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Lending helping hand amid crisis
ATM services partially restored in the Valley
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Despite curfew, Dept of Posts is working
Denying Afzal’s family to meet him unfortunate: ANC
‘Don’t politicise Afzal’s hanging’
Srinagar records ‘hottest’ day of the winter season
Mir reviews law and order, essential stocks in Anantnag
Independent MLA Rasheed continues to be under detention
Essential supplies reviewed in Kupwara
One hurt in road mishap
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Lending helping hand amid crisis
Srinagar, February 13 Terminally-ill patients were today carried by load carriers to the hospitals. Amid this crisis-like situation, some social activists along with non-profit health organisations have stepped in to provide all possible help to people, especially those who are ill. “Healthy Kashmir”, an NGO run by one Faisal Ahmad, has started free ambulance service in the city amid the curfew. Moreover, to avail the services of ambulances under emergency conditions is just a call away. “I can be reached round-the- clock at 9797240013 for ambulance service to SKIMS, Soura, SMHS and Bones & Joints Hospital in Srinagar. We have pressed three ambulances into service. So far, we have not experienced any resistance from security forces or police,” Faisal said. “Help Poor Voluntary Trust” (HPVT), another non-profit health organisation based in Srinagar, has six ambulances in place to carry patients to various hospitals of the city. It is also helping those who are discharged from hospitals and need to be carried back home. “Our base is at SMHS Hospital where from our volunteers communicate with other volunteers stationed at other hospitals such as SKIMS, LD, GB Pant, B&J, and all of our 30 employees and about 15 volunteers are deputed on the mission,” said Farooq Ahmad, President HPVT. The HPVT has also
kept one of its drug outlets open wherefrom the needy and poor patients can purchase medicines free of cost. Ray of hope
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ATM services partially restored in the Valley
Srinagar, February 13 “During the meeting, the Divisional Commissioner was informed that adequate stocks of essential commodities were available in all the districts of the Valley. Regarding opening of ration depots, a considerable number of sale centres were opened to distribute foodgrains to consumers throughout the Valley,” an official said. He said the meeting was also informed that ATM facility had been restored and presently 185 ATMs out of 252 in the Valley were functional. “It was disclosed that restrictions were relaxed at 17 places in Srinagar city and 11 trucks of vegetables, 1.3 lakh litres of milk, 4,136 LPG cylinders, 5,000 quintals of rice were distributed among consumers in Srinagar city. As many as 3,000 birds were sold at different outlets and 113 ration sale outlets were also kept open. Two trucks of eggs were also kept available for consumers in the city,” the official added. Meanwhile, Dr Asgar Hassan also toured Sopore and Kupwara areas in north Kashmir to take stock of the availability of facilities of healthcare, essential commodities, water and power supply to avoid any inconvenience to the people. curfew relaxed
Curfew was relaxed at 17 places in Srinagar city and 11 trucks of vegetables, 1.3 lakh litres of milk, 4,136 LPG cylinders, and 5,000 quintals of rice were distributed among
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Restrictions eased in south Kashmir
Anantnag, February 13 Meanwhile, clashes between the people and security forces were reported from all the four districts of the region. Reports said there was relaxation in curfew restrictions across south Kashmir and for the first time in past five days people were allowed to step out of their houses to buy essential commodities for their households. “Restrictions were eased for a couple of hours in our town, following which an announcement was made that the curfew will remain enforced indefinitely,” said Bilal Ahmad Lone, a resident of Anantnag town. While Anantnag town remained peaceful during the period when curfew was relaxed, various towns across the district witnessed sporadic incidents of violence between the protesting people and security forces equipped with full riot gear. “We were allowed to venture out of our homes to get the necessary stuff in the morning. However, the curfew was reinforced strictly following clashes between the protesting youth and security personnel,” said Tawseef Ahmad, a resident of Bijbehara town in Anantnag district. The situation remained more or less the same in other districts of south Kashmir region. In Shopian district, curfew was relaxed throughout the day. While people were allowed to move out of their homes, contingents of the police and paramilitary personnel remained deployed. Stray incidents of clashes were reported from different parts of the district. Restrictions were also eased in Pulwama and Kulgam districts. “Clashes took place across the Pulwama town, including Muran Chowk, Malik Pora, and the bus stand area,” said Tariq Ahmad, a reseident of the Muran Chowk area in Pulwama. The people, however, maintained that easing restrictions had done no good to them. “The shopkeepers too are short of supplies and they will not get any stock unless the curfew is lifted. The easing of restrictions makes no sense at all,” said Sajad Ahmad, a resident of Shopian town. Chemists, too, are fast running out of medicines and they fear if the curfew continues, they might exhaust their stock of essential medicines. “The suppliers are not able to deliver stocks to us and we are fast exhausting the already stocked medicines,” said a chemist in Kulgam town. Moreover, the vehicular movement has been restricted, preventing the people from venturing out of their homes. “We have not even been allowed to take patients to a hospital,” said a resident of Anantnag town, wishing not to be named. The doctors too allege they are not being allowed to travel to their respective places of work by the security forces deployed at different places. |
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Despite curfew, Dept of Posts is working
