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Staff crunch ails
degree college
Tufail mattoo case |
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Landslides block Sonamarg-Leh national highway
2 commit suicide
4 hurt in accidents
kashmir issue
Kupwara village in the dark since 1947
Shukurudin shrine deputation meets Guv
Yateem Foundation bags India NGO Award
Hardliners oppose rehab move for refugees
Powerman electrocuted
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Staff crunch ails
degree college
Kupwara, August 23 Against the requirement of 40 regular faculty members in arts, science and commerce disciplines, the college has just five teachers to cater to the needs of the students. The educational institution lacks permanent faculty in at least 11 key disciplines. In the absence of faculty in physics, 400 students had to go without classes for around 10 days recently. “We are afraid of fairing poorly in the annual examinations ahead. What is the point of having well-decorated classrooms when there are no skilled lecturers to teach us?” said Irshad Ahmad, a BA (II) student. A single lecturer in English teaches 3,500 students at the college. “Students of all three sections are forced to attend the English lecture in a single classroom. This makes the classroom noisy and unruly. Many students seated in the back rows fail to hear the lecture,” says Bilal Ahmad, a BSc (II) student. The college has hired three lecturers on contract but key disciplines like physics, chemistry, political science, mathematics, economics, sociology, Urdu and Persian do not have even a single regular lecturer. Science students are the worst hit as practical classes for chemistry, botany, zoology and physics are seldom held. “Just a few practical classes have been held in the past few months,” says student. Further, the college, established in 1988, has a lone non-teaching employee against five sanctioned posts. “Key posts of chief librarian, director (physical education), section officer and accountant are lying vacant for the past several years. The teaching faculty has to often double up as clerks,” says a senior professor. The college administration has been unable to introduce subjects like psychology, philosophy and English literature due to non-availability of teaching staff in these disciplines. The college also
lacks a playground, which has affected the performance of students in various disciplines. Acknowledging that the dearth of staff in the college was a cause for concern, Minister for Higher Education Abdul Gani Malik said: “We will hold a review meeting soon and make efforts to address the problem.” — Bilal Ahmad, a BSc (II) student — A senior professor |
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Complete probe within four weeks, HC tells SIT
Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service
Srinagar, August 23 On June 11, 2010, Tufail Mattoo, a teenager, was returning home from tuition when the police fired a teargas shell, which allegedly hit him near Gani Memorial College in old city, killing the teenager on the spot. Mattoo’s death had triggered a cycle of violence in the Valley. More than 120 persons were killed in subsequent firing by the police and security forces. As the case came up for hearing before Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir, the prosecution sought more time to complete the investigation, submitting that the SIT had got an “important breakthrough”. This was objected to by Qayoom, who claimed that the police had been delaying investigation into the case since 2010. He termed the “breakthrough” another ploy by the SIT as a “delaying tactics” aimed at “hushing up the case”. After hearing both sides, Justice Mansoor granted the SIT four weeks “to complete the investigation” into the case. Coming down heavily on the role played by the police in investigating the case, the High Court during its June-15 hearing had given the SIT two months to conclude its probe into the case. The court had observed that the trust of the people in the police had weakened due to the investigation carried out by the SIT into the case so far. These observations were made by the High Court after the SIT had submitted the forensic report obtained from the Forensic Science Laboratories, Chandigarh, which had ruled out any gunshot injury to the victim. Case history
On June 11, 2010, Tufail Mattoo, a teenager, was returning home from tuition when the police fired a teargas shell, which allegedly hit him near Gani Memorial College in old city, killing him on the spot. The High Court has come down heavily on the role played by the SIT investigating the case. |
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Shutdown in Shopian after clashes
Shopian, August 23 Reports said the hawkers allegedly harassed a girl who was on her way to a coaching centre. As soon as the news of the incident spread, local residents assembled at the spot and asked the hawkers to vacate the shops that they had taken on rent. “Clashes started when the police intervened after the hawkers approached it,” a source said. Fresh clashes were reported this morning between the police and local youths. “Almost all commercial establishments, schools and other places of work within the town remained shut throughout the day,” a source added. The locals demanded action against the erring people. The police, however, maintained that youths were reacting to rumours and that no such incident had taken place. “We held meetings with senior citizens as well as the traders’ federation of the town to clear the air. It was conveyed to the people that these were all rumours,” said Manzoor Ahmad, Shopian DSP (Headquarters). He further said the situation was under control.
