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Assembly session
CM, Speaker refer to Afzal as ‘sahib’
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MLAs demand return of Indian prisoner’s body from Pak
Rail services in Valley put off for security concerns
Hanging of Afzal not in country’s interest: CPM MLA
BJP’s chorus: Modi is coming
Education key to empowering rural women: Usha Vohra
Give details of encroachments removed along Sindh, says HC
Absence of CCTV cameras makes it tough to crack baby abandonment cases
4 Drass residents to take part in horse polo cup in Imphal
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Assembly session
Jammu, March 4 While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah charged the PDP with indulging in petty politics, the latter alleged that it was failure on the part of the state government that Afzal was not given an opportunity to approach the Supreme Court after his mercy petition was rejected by the President. The Congress, which is part of the coalition government headed by the National Conference, played safe with none of the party leaders speaking on the issue. Members of the BJP and Panthers Party staged a walkout from the House as both these parties have been opposing “discussion on a terrorist who was involved in an attack on Parliament”. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while winding up the debate on the adjournment motion, lambasted the PDP. “The PDP is frustrated because our government has effectively controlled the situation after the hanging of Afzal Guru”, the Chief Minister said. “This party (PDP) neither has any concern for the family of Afzal Guru nor the common people of the state; its aim is only to rake up this issue for petty political gains,” Omar said. “You want to play dirty politics over blood and shed crocodile tears to lead people astray,” the Chief Minister targeting the PDP. He said other than the statement made by PDP patron Mufti Sayeed regarding Afzal a few days back, Mufti did not talk about the issue from 2006, when the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence to Afzal, till 2013. Equating the PDP with separatist groups of the Kashmir valley, the Chief Minister alleged that PDP leaders wanted the situation to go out of control so that that they could indulge in dirty politics. Earlier, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti while initiating a debate on the adjournment motion, made a direct attack on the Chief Minister over Afzal’s hanging. “The state government and the Chief Minister cannot wash their hands off this decision as they are part of the ruling coalition in Delhi as well as in the state. When Afzal was taken from Srinagar to New Delhi in 2001, the National Conference was ruling the state and was part of the NDA government at the Centre,” she said. She said if the governments of Tamil Nadu and Punjab could pursue the cases of the killers of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Chief Minister Beant Singh then why did not the J-K Government take any step to pursue the mercy petition of Afzal. The Speaker adjourned the House at 10.34 am for 10 minutes after the Assembly witnessed pandemonium on the Afzal issue with PDP legislators demanding that normal business should be suspended to hold a discussion on the adjournment motion. The BJP, Panthers Party and Jammu State Morcha members, on the other hand, demanded a discussion on the killing of two unarmed policemen in Kashmir. After proceeding of the House restarted, the Speaker allowed Mehbooba to speak on the Afzal issue but this action of the chair infuriated the BJP, Panthers Party and JSM members who were opposing a discussion on the issue. Members of these parties later staged a walkout from the House. At 12.38 pm, the Speaker again adjourned the House as the PDP members were creating uproar in the House, demanding that their leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh should also be allowed to speak on the adjournment motion. At 1.36 pm, the proceedings again started but the PDP staged a walkout as a mark of protest against the
reply of the Chief Minister, who, according to PDP leaders, had not given any assurance to get back the body of Afzal. |
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CM, Speaker refer to Afzal as ‘sahib’
Jammu, March 4 Convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack case, Afzal was hanged on February 9. During a discussion on the adjournment motion moved by the ruling National Conference, PDP and CPM on Afzal Guru, the Speaker twice called Parliament attack convict “Afzal sahib”. “Jammu and Kashmir is very sensitive state and we should avoid any discussion which would drive a wedge between different sections of society,” the Speaker said while trying to pacify the agitating PDP members who were loudly demanding the suspension of normal business to discuss Afzal. Amidst the din, the Speaker twice used the word “sahib” for Afzal and said he wanted a discussion on the issue. Similarly, National Conference member Nasir Aslam Wani, who was speaking on behalf of his party, also referred to Afzal as “sahib”. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while replying to the discussion on Afzal also used “sahib” for Afzal. |
