Srinagar, December 7
Police on Friday foiled a protest march of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and detained several separatists including the group’s chairman Yasin Malik, who were demonstrating against the life sentences pronounced against several militants.

The protest march to the city’s main commercial heartland Lal Chowk began from the adjacent Maisuma neighbourhood, which houses the headquarters of JKLF, and is part of a series of protests called by the front against sentencing of militants. Nearly 100 JKLF members and supporters were part of the march.

Policemen with riot gear intercepted the marchers, stopped them from leaving the neighbourhood and burst tear smoke and pepper-gas canisters to disperse the protesters.

Malik and some other party members were taken to a nearby police station where they were detained. A police official confirmed Malik and two of his associates have been detained.

The JKLF spokesman said six separatists including Malik and Javed Ahmad Mir who heads another faction of JKLF were among those detained.

Srinagar, December 7
After tightening noose around the offices of high profile bureaucrats and police stations in the city, the Power Development Department (PDD) has come down hard on Kashmir University for not paying its power tariff for the last three years.

PDD’s official sources said the total tariff, which was to be paid by the varsity, amounts to Rs 1.5 crore for the past three years. The PDD even snapped the power supply of the university for a day during the last week.

KU administrative officials said the power-cut was shocking as it had happened for the first time so far as the varsity was concerned.

“The varsity, in routine, receives uninterrupted power supply, but the one-day power-cut last week was unusual. Later, it was found that PDD officials had visited the campus and issued stringent warning to the authorities, saying either they should pay the pending bills or facing load shedding,” an official source said.

Meanwhile, work in the varsity was interrupted due to power snapping, especially in the laboratories, where chemicals’ storage is said to require uninterrupted power supply. The classrooms and staffrooms witnessed thin attendance due to poor lighting and heating arrangements in absence of power supply.

The varsity, which is already reeling under huge financial burden, has come under severe criticism from the state government and even Chancellor and Governor NN Vohra for failing to make use of adequate budgetary allocations, especially in terms of upgrading its basic amenities.

“Non-payment of bills is just the tip of the iceberg of the financial crisis which the university is facing. For the past many years, the university has continuously ignored the basic budgetary expenses which is now taking a toll,” an official said on condition of anonymity.

Registrar Prof Zaffar Reshi denied the claims of the PDD. He said the varsity has separate funds for paying the electricity bills, which were paid on time.

He said the power snapping could be due to some technical reasons as Naseem Bagh campus of the varsity received power supply on that day.

Srinagar, December 7
The weather in Kashmir valley, which is already shivering in cold with night temperature consistently falling below the freezing point, will get “very cold” in the coming days, the state Meteorological department said on Friday.

The Meteorological department said the forecast for the next 24 hours suggests the weather will be “very cold” and light rainfall and snow would fall at isolated places in the state.

In the city here, which witnessed a cloudy and foggy day, the maximum temperature fell to its lowest in this season so far as the mercury could only go up to 7.4 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in the city overnight had fallen to minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, an official of the weather department said.

In Gulmarg resort in North Kashmir, the minimum temperature overnight fell

to minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, the official said; at Pahalgam resort in South Kashmir, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 2 degrees Celsius.

In Leh town of remote Ladakh region, the mercury overnight fell to a freezing minus 11.6 degrees Celsius and the day temperature there rose to a meagre 2 degrees Celsius.

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

Kashmir valley is gearing up for a harsh winter which is set to begin two weeks later when 'Chillai Kalaan' - a 40-day long harshest phase of the winter - begins.

The minimum temperature in frontier Kupwara town in North Kashmir was recorded at minus 2.1 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature in south Kashmir’s Qazigund town was recorded at minus 2 degrees Celsius, the official said. 

Srinagar, December 7
An attestation-cum-passing-out parade was held today at the Border Security Force (BSF) Subsidiary Training Centre (STC), Humhama, on the outskirts of the city.

“A total of 365 constables took oath to serve the motherland. Minister for Technical Education RS Chib took salute at the parade,” a BSF spokesman said.

“The 365 trainees successfully completed 38 weeks of rigorous basic training in the field of engineering, field craft, minor tactics, anti-terrorism, counter-insurgency, commando operations and respect for human rights,” he said.

The training centre, Srinagar, was established in June 1990 to impart basic training to recruits. Chib congratulated the constables and wished them good luck for the future. The parade was commanded by constable Nitin Giri.

