Anantnag, Oct 19
A 25-year-old boy committed suicide at his residence in Khushroi Kalan village of Srigufwara area in Bijbehara here on Friday.

Police reports said the 25-year-old was identified as Asif Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Muhammad Bhat.

“The boy consumed some poisonous substance at his home and was immediately shifted to the district hospital in Anantnag town,” said police reports. They further said the boy breathed his last while under treatment at the hospital.

The police in Srigufwara area has registered a case and has initiated an investigation.

“Nothing can be said about the causes that drove this boy to take the extreme step; however, investigations are on and we will hopefully come to know of the reasons,” said a police officer. 

Srinagar, October 19
Mehran Lateef was four years old when in 2008, he went to play in the courtyard of his house in Srinagar’s Habba Kadal locality and went missing. Four years and five months on, Mehran is still listed as "missing".

The case had hit the headlines in the summer of 2008 when the boy went missing from outside his house. Even after days of searching, Mehran could not be traced.

Mehran’s tragic disappearance more than four years ago on May 13, 2008, had saddened many in Kashmir, but as years went by, the story of the missing boy too got lost.

“He had come from school and was being fed lunch by his mother when he went out to play in the courtyard. Within minutes, when his mother went to see him, Mehran was not there,” the boy’s maternal uncle Rouf Ahmad said.

Despite announcement of reward for information leading to Mehran, and hectic search of the empty house and drains, police has no clue.

A senior police officer said the missing boy’s case was complicated by false information provided by people. “This happens everywhere, but more so in Kashmir- People report that they have seen a missing person here or there,” the officer said. The case is now being investigated by the state police’s Crime Branch.

Anantnag, October 19
Shopkeepers, locals as well as commuters have a harrying time in Kulgam town. The business fraternity and other residents find the roads in the town too narrow.

The locals say after Kulgam recently became a district, traffic in the town has increased manifold and the business is brisk; however, the narrow roads remain a cause of concern.

“Traffic jams have become so frequent that it never takes less than half an hour to cross the market of Kulgam town,” said Zahid, a local.

Shopkeepers say they cannot do their business properly because of the messy traffic jams. “Locals are getting more and more reluctant when it comes to shopping in the town because there is no parking space whatsoever. If one parks a car on the roadside, traffic gets blocked within minutes,” said Nisar Ahmad, a shopkeeper.

Moreover, shopkeepers say that they cannot get their goods unloaded during the day because of the problem.

Patients too suffer. “The fruit mandi of the town is in close proximity to the hospital and these days, the fruit mandi is the busiest. The narrow road hinders free traffic flow in the vicinity of the hospital,” said a medical shop owner.

Residents added that the administration is doing nothing to set things in order. “We do not demand overnight widening of the roads; however, there are certain steps the administration can take,” adds a local.

He says a bus stand worth crores of rupees was constructed outside the market area, but the transport fraternity has refused to move there. “They keep their vehicles on the road, worsening the situation further,” said another local.

The district administration maintains corrective steps are being taken.

“We have sealed off the two old bus stands in the town and converted them into private parking lots. This will ease the parking crunch, and the transporters will have no choice but to use the new bus stand,” said Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, Jahangir Mir. 

Srinagar, October 19
While J&K government claims that it has taken many steps to equip the hospitals with latest technology, the premier health institute- Bone and Joints Hospital Srinagar- is operating without a digital X-ray causing serious inconvenience to both patients as well as the doctors.

The doctors at the hospital claim that in the absence of digital X-ray facility, they were not able to diagnose trauma cases quickly.

"The X-rays are basic thing for diagnosis in every trauma case and we suggest the patients to get a digital X- ray done outside the hospital so that we start treating patients immediately,” said a doctor at the hospital.

“Though we have machines available for the X-rays in the hospital, they show poor results,” he said.

Many patients, including the road accident victims, could be seen moving on wheelchairs for getting digital X-rays outside the hospital.