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MLAs demand return of Indian prisoner’s body from Pak
Jammu, March 4 The National Panthers Party had also moved an adjournment motion, seeking suspension of the House business to discuss the demand of Chamail’s family for the return of his body from Pakistan. BJP, Panthers Party and JSM legislators raised slogans demanding return of Chamail’s mortal remains from Pakistan. “This House is least bothered about the common man and it is clear from the fact that it was ready to hold discussion on Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru but it is not interested in discussing the concern of Chamail’s family which had been waiting for his body since January 15,” JSM legislator Ashwani Sharma said. Sharma along with BJP and Panthers Party legislators also staged a protest near the well of the House and urged the Speaker to allow the discussion on the issue. Later, the Speaker admitted the motion and allowed the discussion. Harsh Dev Singh, Leader of the Panthers Legislature Party, said Jammu and Kashmir should vehemently raise the issue with the Centre so that the latter take up the matter with their counterparts in Pakistan for early return of Chamail’s body. “Fortyfive days have passed but Pakistan is yet to hand over Chamail’s body to India. The Centre should clear for how many days will his family
have to wait for his body,” Singh said. Jugal Kishore Sharma of the BJP said Pakistan had given no assurance on handing over the body to the family. “Besides, the state government has taken no initiative to bring back the body from Pakistan,”
he said. Chaman Lal Gupta, MLA from Jammu West, said the Central government should immediately take up the matter with Pakistan so that the aggrieved family is delivered justice. “The State Assembly should pass a resolution and send it to the Centre so that it is pressed for taking up the matter with Pakistan seriously,” Balwant Singh Mankotia of the Panthers Party said. Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, in his reply during the adjournment motion, said as per a fax message received from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad had been formally told by the Pakistan authorities that the postmortem of Chamail’s body had been conducted and the body would be handed over to India soon. Kichloo said the High Commission of India was also in touch with one of the sons of the deceased about the status of the case. He said the High Commission of India would
bear the expenses of transportation of the body as an when it is handed over by the Pakistan. The minsiter said Chamail Singh was reportedly detained in Pakistan in early 2010. He was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment starting August 18, 2010. |
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Valley shuts down partially against student’s death in Hyderabad
Srinagar, March 4 The shutdown had been called against the death of 29-year-old Mudasir Ahmad Malla, a PhD student at the English and Foreign Languages University in Hyderabad, on Saturday night. Malla was a resident of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Most of the shops in Srinagar’s commercial centre Lal Chowk and its adjoining markets remained closed. However, passenger buses, cabs and private vehicles plied on all routes within the city and to other districts despite traffic remaining thin on the roads. In localities on the outskirts of the city, most of the shops remained opened. The pedestrian rush of normal business days was also missing from the city roads. A few minor incidents of protests were reported from several parts of the Valley, including parts of the old city of Srinagar. A resident of the old city said clashes between protesters and police personnel took place at several places, including Kawdara, Rajouri Kadal and Hawal. Protests had also erupted at several places in north Kashmir, including Bandipora town. In the afternoon, thousands of residents of Pulwama district participated in the funeral of the student. Situation in Pulwama district, where violent protests had erupted yesterday following the death of the student, was tense throughout the day today. A police spokesman said situation remained peaceful throughout the region except a few instances of minor protests. Mutahidda Majlis-e-Mushawarat had yesterday called for a statewide shutdown and protest demonstrations on Monday against Malla’s death. The council had alleged that the student had been subjected to “severe torture” and also called for a march on Tuesday to Parigam, the native village of the student in Pulwama district, to express solidarity with his family. Kashmir University Students Union also called for suspension of classes saying that students were “deeply anguished” by the death of the student. Rubbishing the claim that Kamran had committed suicide, various separatist groups and leaders alleged that he was murdered. The shutdown against Malla's death was the 14th closure in Kashmir region due to strike and curfews since Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s hanging as the separatist council continues to issue weekly protest calendars calling for demonstrations and shutdowns. |
