prabhjyot, Sahar Massarat, Suvidha, Diksha Mahajan and Naman.

Sat Pal Sharma is the coach of the team and Balbir Singh Jamwal is the team manager.

Srinagar, October 1
Young Iqbal Sports and JK Forests won their respective matches in the ongoing J&K State Power Development Corporation Annual League Football Tournament-2013. In the match of 'A' division, Young Iqbal Sports defeated Jahangir Sports in a thrilling match.

Players in action during the Knockout Football Tournament, organised by the State Bank of India, in Srinagar. Photo: Yawar Kabli

The first goal was scored by Muneeb from Jahangir Sports in the fifth minute of the game.

Fifteen minutes later, Jibran from Young Iqbal scored an equaliser and he extended lead in 25 minute. At the end, young Iqbal won by 2:1 goals.

In a Super division match, JK Forests defeated Maharaja Sports by 6-0. Forests team dominated from the start of the game. Shahid Mushtaq was the scorer from the forests side who scored back to back two goals in 23 and 34 minute of the game. Toufeeq Ahmad scored third and fifth goal in 49 and 69 minute.

Bilal scored fourth in 60 minute.

Imran Wangnoo scored the last goal of the game in 79 minute.

The tournament that is being played at Pologround is being organised By J&K Football Association, Srinagar.

Srinagar, October 1
The police has seized over 90-kg cannabis from different locations during a major drive against narcotics in south Kashmir.

Special checkpoints were set up at different places and police personnel in civvies were deputed to gather information regarding narcotic trade in Awantipora area of south Kashmir, a police spokesman said.

At a checkpoint, the police seized 45-kg cannabis leaves from Mohammad Akram Shah, a resident of Asthan Mohalla Panzgam, and another 5-kg cannabis leaves from Ghulam Nabi Dar, a resident of Leadermud, the spokesman said. Both the drug peddlers had been arrested.

In another operation, the police raided a house after receiving a tip-off and recovered 30-kg cannabis straw. The spokesman said the house belonged to Mohammad Jamal Lone, a resident of Bandina, and recovered the narcotic cache.

Three cases under Section 8/20 of the NDPS Act had been registered against the accused.

Five-kg grinded cannabis and 7-kg cannabis were recovered in another operation from Dogripora village near Awantipora, the spokesman said.

The recovery was made from a cowshed belonging to Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and a case under Section 8/20 of the NDPS Act had been registered against him, the spokesman said.

The police also destroyed “wild bhang” grown over 17 kanals of land at various places in the area.

The spokesman said the drive against narcotics would continue.