“The government makes tall claims about equipping the hospitals, but it has not been able to provide digital X-ray machines to the hospital where it is required most. The X-ray machines that are presently installed in the hospital have lived their life and government without wasting any time should procure digital X-ray machines for the hospital,” said Showkat Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar, whose mother was admitted in the hospital.

“The hospital provides accident and emergency care to the patients involved in accidents and other types of trauma and so the need to equip the hospital with latest machines is more,” he said.

The Bone and Joints Hospital is an associated hospital of the Government Medical College and is officially a 125 Bed Hospital.

The Hospital provides specialist care for all Bone and Joint disorders and procedures. Around 400 patients are examined in the Out Patient Department (OPD) of the hospital and at an average out of which 25- 30 patients are admitted.

The Principal of the GMC, Srinagar, Professor Rafiq Pampori, said: “The hospital would be provided with a digital X-ray machine soon.”

“It is not only the X-ray, but many other latest types of equipment and machines will also be provided to the hospital. They are under the active consideration of thegovernment,” said Pampori.

The X-rays are basic thing for diagnosis in every trauma case and we suggest the patients to get a digital X- ray done outside the hospital so that we start treating patients immediately
—Doctor, Bone and Joints Hospital Srinagar

The government makes tall claims about equipping the hospitals, but it has not been able to provide digital X-ray machines to the hospital where it is required most. The X-ray machines that are presently installed in the hospital have lived their life and government without wasting any time should procure digital X-ray machines for the hospital
—Showkat Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar

It is not only the X-ray, but many other latest types of equipment and machines will also be provided to the hospital. They are under the active consideration of the government
—Professor Rafiq Pampori, Principal, GMCH, Srinagar

Srinagar, October 19
In wake of the Eid-ul-Adha festival, government employees of the state will receive this month's salaries on October 25, said an official spokesperson.

"State's Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather today issued orders to pay the salary for the current month to the non-move employees of the state on October 25," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson said, "The decision has been taken in view of ensuing Eid-ul-Azha festival, which will be celebrated on October 27."

Srinagar, October 19
Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the progress of the University of Kashmir at its council meeting here today.

The Governor and the Chief Minister reiterated the necessity of making educational institutions centres of diverse studies, adding that foreign languages like Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, French and German needs to be introduced in the Universities to create avenues of employment for the youth of the State within and outside the country.

In his address, the Governor, who is Chancellor of the University, stressed on the importance of placement programmes, visited by leading business houses to pick up bright pass outs of the university for attractive job offers, could be held on a collective basis between two or more universities and institutions of higher learning so that the potential employers could pick up a much larger number candidates.

He said the leading industrial houses should be approached to help in organising orientation courses for the students to upgrade their skills as per the requirements of the potential employers.

The Governor, while appreciating the MoUs entered into by the university with the various institutions within and outside the state, urged the Vice-Chancellor to explore the possibility of entering into similar kind of arrangements with the corporate sector so that the students passing out could be suitably exposed to better job prospects.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasised on the introduction of market oriented subjects in the higher educational institutions asking the universities to play an important role in creating skilled human resource which could get easily absorbed in the job market.

Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, dwelt on the status of various ongoing research projects and those in the pipeline, achievements of the university in varied fields since the last meeting of the council.

Abdul Gani Malik, Minister for Higher Education, put forth various suggestions for improving the quality of teaching and research on sustainable basis and making the universities and other institutions of higher education in the state, the centres of excellence.

Others who attended included MPS Ishar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu; RP Aggarwal, former Secretary, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development; MI Khandey, Principal Secretary, Finance; Navin K Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Gazzanfar Hussain, Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education; and S Fayyaz Ahmad, Registrar, University of Kashmir.

Srinagar, October 19
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that the much awaited state's own cultural exchange centre, Tehzeeb Mahal, would soon be a reality with its construction work being handed over to the J&K Project Construction Corporation Ltd (JKPCC).

Omar was speaking on the inaugural ceremony of the Kashmir Centre of Indian Council for Cultural relations (ICCR) at Brein, Nishat, on the banks of Dal Lake .

