Srinagar, November 17
Residents of the city received respite from freezing cold with the minimum temperature remaining above zero degree mark. However, the weather department has predicted snow and rain over mountains around the Valley by Sunday morning.

In Srinagar, the minimum temperature was recorded at 0.6 degrees Celsius, an increase of over one degree from the last night. It is for the first time in the past three nights that the mercury around the city has not fallen below the freezing point.

The day temperature in the city was recorded at 14.2 degrees Celsius, an official of the Meteorological Department said.

In Leh town of remote Ladakh region, mercury fell by over 10 degrees below the freezing point, which meant a slightly warmer night from the previous one when the minimum temperature slipped to minus 11.6 degrees Celsius. The day temperature in Leh was 11.6 degrees Celsius.

In the adjoining Kargil district in Ladakh region, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 5 degrees Celsius, the official said. The maximum temperature in Kargil was recorded at 10.8 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature in Ladakh region usually hovers many degrees below the freezing point in winter months sometimes falling down to minus 20 degrees Celsius. The region remains cut off from rest of the state as heavy snow along the Srinagar-Leh road shuts the access to the mountainous Ladakh.

The administration here has ordered restrictions on movement of vehicles on the Kargil-Zanskar, Srinagar-Zojila-Kargil, Kupwara-Machil, Kupwara-Tangdhar and Bandipora-Gurez roads for two days from today as a precautionary measure in view of snow forecast.

In Gulmarg resort of north Kashmir, the night temperature fell to minus 1.3 degrees Celsius while Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir recorded minus 2.9 degrees Celsius during the night.

The frontier Kupwara town in north Kashmir also recorded a warmer night with mercury falling to 2.9 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature in the south Kashmir’s Qazigund town was recorded at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, the official said.

Kashmir valley is gearing up for a harsh winter, which is set to officially begin next month. Residents have already switched to their winter wear to escape the shivering evening cold.

The Meteorological Department has also issued a forecast of snow and rain in the mountainous areas of Kashmir and Ladakh region, which will begin anytime around Saturday evening.

The Met official said so far there were no reports of snowfall or rain from any of their observatories across the region.

Srinagar, November 17
Power schedules in most of the residential areas of the city have gone haywire with temperatures slipping several notches below the normal, leading to resentment among people especially the ones residing in metered areas.

With night temperatures even touching sub-zero levels, dependence on electricity becomes manifold, and as such the Power Development Department (PDD) constantly revises its electricity schedule and inform the consumers of any changes. But the current power supply being generated is not as per the notified schedules, causing resentment among people in many areas of uptown including Chanapora,Hyderpora, Natipora and Rawalpora and downtown areas of Zaina Kadal, Haba Kadal, Safa Kadal, Fateh Kadal etc.

Most of these areas where electronic meters have been installed and people pay according to the electricity consumed are being provided with a total power supply of 5-6 hours daily, in alleged violation of the schedules of the PDD with weekly offs (5am to 8 am), (6pm to 10pm), (8am to 6pm) and a night cut once a week (10pm to 5am).

“These schedules are merely eyewashes. For the past four days, there is no trace of electricity in our area, which is proving hard in these harsh winters. Although, we are compelled to pay money for the amount of electricity we use, even then the PDD doesn’t stick to its own schedules, causing inconvenience to people,” said Jaffer Saleem, a resident of Chanapora.

People say there is hardly power supply for 3-4 hours at a stretch in any locality, which even gets worse due to low voltage.

On the other hand, PDD says during winters people use electric heaters and blankets that puts a lot of pressure on supply feeders.

“We are already facing a deficit of more than 300 MW of power in terms of demand and supply. The supply of power to the Valley varies between 1,000 and 1,100 MW, whereas the demand is 1,400 MW. As such curtailments become necessary,” said an official of the PDD.