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Faulty ATMs leave clients high & dry
Kupwara, August 23 While some machines lack cash, others remain out of order, causing discomfort to people. Much to the chagrin of clients, the machines regularly flash messages like “I am temporarily out of service” or “Sorry for the inconvenience. Please contact your bank”. “The ATM facility here isn’t of much help. More often than not, the machines remain out of order,” says Abdul Rashid, a resident of Kupwara town. Clients complained that most machines, especially those located near the bypass and the DC office, remained out of service in Kupwara during Eid. “After 1 pm, the ATM at the bypass developed a snag. As a result, clients had to return empty-handed. The ATM near the DC office also remained out of order,” said Asadullah, a trader. The residents also rue that services at most ATM are not available round the clock, as some ATMs remain closed after 7 pm. “Some ATMs do not dispense cash after 7 pm. What is the point in offering the facility when it is not available round the clock?” said Shabir Ahmad, a resident. The situation is no different in Handwara town. The service remains affected most of the time, putting people to inconvenience. “The machines either lack cash or develop some snag,” says Bashir Ganie, a Handwara resident. In emergency situations, they have to visit banks for withdrawal of cash, which is a cumbersome process. Abdul Ahad Dhobi, an ATM engineer with Kupwara bypass branch of JK Bank, said: “The branch ATM has to be replaced with a new one. The process is under way.” On the blink Clients complained that most machines, especially those located near the bypass and the DC office, remained out of service in Kupwara during Eid.
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Landslides block Sonamarg-Leh national highway
Srinagar, August 23 “The movement of vehicular traffic was suspended on the highway after multiple landslides blocked the road,” said a police official. The landslides between Bajri nullah and Zojila were triggered by heavy rain in the area around 6 pm yesterday. Reports suggested that the landslides had completely blocked the road and a large number of vehicles and passengers had been stranded. No report of any loss to life or property was received. “The Sonamarg police evacuated all passengers and drivers by shifting them to safer places,” said a police spokesperson. Official sources said the highway was expected to be reopened tomorrow. The highway is the only connecting link between Ladakh and Kashmir and remains closed for six months due to accumulation of heavy snow. Tough terrain
The road traverses through two major mountain ranges. It first crosses the Himalayas at Zojila and then the Zanskar range at Fatula to enter Ladakh. Zojila witnesses six metres of snow every year and the temperature goes down to -28 °C in winter. |
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Paibugh village nobody’s baby
Anantnag, August 23 The village falls between the municipal council of Anantnag and municipal committee of Mattan, both of which have refused to claim the village, leaving its residents in the lurch. Local residents say they have pleaded their case with the authorities concerned on numerous occasions and even approached the MLA concerned, but to no avail. “The village is a mess with no drainage system or a garbage dump. People have to make do without streetlights. Lack of hygiene is causing health problems to the residents,” says Irfan, a resident. “The foul smell emanating from the littered garbage causes a lot of discomfort to the residents and visitors. We have brought the matter to the notice of the authorities, but they say things will improve only after the
creation of new wards, as it will then clear the air on which municipality it will come under,” says Ijaz Ahmad Ganai, a local resident. The village residents say they are willing to pay for the work on improving the civic amenities, provided a civic body steps forward and claims the village. “Far-flung villages like Krangsoo have been listed with the Anantnag municipal council but our village, despite its close proximity to Anantnag town, is yet to be listed,” says Muhammad Saleem, another resident. Officials of the Anantnag and Mattan civic bodies remain noncommittal on taking charge of the village. “We cannot do anything as the village is outside our jurisdiction. It should be part of the Mattan municipal committee,” says an official of the Anantnag municipal council. An official of the Mattan municipal committee passed the buck to the Anantnag authorities for providing it with civic amenities. |