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Uncertainty over resumption of trade via Chakan da Bagh
Jammu, March 4 “No truck turned up at the Chakan da Bagh Trade Centre today to load the merchandise for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The chances of resumption of trade tomorrow between the divided Kashmir via look grim,” said Pawan Anand, president of the Chakan da Bagh Cross-LoC Traders' Association. The trade takes place every week from Tuesday to Friday and PoK-bound Indian trucks turn up a day before for loading the merchandise. The traders suffered a loss of Rs 3 crore last week. So far, there has been no positive signal from the Poonch district administration, said a Poonch-based trader. He said a meeting convened by the Poonch Deputy Commissioner AK Sahu on Friday failed to break the ice. Sahu is also the nodal officer of the trans-LoC trade in Poonch. “The authorities didn’t reinstate Dewan Traders, which was recently blacklisted. So the chances of resumption of trade tomorrow look bleak,” said Sahu. The trade authorities at Chakan da Bagh had recently blacklisted Dewan Traders after finding three empty AK cartridges in his consignment, which was sent by his counterpart in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Besides reinstating Dewan Traders, the Indian traders have been demanding implementation of the standard operating procedure in letter and spirit to ensure a hassle-free trade. “For reasons inexplicable, the trade via Chakan da Bagh between Poonch and Rawalakote often runs into rough weather but there is no such problem in trade via Salamabad between Uri and Muzaffarabad because the authorities at the Salamabad trade centre act as the facilitators of the trade and not deterrents like their counterparts at Chakan da Bagh,” said another trader, who declined to be named. Repeated attempts to contact the Poonch DC proved futile. On February 27, the Congress MLC from Poonch, Jehangir Mir, had brought the matter to the notice of Governor NN Vohra, seeking early solution to problems being confronted by the cross-LoC traders at Chakan da Bagh. |
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Rail services in Valley put off for security concerns
Srinagar, March 4 “Due to the situation, we suspended the train operation since Sunday,” said SSP, Railway, Bashir Ahmad Yatoo. “The decision about plying the train will be taken after reviewing the situation,” the SSP said. The Railway sources said it was unlikely that the train would ply for the next few days as the Mutahida Majlis-e-Mushawarat (MMM), a Joint Consultative Council of several separatist groups, spearheading the protests to seek the return of the mortal remains of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and JKLF founder leader Maqbool Bhat had called for a march to Parigam village of Pulwama town tomorrow. Parigam is the native village of Mudasir Ahmad Malla, who was found hanging under mysterious circumstances in his room at Basheer Hostel of English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, on Saturday. His death sparked protests in Kashmir since Sunday. “There was a minor damage to a train on Sunday afternoon near Kakpora in Pulwama when protesters threw stone at it. Since yesterday, we have suspended the train operation and it is unlikely that the train will resume its operation in the next two days,” said a Railway official. “A final decision will be taken after reviewing the situation,” he said. The security officials, he said, were not giving clearance for plying the train as it passes through many sensitive areas of the Valley. Since Afzal Guru’s execution on February 9, the train services in Kashmir have been badly hit. The train was suspended due to the security concern on February 9. Partial train service from Qazigund to Budgam in central Kashmir was resumed on February 18 and the train service between Baramulla to Qazigund was fully restored on February 25. “The train operation is being suspended due to the fear of damages to the Railway property,” a Railway official said. “In 2010, the train services in Kashmir had to be halted for five months due to security reasons and damage to the rail property in various parts of the Valley by protesters.” The trains of Kashmir are yet to be connected with the rest of the country. They ply between Qazigund and Baramulla and cover a distance of 119 km. |