Srinagar, November 17
Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani has called for a shutdown on Monday against a judgment of the Srinagar High Court. The high court had dismissed the release petition of separatist leader Ashiq Hussain Faktoo, who remains in jail for the past 20 years serving a life sentence.

Geelani said the court judgment, which dismissed the release plea of Faktoo, was a “political vendetta” which was scripted by the Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The judgment has been dictated by Omar Abdullah, it is the worst kind of political vendetta,” Geelani alleged while addressing a press conference at his Hyderpora residence.

Geelani, who was accompanied by Asiya Andrabi, Faktoo’s wife and leader of women separatist group Dukhtaraan-e-Millat, criticised the courts here as having “failed to deliver justice” within the “boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir”.

Geelani while calling for a complete shutdown on Monday across Kashmir region and in Doda, Poonch, Rajouri districts of Jammu division against the court judgment, said the strike would be the beginning of a campaign. He said the judgment would also affect the jail terms of at least 19 other TADA convicts.

The hardline Hurriyat leader said the court judgment was a proof that “courts here are subservient to government” in the state.

Andrabi said her husband was acquitted by a TADA court seven years after he was arrested in 1993, but was later convicted by “Indian Supreme Court” on the basis of a “confessional statement recorded during interrogation.”

Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking Faktoo’s release on the ground that he had already served life imprisonment in a murder case of human rights activist HN Wanchoo in which he had been convicted of being a conspirator.“Life imprisonment means conviction for whole life and not for 20 years,” Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir said in the judgment while ruling against the release of Faktoo. 

Srinagar, November 17
Moderate faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference on Saturday said the High Court judgment dismissing the release petition of Muslim League leader Ashiq Hussain Faktoo was based on government directions.

“It seems the High Court is bound by government’s instructions and advice on this judgment and this judgment proves that the court instead of upholding justice is giving more credence to political pressure,” a spokesman of the Hurriyat faction said.

Meanwhile, separatist leader from the moderate camp Nayeem Ahmad Khan in a statement said the rejection of the petition was a “cruel and politically motivated decision and violation of human rights”.

“For more than a month, the High Court reserved its decision and finally it announced that Dr Qasim has to remain in jail until his death. (It) proves that during this time the court was busy in consulting the so called government agencies and New Delhi,” Khan said.

Khan said the court order had also closed the doors for release of other prisoners including Ghulam Qadir Bhat, Noor Mohammad Tantray, Mohammad Iqbal Jan, Feroz Ahmad Bhat, Mohammad Ayoub Dar, Mohammad Ayoub Mir, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, Engineer Farooq, Mohammad Amin Dar, Mohammad Hussain, Mushtaq Ahmad Kaloo and Dr Shafi Sharyati.

“Local judiciary has now openly started to oblige the oppressors and even its decisions injure the human sentiment as well,” Khan said.

Srinagar, November 17
Internationally acclaimed scientist and Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Dr Srikumar Banerjee said the university would be developed on the pattern of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).

“The Central Universities have been established on the pattern of IITs and IIMs in order to provide better education to those wishing to pursue higher studies,” he said on his maiden visit to the university’s transit campus in Srinagar on Thursday after being appointed Chancellor of CUK by the President of India.

Dr Banerjee said unique ‘architecture’ prevalent in Kashmir valley should be aptly utilised for establishment of the main university campus in Ganderbal area of the central Kashmir. “Creating a brand image is very important and that is possible only through linking with reputed institutions. We should take a cue from the success of IITs and IIMs in our country,” said Dr Banerjee.

“You should provide a good platform to local youths and students from other states to become excellent professionals in order to fill the vacuum existing in different fields,” he said while asking the faculty members, research scholars and students to give their valuable inputs about future planning and roadmap of the university. “The faculty and students should also contribute immensely towards the growth and development of the institution,” he said.

Welcoming the Chancellor, CUK Vice Chancellor Prof Abdul Wahid gave a brief account of the activities of the university and its future plans. He said the varsity was presently offering 10 different courses to students who were selected through All-India level entrance examination (CUCET-2012).