The minister also gave away medals for all-round best performance to constable Mohammad Mehboob Alam and constable Jagannath Pathak. The best shoot medal was conferred to constable Yashwant Singh and constable Jitender Kumar. The best in physical endurance medal was conferred to constable Sonu Kumar and constable Rahul Kumar.

Anantnag, December 7
The absence of a Government Degree College in Pahalgam tehsil has turned a major impediment for students belonging to economically weaker sections when it comes to pursuing their careers.

Students rue that while the Valley got more than 20 new degree colleges sanctioned in the last few years, their tehsil is still pining for one.

“Almost every tehsil in Anantnag district has a government degree college, but our tehsil has been ignored for unknown reasons,” said Muhammad Abid, a student.

Locals said the nearest degree college for the students of Pahalgam was at a distance of 45 km. “The worst sufferers are the students from the adjoining villages of Pahalgam, who travel to Pahalgam first and then board another bus to Anantnag or Bijbehara degree colleges,” said Reyaz Ahmad, a local.

He said the authorities are clearly non-serious about education in the area as a large number of students, who are unable to bear the expenditure, leave their studies after Class XII.

“Another hurdle is the time consumption factor. It takes more than two hours for the students to reach a college in Anantnag and the situation worsens during winters,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a graduation student.

Students are of the opinion that their area has been deliberately neglected by the authorities.

“Kokernag area has got two degree colleges sanctioned; one in Kokernag and another in Larnoo, and the irony is that we don’t have even one,” said Uzair, a Class X student, who is contemplating quitting studies after Class XII.

Meanwhile, Pahalgam MLA Rafi Ahmad Mir said he had made an appeal to the authorities concerned. “A survey has been done and the authorities have come up with the assurance that a degree college in Pahalgam is feasible and will thus be sanctioned soon,” the MLA said.

Srinagar, December 7
The Kashmir valley-based postmaster has been selected to receive special training abroad after getting best performance award in postal services.

“Mushtaq Ahmed, a postmaster of Baramulla head post office, has been selected at All India-Level for his consistent work in the post office. This is for the first time that a Kashmiri has got the best performance award,” said John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, J&K circle.

He said Mushtaq would be sent for one-week training programme at the Asia Pacific Postal College in Bangkok, Thailand, later this month. “This is for the first time in the history of J&K postal service that any staffer is being deputed abroad for training,” he said.

When asked about the selection criteria, Samuel said, “The selection is done at the national level. Earlier, a woman of our department from Rajouri had won the Meghdoot award.”

Stating that the J&K circle has been showing consistent growth in the mail and financial services, he said all the post offices of Srinagar and Jammu would get modernised by March. The department, under its post office transformation drive, has already modernised several post offices across the state.

Samuel said the department’s revenue had increased by 42 per cent in the first half of the current financial year while the Department of Posts (DoP) had earlier witnessed more than 100 per cent increase in the parcel business.

The department, according to Samuel, was currently receiving parcels weighing 10 to 12 tonnes on a daily basis as compared to five tonnes earlier.

Due to the heavy flow of parcels, the department had started evening parcel services for the benefit of the business community last month and Srinagar had become the first Indian city to get evening parcel services, he said.

Anantnag, December 7
Daily commuters shuttling from Lal Chowk to Pampore rue that the route set by the authorities for Pampore-bound buses is causing them severe inconvenience.

The commuters said the Pampore-bound buses have to cross Amira Kadal Bridge and are made to ply via Lal Ded Hospital and Old Abdullah Bridge before reaching Dal Gate. “The buses take 45 minutes to cross this stretch, as the route remains very busy throughout the day,” said Irfan, a daily commuter.

“The irony is that the distance between the two points is just 13 kilometres,” says Irfan. Other commuters said plying on a totally wayward route not only takes these buses more time but also the seats remain occupied by the en route passengers, who otherwise would have boarded some other local bus.

“I walk up till the radio station from Lal Chowk on a daily basis because that’s where I get a seat,” said Rifat, who works at a bank in Srinagar.

Commuters say they have requested the authorities time and again to change the route of these buses; however, nobody pays heed to their requests. “If all the commuters are forced to board the bus at the radio station, what’s the point in letting these buses enter Lal Chowk?” says Rifat. The commuters say the administration should make these buses take a U-turn from the roundabout at the radio station.

Srinagar, December 7
Students of Army Public School, Srinagar, enthralled the audience during the annual day function. The cultural programme presented by the children showcased the heritage of India.

The function was special for the schoolchildren and the teachers as the school was adjudged number one in the academic excellence performance.

The school received a trophy and cash award for its best performance in academics.