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Governor for regular monitoring of Centrally sponsored schemes in state
Jammu, March 4 The Governor stressed the importance of regular monitoring and review of various Centrally sponsored schemes being executed in the state. Former minister Abdul Gani Vakil also called on the Governor today. Vakil discussed with the Governor matters relating to the functioning of the administrative apparatus, measures needed to be taken for the resolution of problems being faced by the public and issues relating to the speedy economic development of the state. Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Peace Foundation Fayaz Ahmad Bhat also met the Governor here today and updated him on the activities of the Foundation, aimed at promoting peace and strengthening communal harmony in the state. Bhat gave details of the programmes organised by the Foundation in the recent past and those planned for the coming months to secure the objectives of peace and normalcy. The Governor complimented Bhat and his colleagues for the laudable initiatives being taken by the Foundation which would contribute towards ushering the state into an era of lasting peace and harmony. |
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Hanging of Afzal not in country’s interest: CPM MLA
Jammu, March 4 He said Afzal’s hanging without informing his family members had contributed neither to the national unity nor to national security, adding that it is bound to help only those who want to undermine the fabric of the country. Participating in a debate in the Legislative Assembly today on the adjournment motion on Afzal’s hanging and return of his mortal remains to his family, Tarigami said the circumstances in which the episode took place would have serious implications on the social and political sphere of the state as it had exposed how major decisions of national importance were made on petty political considerations, without caring for its fallout. “The episode has put a question mark on the judicial and constitutional system of the country,” said Tarigami. He asked, “By this action of the state whose collective conscience got satisfied. Of those who are forced to commit suicide in different parts of the country or of those who are forced to starve having no sufficient food to eat or of those who have been rendered hopeless?” “A tiny section of the elite, a section of the media and those jingoist elements who have no concern for our plural and democratic ethos might have got satisfied,” he said. He cautioned that the people of Kashmir could conclude that Afzal was hanged only because of some narrow political considerations and that this was a selective execution. “It is unfortunate that the UPA government has responded to the vociferous demand raised by the BJP and the Sangh Pariwar. It is sad that the Sangh Pariwar is setting an agenda which is being responded to by those who claim to be the followers of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru,” he said. |
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BJP’s chorus: Modi is coming
Jammu, March 4 The party also cautioned the Kashmir-based parties that they would have to pay for “toeing the anti-national line” as Modi would be the next Prime Minister of the country. As soon as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mubarak Gul told the Leader of Opposition Mehbooba Mufti to start a debate on the demand of the National Conference (NC) and the People Democratic party (PDP) for the return of the mortal remains of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, BJP legislators along with legislators of the Panthers Party and the Jammu State Morcha staged a walkout from the House in protest against any such discussion in the House. “Aa bhai aa gaya, Modi aa gaya (Modi is coming). He will soon take over the country and will teach you people a lesson for such activities,” Ashok Khajuria, leader of the BJP Legislature Party, said while staging a walkout from the House. Khajuria, who is also the national executive BJP member, had returned from New Delhi this morning after participating in the party conclave. His remarks dropped enough hints that the party was contemplating a “bigger role” in the Parliamentary elections scheduled for 2014. The Assembly witnessed repeated disruptions during the debate on the adjournment motions moved by the NC, PDP, CPM and Independent MLA from Langate Engineer Rashid, seeking a debate on the demand for the return of Afzal Guru’s body to his family. |
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Jammu parties protest killing of two policemen in Handwara