The idea of setting up of an indigenous arts and culture centre in the state was perceived by the Kashmir's late political figure, Shiekh Muhammad Abdullah, which was caught up among many fixes, the latest being a standoff between State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) employees who were against the establishment of Tehzeeb Mahal in the city centre (Tourist Reception Centre) where their office was located.

He said the government has approved construction of Tehzeeb Mahal and JKPCC has been asked to start the construction work of the complex which would serve home for artists to nurture various forms of art and culture. 

Srinagar, October 19
Even as Kashmir received a windfall of tourists this year, more than 30 lakh people have so for visited historic Mughal gardens in Srinagar so far.

This figure includes total number of locals, foreign as well as domestic tourists who visited the Mughal gardens namely- Nishat, Shalimar, Harwan and Cheshma Shahi (Royal Springs) gardens.

The figure was revealed by the director of the floriculture department, while briefing the minister for horticulture & floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma, who today visited the Mughal gardens to take a review of the ongoing renovation work.

“Director Floriculture Sunil Misri informed that till date over 30 lakh people from across the world have visited the Mughal gardens and department has generated Rs 2.59 crore as revenue out of the entry fee and other sources’,” said a spokesperson.

“He said the department has also earned revenue of Rs 38.25 lakh, exclusively from the Tulip Garden during the current year as against Rs 32 lakh during the previous year,” said the spokesperson.

On this occasion, the spokesperson said, Sharma asked the authorities to speed up the renovation work of Mughal Hamam in Shalimar Garden.

“He issued specific instructions for speeding up the renovation work of Mughal Hamam in Shalimar Garden and directed for restoring the original glory of this rare monument,” he said.

He said that minister took complete round of all the gardens and directed the officers to undertake fresh face lifting of these gardens as they serve as a major source of attraction for the visitors from across the globe.

At Tulip Garden, the minister directed the officers to add more area for the tulip cultivation with additional varieties of the tulips for next year to attract maximum visitors to the Tulip Garden only.

“He directed for formulation of a well-knit plan to develop the tulip bulbs locally to make the venture self-sustained. He also witnessed the sowing process of tulip bulbs which is presently being carried out in the garden,” he said.

Srinagar, October 19
A three-day water sports festival, Jashn-e-Dal, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Police concluded today at the city’s famous Dal Lake.

The water sports events - which were being played at the Dal Lake - included water polo, kayak and canoeing, swimming, Shikara boat race, dragon boat race, demb boat race and open marathon shikara race, said an official spokesperson.

Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad addressed the closing ceremony of the Jashn-e-Dal festival.

DGP Prasad said the Jammu and Kashmir Police have always remained on forefront in polishing the talent of the youth in sports arena.

He said that Civic Action Programme has been introduced by the police department with the aim to provide benefits to the civil society by undertaking different activities.

The Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Armed, K Rajendra Kumar, also spoke on the closing ceremony of the festival

“DGP Prasad distributed prizes among the winners in different disciplines. He congratulated the winners and asked the participants to continue their efforts to earn a good name for the state at national level competitions,” said the spokesperson.

Srinagar, October 19
The Centre of Central Asian Studies (CCAS), University of Kashmir, organised a three-day national seminar on 'India and Central Asia: Perspectives on Bilateral and Regional Co-operation' in collaboration with Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Chandigarh.

This is the first time in the history of CCAS that the centre has organised a seminar jointly with one of the prestigious research institutes of India. Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Vice-President of India, was chief guest on the occasion. S Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab, was guest of honour, while TKA Nair, Advisor to Prime Minister, was the distinguished guest.

While inaugurating the seminar, Ansari stressed on the Indian interests in central Asia and highlighted various possibilities for regional co-operation among the countries of the region through which all stakeholders will be benefitted.

Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab while thanking the two host institutions for organising the seminar, offered various equations through which India, in general, and Punjab in particular, can revive the trade with central Asia. Professor GM Mir, Director, ASC, who is representing CCAS at the seminar, welcomed the guests and briefed the participants about the academic profile of the centre.