Srinagar, February 13 Besides delivering the two letters, he said the post office was working just like ‘emergency services’ to ensure that others too received posts. “It has been a tough job during the last four-five days. While our staff had the courage and conviction to deliver the two letters (to Guru’s family), the GPO has made it a point to function like emergency services so that other letters too are delivered,” Samuel told The Tribune. Pertinently, the family of Afzal Guru yesterday received the letter which he had written just before his execution on Saturday morning. The letter was sent through speed post, which was posted by the Tihar Jail Superintendent. Guru’s family at Jageer, Sopore, in north Kashmir had received another letter by speed post on Monday last giving information about his execution. Stating that the DoP may not have been able to deliver all posts as shops and other institutions had remained closed, he said: “Many people are not aware that the GPO is functioning. People whose shops are closed can come to the GPO to collect their letters and if they contact us, we will make special arrangements to deliver the same.” Samuel said the department was receiving parcels as usual from outside the Valley but people coming to the GPO and few other post offices currently open here had significantly reduced. |
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Train services continue to remain suspended in Valley
Srinagar, February 13 “We have sought three police companies (nearly 360 men) to ensure safety of railways in Kashmir,” said a railway official entrusted with the security of Kashmir rail. “We had sent the request on the same day when curfew was imposed and we are still waiting for a reply from the state,” he added. Fearing damages to railway property, the train services in Kashmir were suspended on Saturday, the day when Afzal Guru was hanged. The state government has imposed curfew and restrictions across the Valley since Saturday. “We have a bitter experience of 2009 and 2010 when railway property worth crores was damaged by protesters in many parts of the Valley. So, as a precaution, this time we have suspended the railway services in the Valley till normalcy returns,” said a railway official. In 2010, train services in Kashmir had to be stopped for almost five months from July 31 to December 22 due to security reasons and damage to the railway property in various parts of the Valley. Chief Area Manager, Northern Railways, Budgam, AK Sharma said they would ply the trains only after the security clearance. "We will restart the railway services once we get the security clearance," Sharma told The Tribune. Another railway official said the service would not be suspended for too long and would be resumed once curfew was lifted in the Valley. “We will resume the services once curfew in lifted,” he said. “The train from Qazigund to Baramulla passes through many sensitive areas. So, we have to keep situation related to security into consideration,” he said. The trains of Kashmir are yet to be connected with the rest of the country and they ply between Qazigund and Baramulla - a distance of 119 km. A total of 10 trains ply between Qazigund and Baramulla. The first phase of railway service between Anantnag and Budgam districts was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 11, 2008. The second phase of the train between Budgam and Baramulla was flagged off by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on February 14, 2009, followed by the third phase between Anantnag and Qazigund by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 28, 2009. |
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Return Afzal’s body to kin: Lawyers
Srinagar, February 13 “The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association expresses anguish on the hanging of Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail in Delhi, which has become a graveyard for Kashmiris,” Bar vice- president Ajaz Bedar said in a statement issued after the meeting of Bar executive committee here today. In the meeting, he said, it was felt that the “hanging of Afzal Guru to death is against all international legal norms, political ethics and international political conventions,” he said, adding the meeting also took “stock” of the “pros and cons” of Guru’s execution. Stating that the “hanging of Afzal” has wider “political and legal implications,” he said the Bar feels “people of Kashmir” are “deeply saddened” by his execution and has accused the state government for “colluding” with the Central government in carrying out the “secret” execution. “Like hanging of Maqbool Bhat, the execution of Afzal Guru will definitely lead to new dimensions in the Kashmir freedom movement and will have an impact on situation in the entire sub-continent,” the Bar claimed in the statement. “The people of J&K are upset with the decision of the Government of India and the consent granted by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to Afzal’s hanging,” Bar vice-president Ajaz Bedar said. “In the meeting, it was observed that the Bar will also make public the last wish of Afzal Guru, which, he had entrusted to the Bar Association during the visit of Bar team to Tihar Jail recently,” he said, adding the Bar has also supported the shutdown call issued by the hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani to protest the “secret” hanging. He said the Bar supports family’s demand for return of his mortal remains from Tihar Jail, adding “all steps” would be taken to get back the body. |
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Denying Afzal’s family to meet him unfortunate: ANC
Srinagar, February 13 “No doubt the Constitution and law are supreme for everyone, but the ends of justice can be met only when Guru is laid to rest in his own soil in Kashmir,” Khalida Shah said in a statement issued from New Delhi. Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was executed on February 9 in the Tihar Jail in Delhi and was buried in the jail premises on the same day. His family members have been demanding his body for burial in Kashmir. She said it was “unfortunate” that the Government of India had “denied Guru’s family members” an opportunity on humanitarian grounds of last meeting with him. “This shows complete lack of farsightedness or any regard for the sensitive and complicated situation arising in the state of J&K,” she said. “In a democratic country like India nothing should be done mindlessly that conveys an impression to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly younger generation, that justice was not being done to them,” she said. “The ANC demands that the Government of India returns the mortal remains of Afzal to his family,” she said while appealing to the people of the three regions of the state to remain calm and hold aloft their traditions of mutual brotherhood. |