Prof Wahid said the university had appointed the faculty after strictly following the UGC guidelines. He said the university would add more courses in coming years and construction work on the campus at Ganderbal would start soon.

Srinagar, November 17
A faction of the separatist Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) on Saturday said the talks between India and Pakistan were insignificant until the Kashmiri leadership was not taken into the confidence vis-à-vis the Kashmir issue.

Javaid Mir, who heads a faction of the JKLF, also said the bilateral talks between the countries will bear no fruits if the meaningful measures were not taken by all sides.

“The bilateral talks will be of no significance if the Kashmiri leadership is not taken into confidence from both the countries,” Mir said.

He said the talks held earlier have failed to bring a fruitful result-oriented solution. He urged India and Pakistan to come up with a meaningful process that will look at all aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“These so called ‘confidence building measures’ will bear no fruits without taking meaningful measures from all parties involved in the process,” he said.

Mir also urged the moderate Hurriyat Conference to consult the pro-freedom leadership before embarking on the Pakistan visit. Several key leaders of the moderate Hurriyat are scheduled to visit Pakistan in mid-December.

Srinagar, November 17
The University of Kashmir gave some brilliant performances and bagged top positions in the cultural procession and literary events at the 28th North Zone Inter-University Youth Festival, Guldasta 2012. The festival was organised by the Association of Indian Universities at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

A team comprising 36 students led by Shahid Ali Khan, cultural officer, University of Kashmir, participated in debate, elocution, quiz, poster making, spot photography, collage making, painting, clay modeling, rangoli and cartoon competitions at the festival. As many as 900 students from different universities of north India participated in the event.

The KU team won the first position in the overall cultural procession, Mohammad Shahkar Wani of the university won second position in elocution competition and a team of Owais Bashir, Abdul Basit and Muniza Manzoor bagged first position in quiz competition, while as in the spot photography competition Janbaz Rahil bagged the third prize.

The Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof Talat Ahamd; Registrar, Prof. Zaffar Ahmad Reshi and Dean Student’s Welfare, Prof. Neelofer Khan, congratulated the team and appreciated the work of the Department of Students Welfare.

Prof Talat wished the team good luck for the upcoming 28th All India Level National Youth Festival being organised by the Association of Indian Universities in Kalyani University, West Bengal, in February 2013. Around 1200 students from 70 Universities across India are expected to participate in this mega festival.

On the brilliant performance of the team, incharge KU Team and cultural officer Shahid Ali Khan said, "This was the outcome of Sonzal 2012. Around 700 youth from various colleges and departments participated in the Sonzal 2012 this year and 36 students were selected for the north zone festival. And now we have also qualified the nationals.”

Anantnag, November 17
Senior National Conference (NC) leader and Parliament member, Dr Mehboob Beg, today said all the political prisoners of Jammu and Kashmir should be released and a round of negotiation should be held with them.

In an interaction with the media personnel at the sidelines of a function here in Anantnag, Beg when asked about the judgment awarded to Dr Qasim Faktoo, said that he could not comment on the matter as it was sub judice.

“I am of the opinion that all the political prisoners should be released and brought to the negotiating table,” Dr Beg said.

Asserting that keeping the prisoners behind the bars is not a long-term and viable solution, Beg said, “We should release all of them and talk to them. They should be at least given a chance to say whatever they want to.”

He said “Our party is of the opinion that a Parliamentary Committee should be formed and it should hold a talkto these prisoners to find a long-term solution to the issue.

It will be pertinent to mention that the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had dismissed the petition of Muslim League Chairman, Dr Qasim Faktoo, seeking his release on November15.

“Our party is committed to curb the menace of corruption in the state and I am of the view that every politician should be made accountable,” he stated.

He said that even Taj Mohiuddin is ready to face any kind of probe and investigation. “There are some loop holes in the system and the civil society is expected to come forward and help the government to curb the menace of corruption,” Beg said. 