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2 commit suicide
Srinagar, August 23 The police said an 11-year-old girl, a resident of Cheek, Rambirpora, Kulgam, consumed some poisonous substance at her residence last evening. “She was shifted to the SMHS, Srinagar, where the doctors declared her dead on arrival,” a police spokesperson said. Another teenage girl, a resident of Wagoora, Baramulla, consumed a poisonous substance at her residence and was shifted to SKIMS, Soura. “The 15-year-old girl died on the way to the hospital,” the police spokesman said. In another incident, Gulzar Ahmad Chopan (22), a resident of Watergam, Baramulla, consumed some poisonous substance at his residence last night. — TNS |
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4 hurt in accidents
Srinagar, August 23 The police said a pedestrian, Mohammad Ishfaq Khatana, a resident of Lehan, Dajan, was injured in Anatnag district of south Kashmir when he was hit by an SUV on its way from Pahalgam to Aru. In another accident in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, a tipper collided with an Alto car at Gantamulla, resulting in injuries to Qaiser Shamus Paul, a resident of Kanlibagh, Baramulla. Also, a Maruti car (JK 05 A 3429) hit a horse-cart at Chandkote under the jurisdiction of the Tarzoo police station, Sopore, resulting in injuries to Afqa Jameel (13), a resident of Gantamulla, Baramulla. Haleema (38), a resident of Cherwani in Budgam district of central Kashmir, suffered injuries after she fell off a motorcycle.
— TNS |
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Rights body calls for talks
M Aamir Khan Tribune News Service
Srinagar, August 23 While addressing a press conference today, JKCHR (UK) general secretary Dr Syed Nazir Gilani said: “India and Pakistan need to resolve their conflicts through dialogue. We sincerely hope that India and Pakistan address the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir in equity.” Gilani said it was imperative that the state coordinated with PoK to advance work on self-determination and claimed that the incompetence of the state government did not allow it take decisions with regard to the resolution of the Kashmir issue. He said: “It is unfortunate that the Kashmiri leadership continues to show that it does not have a reliable understanding of their case. It had failed miserably to sensitise the constitutional roles of the two governments, one at Srinagar and other at Muzaffarbad. Our leaders have hardly encouraged a free debate and independent inputs seem to be lost in the wilderness.” Gilani said the state government was duly elected by the people of Kashmir. He said the separatist leaders had failed to convert the Hurriyat constitution adopted on July 31, 1993 into a reliable political and diplomatic narrative. Gilani said the people of Kashmir, despite having made unprecedented sacrifices, had failed to evolve a reliable political narrative. “We should assert our right to question the number, behaviours and location of the Indian security forces as stipulated in UN resolutions and the terms of the provisional bilateral agreement with the government of J&K under which these forces have entered the Valley.”
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Minister for dialogue to solve Kashmir issue
Srinagar, August 23 The minister said this while addressing a gathering of panches and sarpanches of Kulgam district at a one-day interaction programme. “We have been advocating the medium of dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve all issues. The history stands as a testament to the fact that various issues have been resolved through talks only. Violence leads to destruction,” said Mohammad Sagar. Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo urged the people to come forward and strengthen the hands of the government in ensuring their participatory role in day-to-day governance. She said the Panchayati Raj representatives were part and parcel of the government and they should not shy away from their responsibility in ensuring sustained development of their areas in close coordination with officers of various departments. MLA Kulgam and CPM state secretary MY Tarigami highlighted the importance of the Panchayati Raj system in ensuring sustained development of rural and far-flung areas of the state.