Jammu, March 4 The opposition parties also demanded a fair and transparent probe into the incident to ascertain the facts which led to the killing of two Indian Reserve Police (IRP) jawans, Azad Chand, a resident of Chenani, and Santosh Singh, a resident of Kathua. Legislators of the BJP, BJP rivals, Panthers Party and the Jammu State Morcha raised slogans against the state government. As soon as the Legislative Assembly assembled for the day’s proceedings, Harsh Dev Singh, Leader of the Panthers Legislature Party, sought a “detailed reply” from the government over the killing of two unarmed policemen who “laid down their lives in the line of duty” at Handwara in Kupwara district. Singh also lashed out at the government for “disarming” security personnel in vulnerable areas under a “well-planned conspiracy”. He was joined by other MLAs from Jammu, who also demanded a detailed reply from the government, besides jobs to one of the family members of the deceased jawans. Singh said the government should probe as to which officer had disarmed them and deputed them on duty with ‘lathis’ (sticks). Jammu West MLA Chaman Lal Gupta, who had moved an adjournment motion, seeking a debate on the issue, said the government seemed to have deliberately disarmed the two IRP jawans. “There should be a probe into the incident and the government should provide jobs to the next of kin of the martyrs,” Gupta said. Ashok Khajuria, Leader of the BJP Legislature Party, said, “They were targeted from a point-blank range and it seems that they were selectively targeted because they belonged to a particular community.” He warned that such incidents would have serious ramifications in the future. Congress MLA from Chenani Krishan Chander Bhagat also raised the issue and demanded jobs to the next of kin of the deceased policemen. Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo termed the incident as “unexpected”, saying there was no threat perception in the area where the incident took place. “The militants attacked the policemen having non-lethal weapons near Bus Stand, Handwara, on March 2. The militants mixed up with civilian population and managed to escape. The firing resulted into the instant death of two jawans. The area was immediately cordoned off and a search operation was launched. The nakas on all the outgoing routes were immediately activated but the culprits could not be traced,” the minister said. |
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Education key to empowering rural women: Usha Vohra
Jammu, March 4 She said women and
children belonging to the rural areas had enormous talent, which needs to
be channelised in the right direction. Usha Vohra appreciated the participants of the cultural and sports events for presenting a captivating programme. She also stressed on the importance of the education for every child, particularly education for the girl child. She said education was the key to progress and economic empowerment. On behalf of the Governor, she announced Rs 1 lakh grant for the management of the Viraj Kala Kendra for providing education to the children belonging to poor families. She also gave away prizes to the children who presented a cultural programme as well as the winners in the races organised as a part of the event. Earlier, she inaugurated a constructed hall at Viraj Bal Bhawan, Khanpur, Nagrota, and a school run by the Viraj Kala Kendra for children from slum areas. She also witnessed an exhibition of the various crafts prepared by the Raj Bharti, President, Viraj Kala Kendra, presented a detailed report on the activities and functioning of the kendra. Bharti thanked the Governor and the First Lady for taking keen interest in the activities of Viraj Kala Kendra and supporting its initiatives. She thanked the Governor for support for construction of the hall in the school. Dr Nahed Soz, Managing Director, J&K Women Development Corporation, thanked the Governor, who is Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for associating Women Development Corporation sponsored women self-help groups to prepare jute bags for the Board which has translated into financial empowerment for women from rural areas. |
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Give details of encroachments removed along Sindh, says HC
Srinagar, March 4 The direction of a division bench of the high court followed after submission of a response by the Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, wherein he stated that they had launched a demolition drive in the area concerned to remove illegal constructions and encroachments. The court is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking judicial intervention in checking pollution and illegal constructions along the banks of the Sindh in the area. Following reports that encroachments have reappeared along the banks of the river, the high court division bench on November 15 last year had directed the Registrar of the court to carry out an on-the-spot inspection and submit a report. Subsequently, after carrying out the inspection, the Registrar submitted his report to the court in January for perusal. In the meantime, the Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, also submitted his response to the court stating that the district administration had recently carried out a demolition drive