Srinagar, November 17
Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said his party has emerged not just as a credible governance alternative but it has been able to change substantially the resolution narrative on Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a public meeting in Arkicheck Rajpora constituency of Pulwama district on Saturday, he said the PDP has represented a new thought process on resolution of the Kashmir problem, away from hard line rhetoric and emotional approach.

“The entire state was facing acute problems on account of rampant corruption, misgovernance and political bankruptcy of rulers. The government had singled out areas represented by opposition for maltreatment. The planning process had been subverted and the Chief Minister was utilising plan funds as if it was his discretionary grant,” he added.

"This situation will change if people of all areas use their vote properly. Residents of Pulwama and Shopian districts made good use of their rights in the last elections and brought back all the PDP candidates," Mufti said.

“The arrival of the PDP on the political scene had spurred an unprecedented activity towards resolution of a problem that had defied a solution for six decades and cost many generations their peace, life and economy. The party instead of following the hawks on either side had developed a new theme and road map that anchored the friendship between India and Pakistan, which should provide its own legitimate space to the state for growth, economic emancipation and unrestricted political rights,” Mufti said.

The PDP patron recalled that this approach had produced extremely positive results between 2003 and 2005 and set off a process of peace that could by now have matured into resolution if it had been pursued with same vigour and sincerity of the purpose. 

Jammu, November 17
The Sainik Colony Football Club and the Young Tiger Football Club emerged victorious in the junior and sub-junior football league ties played at the GGM Science College ground here.

In the junior league tie, the Sainik Colony had the last laugh against the Param Football Club (Param FC) by a solitary goal which was scored by Niteshwar Singh.

The sub-junior league trophy was won by the Young Tigers, who defeated Christian Star-B by 2-1 goals. Nitin Heer made the first goal for the Young Tigers in the 4th minute but the lead was equalised by the Christian Star through Flavious Gill in the 10th minute.

It was Ishan Gupta who scored the most crucial goal for the Young Tigers in the 45th minute of the match. The matches were officiated by Koushal Sharma, Vijay Kumar, Vinay Mooman, Harneel Singh and Harmanjeet Singh.

In the prize distribution function, MLA Bimla Luthra was the chief guest, who gave away trophies to the winning and the runner-up teams.

She also announced an aid of Rs 1 lakh to the Jammu wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) for the promotion of the game at the grass-roots level. Treasurer of JKFA RK Kohli, former MLC SM Gill, Fiestus Sotra, Ramesh Chander, Iliaza Sotra and Rajesh Kumar, who are all executive members of the JKFA Jammu wing, were present on the occasion.

Jammu, November 17
The Naval Wing Cadets of the state NCC Directorate bagged 24 medals, including 13 gold and 11 bronze, besides winning a rolling trophy in the recently concluded All India Nau Sainik Competition held at Visakhapatnam.

The J&K Naval Contingent comprised 20 boys and 10 girl cadets from the Government Degree College (GDC), Kathua; GDC, Samba; MAM College; SPMR College; GCW, Gandhi Nagar; GDC, Doda; Amar Singh College and the Islamia College from Srinagar. Boys’ boat pulling and ship modelling teams clinched bronze medals.

Major General NS Jamwal, Additional Director General, NCC Directorate, felicitated the cadets for their excellent performance. He said considering the limitation of the water bodies in the state to conduct training, the performance of the contingent had been commendable.

Earlier, the contingent underwent a tailored training schedule to achieve the required standards to compete at the national level. The training was undertaken with an aim to achieve the desired standards in boat pulling, swimming, ship modelling, drill, semaphore, naval academics, firing and cultural aspects. The cadets were taken to Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh and trained in sailing and pulling in the Gobind Sagar Lake for a distance of 450 km over a period of 10 days. Cadets were also imparted training in swimming at the Army Swimming Pool, Nagrota.