Srinagar, February 12
Despite strict orders for maximum restraint while dealing with street protests and no usage of firearms by the state government to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 14 firearm injuries including that of a CRPF personnel were reported at the Valley’s biggest tertiary hospital, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, (SKIMS), Soura, Srinagar and Shri Maharaja Pratap Singh (SMHS) Hospital.

“Of the 13 patients admitted to the hospital with firearms injuries from various places in the Valley, since Saturday, six have already been discharged while seven patients with these firearm (bullet) injuries are still admitted in the hospital. Two of them are in the ICU and are critical,” Director, SKIMS, Dr Showkat Zargar, told The Tribune.

Although the directive from the state government to CRPF maintains that the firearms shouldn’t be shot above the waist, a majority of the injuries pouring in SKIMS, Soura are above the waist.

“The injuries to most of the patients are on eyes, abdomen, head and chest. Most injuries are above the waist. Some of them are rubber bullet and tear gas shell injuries too,” Dr Aiejaz Mustafa, Medical Superintendent, Hospital Administration, SKIMS, said.

“We have put two of them on ventilators,” he added. The hospital has so far reported one casualty, that of 14-year-old Ubaid Mushtaq from Wattergam, Sopore, who died on Sunday morning.

Doctors posted at the hospital said the number of injuries is expected to be even higher as cases are pouring in at various health centres in districts as well. “We are receiving very critical cases at this juncture. Minor cases are being dealt with at district levels,” Dr Aiejaz said.

Meanwhile, the other tertiary hospital, SMHS Hospital, reported one eye injury case of Tariq Ahmad Gojri of Baramulla, who had serious damage caused to one of his eyes.

“We haven’t received so many cases yet, though the hospital administration is all equipped to deal with such cases,” Dr Nazir Chaudary, Medical Superintendent, SMHS Hospital, told The Tribune.

“Mohammad Afzal Guru did not receive adequate legal representation and material factual contradictions in the trial record were dismissed. Post execution, all moral and legal compulsions are of no significance to the state,” Advocate Parvez Imroz, KCCS patron, said in the statement. 

He said the JKCCS wanted that the dead body of Afzal Guru should be returned to his family. “The Union Government has no moral or legal right over it. The return of his body immediately is a basic, common demand,” Imroz said.

The family of Afzal Guru has maintained that his mortal remains should be returned from Tihar for burial in Kashmir as per the Islamic Sharia (law). They said they might approach the Supreme Court in this regard.

From the clamp down on communications to the “brutality” witnessed on the streets of Jammu and Kashmir, Imroz said “it is clear that the victimisation” of people by the state authorities continues.

“Using the veil of law and order concerns, the government cannot circumvent the basic rights of people. Further, the ban on communications is in effect a ban on information,” Imroz said, adding that the result would be a “stronger sense of impunity” for state forces to carry out more “human rights violations”. “This brutality must end,” he said.

Srinagar, February 12
The moderate Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today flayed the government for imposing curfew and using force against locals who have been protesting against the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

In a statement issued here, the moderate Hurriyat spokesman said the government had become a “victim of frustration” and that is why it had been using force against the protesters.

The spokesman claimed that Mirwaiz, who wished to come to the Valley, was disallowed to do so and had been placed under house arrest in New Delhi. He also flayed the ban on news channels and local newspapers, which have not hit the stands for the last four days.

“The situation should be an eye-opener for people who blow the trumpet of peace after resumption of normal life. People of Kashmir can not heave a sigh a relief till the Kashmir issue is resolved through dialogue,” the moderate Hurriyat spokesman said.

Srinagar, February 12
The Jammu and Kashmir forest football team has won the All India Forest Sports football championship at Panchkula, Haryana.

J&K Forest football team defeated Goa Forest team 3-1 yesterday, an official said here. He said Waseem Javid, Khalid and Shahid Mushtaq scored one goal each for the state team.J&K Forest team had thrashed Chhattisgarh by three goals to nil in the semifinal

 earlier. On the other side, cricket team of J&K forest department has also entered the final in the ongoing All India Forest Sports meet at Panchkula, Haryana, said the official.

The J&K team defeated Orissa in the semifinal. The team will play its final match against the Chhattisgarh Forest team.

Meanwhile, Suhail Ahmad of J&K forest has won two gold medals in snooker and billiards in the ongoing All India Forest Sports Meet.

Jammu, February 12
The Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) realised a revenue amounting to Rs 16.35 crore up to December 2012, recording a 6-per cent increase from the revenue generated in the corresponding period last financial year.

This was informed at a meeting convened to review the functioning of the JKTDC under the chairmanship of Minister for Haj, Auqaf and Public Enterprises Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed.

Giving a brief account of activities of the corporation, the JKTDC Managing Director said four new hotels were being constructed for better management and comfortable stay of tourists across the state. These are Pahalgam Club, which is coming up at an estimated cost of Rs 16.20 crore, the Yousmarg Hotel project worth Rs 3.98 crore, Sonamarg Hotel worth Rs 3.86 crore and Gulmarg Hotel coming up at a cost of Rs 3.86 crore. He said tourism infrastructure was also being developed at Cheshmashahi at an estimated cost of Rs 3.54 crore.

Besides these projects, the historic Budshah Hotel has been reconstructed after a gap of 26 years at a cost of Rs 4.20 crore and a facelift has been given to all tourist bungalows and hotels of the JKTDC across the state.