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‘Don’t politicise Afzal’s hanging’
Jammu, February 13 The meeting was held under the chairmanship of its president Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo. Chrungoo said the organisation would take serious exception to the unnecessary and unwarranted discourse on the issue of the execution of Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru. “It is clear that the execution was effected as a consequence of the
court verdict. Still, attempts are being made to politicise the whole issue. The rule of law must prevail in all situations irrespective of the political and vote bank considerations,” he added. The organisation said in matters relating to terror that affect national peace and security, all political parties and shades of opinion must close their ranks and reflect a sense of national unity. The outfit said expressing opinion in matters and such an unnecessary public debate had the potential to create law and order situation. At a time when inimical forces across the border were looking for an opportunity to ferment trouble in Kashmir, the government must deal with the situation in a firm manner and desist from expressions that could incite, instigate people and create confusion, it added. Virender Raina, Pannun Kashmir spokesperson, said they had expressed serious reservations over the Centre’s policy in facilitating the sojourns of secessionist leaders in Kashmir to Pakistan in the past several years. Expressing concern
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Srinagar records ‘hottest’ day of the winter season
Srinagar, February 13 The night temperature here too remained above the freezing point at 0.5 degrees Celsius. Other parts of the Valley too witnessed a sunny day. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, recorded maximum temperature of 12.8 degrees Celsius while the border town of Kupwara recorded maximum temperature of 14 degrees Celsius. Similarly, tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded maximum temperature of 10.8 degrees Celsius. However, night temperatures at most of the places apart from Srinagar continued to remain sub-zero. Qazigund, Kupwara and Pahalgam recorded minimum temperatures of minus 1.2, minus 1.6 and minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, respectively. Ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir remained the coldest place in the Valley recording minimum temperature of minus 7.8 degrees Celsius. The Valley is currently going through 20-day-long ‘chillai khurd’ period since January 30 last month, which in local parlance means ‘small cold’. ‘Chillai khurd’ is followed by ‘chillai bachha’ that in local parlance literally means ‘small cold’. The end of 10-day-long ‘chillai baccha’ marks the beginning of spring season in the Valley. Elsewhere, Ladakh region continued to remain in the grip of cold wave. Kargil recorded minimum temperature of minus 12.4 degrees Celsius while Leh saw a low of minus 14.1 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperatures at Kargil and Leh were 3 and 1 degrees Celsius, respectively. Meanwhile, one-way traffic continued to ply on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway - Kashmir’s only surface link to the rest of the country. A traffic police official said traffic plied from here to Jammu today. He said one-way traffic would continue to ply from Jammu to here tomorrow
subject to fair weather conditions. |
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Mir reviews law and order, essential stocks in Anantnag
Srinagar, February 13 He took stock of availability of basic amenities available to the people in a meeting of district officers. He stressed upon them to ensure punctuality, especially of the staff in health institutions for providing succour to the people. The minister directed law-enforcing agencies to allow free movement of hospital staff to enable them to reach their respective health centres to perform their duties. During the meeting, he also took stock of the availability of essential commodities. He was informed by the authorities concerned that adequate stock of foodgrains and LPG cylinders was available in the district for distribution to consumers. He also directed the engineers of the Power Development Department and Public Health Engineering to ensure availability of electricity and drinking water to the people. The District Development Commissioner, Anantnag, Farooq Ahmad Shah, and other senior civil and police officers also attended the meeting. |
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Independent MLA Rasheed continues to be under detention
Srinagar, February 13 “The police is not telling us whether there is any case against him or not. Neither they are releasing him”, said Inam, adding a 26-member committee of his supporters has called for a meeting to discuss the future strategy. “The meeting will decide whether to approach the court for his release or not. Due to curfew we couldn’t even approach the court”, he said, adding for the moment the supporters of Rasheed feel concerned about his safety. A member of the state's lawmaking assembly, Engineer Rasheed had on February 9 led a march in the border town of Handwara to protest the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Rasheed was detained by the police on Saturday near Handwara town after he had led a protest march from Mawar village and intended to go to Sopore. However, he was prevented by the police. |
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Essential supplies reviewed in Kupwara
Srinagar, February 13 “The meeting was informed that ration through various sales outlets was provided to 22,000 souls to date. District Development Commissioner, Kupwara, Sarmad Hafeez apprised the minister that adequate stock of ration and other essentials has already been kept available in border areas of the district,” an official said. Meanwhile, the minister presided over another meeting of officers at Handwara and reviewed law and order situation, besides taking stock of availability of various essentials in the tehsil. |
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One hurt in road mishap
Srinagar, February 13 A resident of Potshahi, Kupwara, Mir was shifted to a hospital for treatment. The police has registered
a case. |
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