along the banks and removed a number of encroachments, a lawyer connected with the PIL said. “However, not feeling satisfied with the response, the bench comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Muzaffar Hussain Attar today directed the district authorities to submit within a week a detailed list of the encroachments removed during the drive,” he said. During the previous hearing on November 15, the counsel representing the litigant in the PIL had submitted to the court that there were reports that illegal construction was still taking place in the area. The Sindh, which is a rivulet, originates from Gumri Glacier ahead of Baltal in Sonamarg in north-east Kashmir. Before merging with the Jhelum in Ganderbal, several fresh water streams join it downstream, including the Amarnath nullah, Sonamarg nullah and Shutkuri nullah, giving it the shape of a big river. In June 2011, the high court had directed the authorities to remove all illegal encroachments and structures along the Sindh that had come up in violation of the Kashmir Valley Embankment Act, 1992. Later in September 2011, the Ganderbal Deputy Commissioner in his compliance report to the court had submitted that “all illegal encroachments and illegal constructions along the banks of the Sindh” in the Sonamarg and Kangan areas of Ganderbal district had been “demolished.” |
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Absence of CCTV cameras makes it tough to crack baby abandonment cases
Srinagar, March 4 In the absence of genuine clues, the police and the hospital authorities have failed to track persons who abandon their babies at the hospital. The hospital authorities say they have not received any formal orders for installation of these cameras. “The principal of Government Medical College, Srinagar, has set up a budget committee to finalise the process of installation of CCTV cameras at the GB Hospital at the estimate cost of Rs 6 lakh. We are expecting these orders to arrive in a few days,”
Dr Muhammad Salim Khan, Deputy Medical Superintendent, GB Pant Hospital, said. Even the ‘help’ registration desk of the hospital has not proved a sufficient measure to nab the culprits. The hospital authorities say the registered names and contact information of these persons (involved in abandonment of babies) usually turns out to be wrong, thus, we cannot be relied upon such information. On February 8, a woman had abandoned a baby girl giving fake names and contact number to the hospital registration desk. This all led to an innocent man being accused of abandoning the infant girl. “I got many calls from the police, the hospital authorities and mediapersons accusing me of leaving the baby in the hospital. I am a student and have nothing to do with this heinous crime. I was being falsely implicated into this case. To my utter disbelief, the hospital authorities and the police were convinced that I am the culprit. These people could give anybody’s contact number so as to evade the problems, ” Omer, a resident of Keller, Shopian in South Kashmir,
said. |
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IAF airlifts stranded passengers to Leh
Jammu, March 4 The stranded passengers, including 40 women and children, were airlifted by the special IAF sortie,
he added. Air Commodore PE Patange, Air Officer Commanding, Jammu Air Force station, and Group Capt Sridhar, Chief Operations Officer, were present and personally supervised the smooth conduct of the entire airlift operation, said Colonel Palta. |
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4 Drass residents to take part in horse polo cup in Imphal
Srinagar, March 4 The team is being sponsored by a non-profit organisation, Drass Polo Promotion. The team comprises Ahmadaullah, captain, Ghulam Mustafa, Mohammad Younis, Murtaza Ali, players, and Muhammad Amin, the coach and team manager. “All the matches in the tournament will be 4-A side format which means each team will field only four players in a match,” said the coach, Muhammad Amin. Horse polo is considered to be one of the ancient sports being played in Drass with each locality of the Drass region having its own polo club. “Currently, there are 24 horse polo clubs in the Drass region. We hope that more youngsters take up the sport which has a heritage value attached to it. Our team has done well at national-level competitions and we hope the same this time around,” said Amin. The Drass Polo Promotion had organised the Lali Suri Memorial Polo Cup, Vijay Diwas Cup and Chief Minister’s Cup in June, July and September, 2012, which attracted horse polo teams from various states of the country. “Srinagar also hosted two polo matches in 2010 and 2011 at Sri Pratap College, Srinagar, and Polo Ground, Srinagar, respectively, which was organised by the Drass Polo Promotion in association with the state Tourism Department,” said Muhammad Yousuf, University of Kashmir’s ex-adventure coach.
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