While presiding over the inaugural session, the chief guest- Deputy GOC 31 sub-area, chairman of the school, Brig KK Pant, expressed his gratitude to the successful and vibrant presentations of programmes by the students and congratulated the principal and the staff for attaining zenith in academic excellence.

“I am highly impressed to see the hard work and dedication of the students as well as the teachings for making this event successful colourful under the guidance of principal Sandeep Marhatta, he said.

At the closing ceremony, the chief guest, GOC 31 sub-area, Maj Gen PD Hallur, patron of the school, expressed his gratitude and congratulated the principal and the staff for achieving excellence in academics.

Principal Sandeep Marhatta presented the annual report of the school achievements.

He referred to the academic excellence award received by the school at the national-level.

The award of best student of the year was received by Rhea Samyal of Class XII. 

Srinagar, December 7
The Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) organised free medical camps in various villages of the Kashmir valley.

The camps were organised by the CRPF as part of the ongoing process to establish trust, faith and bridge the gap between them and local people, said Sudhir Kumar, a CRPF spokesman. The camps were organised by 110 Battalion of the CRPF.

The free medical camps were organised in villages of Lethpora, Hatiwara and Chandara.

The spokesman said hundreds of people attended the medical camps and got themselves checked for various ailments.

Expert doctors and para-medical staffs of the CRPF conducted free checkup and medicines were distributed free of cost, he said. 

Srinagar, December 7
A seminar on the life contribution of Shiekh-ul-Alam (RA) was held at Kashmir University yesterday.

The seminar was organised by Markaz-i-Noor centre of Shiekh-ul-Alam studies at Ibn Khaldoon auditorium of Alama Iqbal Library University.

The two-day seminar highlighted the work and life of Shiekh-ul-Alma (RA), one of the pioneer saints of the Valley.

The seminar was thrown open by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather yesterday, who credited Shiekh-ul-Alam’s writings to the growth and development in life.

He expressed keen desire for the development of the university centre on Shiekh-ul-Alam studies and hoped that it produces quality research work, which could popularise Shiekh-ul-Alam’s message.

The minister assured full support to the centre and said he would ensure that financial impediments do not hamper the progress of the institute.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad said the centre of SA studies was a priority area for him and he would personally oversee the noble cause of research on the teachings of Sheikh-ul-Alam(RA). He urged the new scholars to bring laurels to the centre with their research.

Markaz-i-Noorc centre for Sheikh-ul-Alam studies director and seminar chairman Prof Bashir Bashar, while highlighting the role of life, philosophy and works of Sheikh-ul-Alam in various spheres of life, said: “Established in 1998, the chair of Sheikh-ul-Alamhas is a full-fledged research centre, which will give more impetus to research and study in order to transmit the message of the great saint poet Sheikh-ul Alam (RA) to the younger generation and society of Kashmir at large.” We have already registered some scholars with us for MPhil and PhD courses.

Anantnag, December 7
The police on Thursday seized packets of illicit liquor from a vehicle near Jawahar Tunnel, along Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, in Kulgam district, police sources said.

According to a police statement, the Kulgam police intercepted a Tavera (JK03B-7747) and seized 36 pouches of local whisky from the vehicle.

“The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Ajaz Ahmad Margay, son of Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Keeri Nowpora, Dooru in Anantnag district,” police reports said.

The driver, according to police reports, has been arrested and the vehicle has been seized by the police.

Meanwhile, the Kulgam police has registered a case in this connection.

Srinagar, December 7
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) seized around 200 kilogram polythene today as part of its ongoing drive. The drive was carried out by the anti-polythene squad under the supervision of chief sanitation officer Manzoor Ahmed Turray and anti-polythene officer Mir Mansoor, the SMC spokesperson said.

“The total number of prosecutions launched against the offenders during the drive was 21,” the spokesman added. The drive was conducted in various areas of downtown city including Darich Kadal, Safa Kadal, Hawal, Nowshehra, Gaada Kocha, Gaadyar, Bohri Kadal, Zaina Kadal and Mahrajagunj. SMC Commissioner Dr GN Qasba has appealed to shopkeepers, traders and public to switch over to environment-friendly packaging material. — TNS

Srinagar, December 7
Police today traced a kidnapped man and recovered him in an injured condition in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

Forest guard Ali Mohammad Wagay (50), a resident of Nilnag village, was abducted by unknown masked men from his house, the police said. Wagay was found in an injured condition in Pakherpora area and was hospitalised, the police said.

“A land dispute with his relatives is believed to be the reason of kidnapping, the police said.