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Kupwara village in the dark since 1947
Kupwara, August 23 “We are forced to consume contaminated water from a nearby nullah. There has been no electricity in the village since 1947. To add to our woes, the village also lacks a healthcare facility,” said Haji Showkat Hussian Raina, sarpanch of the village. “The threat of outbreak of water-borne diseases looms large due to the consumption of contaminated water, particularly during the summer season. In July, we had to hospitalise four children in the district hospital due to severe intestinal infection. The authorities have ignored this village on all fronts,” said Jamal-u-din, a resident of the village. Many people have suffered from diseases like gastroenteritis, jaundice and hepatitis due to consumption of the contaminated water in the past. Residents of the village are still using primitive methods like burning
of wood to illuminate their houses. “Due to the use of age-old methods, many people, especially expectant mothers, are facing severe health problems. The prevalence of respiratory diseases is on the rise,” said another local resident. The sarpanch of the village alleged that they had made several visits to the Deputy Commissioner’s office for solar lights in the past three years but to
no avail. “The villagers have to travel 20 km to Kupwara to get first aid as the area does not have any healthcare centre,” said Shamas Din Raina. The village is inhabited by Pahari-speaking people and has a population of 300 people. Kupwara Deputy Commissioner Sarmad Hafeez said: “A healthcare centre will be set up in the village under a new health scheme. Electricity and drinking water facilities will also be ensured.” |
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Shukurudin shrine deputation meets Guv
Srinagar, August 23 The demands of the deputation included blacktopping of the road from Sangri Top to Baba Shukurudin shrine, augmentation of water supply and provision of uninterrupted power supply to the shrine and creation of infrastructure for the promotion of tourism in the area. The Governor gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured that he would facilitate an early resolution of the problems being faced by a large number of visitors to the centuries-old shrine.
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Yateem Foundation bags India NGO Award
Srinagar, August 23 The award was presented by the Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Ambika Soni, to JKYF patron Syed Abdul Hamid at a function organised at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The India NGO Award is a joint venture of the UK-based Resource Alliance India and US-based Rockefeller Foundation to reward the best non-governmental organisations to promote good standards and practices in resource mobilisation, accountability and transparency. The JKYF, since its inception in March 2000, has been running a series of state-level welfare programmes, which includes its flagship programme “Bait-ul-Hilal” (orphanage) at Jawahar Nagar and Chawalgam in Kulgam district. Other programmes run by the JKYF include vocational training centres, distribution of relief among non-Muslims, providing medical aid and emergency relief.
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Hardliners oppose rehab move for refugees
Srinagar, August 23 Geelani threatened the government with dire consequences if the refugees were granted the state subject status. The state Congress delegation led by JK PCC Chief Saifuddin Soz in their meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Wednesday had demanded setting up of a high-powered committee to rehabilitate people affected due to the Partition of 1947 and Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. Hurriyat termed the proposed Congress move of granting citizenship rights to the refugees unjustified. “J&K is a disputed territory and settlement of these refugees will alter its status,” said a Hurriyat spokesperson. “This step will also lead to drastic changes in the demography of the state. The Congress politicians of J&K have raked up this issue only to exploit their shrinking vote, which is in danger due to the rise of Hindu extremist elements in Jammu,” he said. “By seeking the state subject status for these people, the Congress is playing with fire. Hurriyat has no enmity with the refugees. However, this issue can be settled only after the Kashmir dispute is resolved,” he said. “If around 22,000 refugees had arrived in J&K from Pakistan, then around 15 lakh J&K Muslims were forced to migrate to Pakistan after 1947. When the time arrives, all these issues will be settled amicably,” the hardliner Hurriyat leader said. “It is better if these issues are not raked up at this moment,” said the spokesperson, adding that it was another attempt to change the demography of the state.
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Powerman electrocuted
Kupwara, August 23 He was shifted to the District Hospital, Handwara, where doctors declared him brought dead. The victim’s body was handed over to his family members for the last rites. He is survived by three daughters and four sons. A pall of gloom descended on the village when
his body reached the village. The police has registered a case. |
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Throwball championship gets under way
Srinagar, August 23 The three-day championship is being organised by the J&K Throwball Association in collaboration with the Throwball Federation of India. The minister said the sportspersons of the state did not have ample opportunities to participate in the national-level and state-level sports events due to the past two decades of turmoil. “The state government with financial assistance from the Union Government is upgrading the sports infrastructure for providing better facilities to the players,” he said. Chib said it was due to the efforts of present government and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Makan that various mega sporting events had been held in the state, providing an opportunity of interaction and exposure to the local players.
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The future of around 3,500 students enrolled with the Degree College, Kupwara, is at stake due to an acute shortage of regular teaching staff.
Srinagar, August 23
Srinagar, August 23
Contrary to tall claims made by the government of providing basic amenities to the people of the Valley, Safawali village, 20 km from Kupwara town, is devoid of electricity, water supply and healthcare facilities. Local residents have been suffering due to lack of basic amenities.
