Srinagar, March 31
Kashmir University is likely to start its academic session for the year 2013-14 in the first week of April.

The delay was caused due to continuous curfew and shutdowns in the Valley since February 9 when Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. There was also delay in holding entrance examinations to various postgraduate degree and diploma courses of the university which finally began on March 16 and concluded on March 28.

The university received more than 36,000 applications for admission to various postgraduate courses for 2013-14 against nearly 3,000 seats.

The university authorities said the results of the entrance examinations for around 42 courses were declared in a record time of two days with online evaluation of answersheets and keys having been updated on the website.

After students raised apprehensions over incorrect questions in as many as nine papers, the KU authorities said the issue had been addressed.

“The candidates were advised to give feedback within 24 hours which was addressed after seeking the advice of the heads of the departments and experts,” a KU press release said.

Dean, Academic Affairs, Prof AM Shah expressed satisfaction over conducting the examinations. "I am happy that the examination process, especially the declaration of results within a record time, went on smoothly. The efforts put in by the academic affairs section of KU are appreciable," he added.

Srinagar, March 31
A tree plantation drive was jointly launched in south Kashmir by the Army and forest department and schoolchildren.

The schoolchildren planted 300 saplings at Anantnag which were provided by the Forest Department. These included the chinar and popular saplings.

Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Farooq Ahmad congratulated the Army unit and schoolchildren on the initiative and awareness on conservation of forests.

“I hope such action would make the children better citizens of tomorrow,” Ahmed said while addressing a function at Anatnag on Saturday. Senior civil and Army officials attended the function. The drive was launched by 402 Lt AD Regiment (Comp). 

Kupwara, March 31
Shortage of staff has affected the working of the office of the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kupwara, for the past more than three years.

The office lacks the services of senior assistant, labour inspector and care taker. Instead of three sanctioned posts of computer operators, only one is there.

“Due to staff shortage, labour officers and inspectors are forced to double up as clerks. The office is in dire need of senior assistant and labour inspector,” said Ashiq Bhat, Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC), Baramulla, who holds the additional charge of ALC, Kupwara. Bhat attends the office on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Problems do not end here. The office is also devoid of water supply and electricity.

“In the absence of electricity, we are forced to maintain the records manually, which takes a lot of time. We have already paid Rs 65,000 to the power department, Kupwara, for providing electricity, but the office continues to remain without power till date,” the ALC, Kupwara added.

The toilets in the office building continue to remain unused for the past one year due to water shortage. “What is the point in making washrooms when we are not able to use them due to water criris. In spite of repeated pleas to the departmentsconcerned, power and water have not been provided to us,” said a senior employee.

The office witnesses a huge rush of people, mostly labourers. From May 2011 to March 25 this year, more than 8,400 labourer registrations had been done by the office.

“After the Building and Other Construction Workers Act (BOC) was brought under the Labour Department, the rush of clients to the office has increased manifold,” said a senior employee.

Srinagar, March 31
Seven passengers were among 13 persons injured in five road accidents in Kashmir valley, police today said.

A passenger bus on its way to Srinagar from Anantnag district turned turtle near Chandhara at Awantipora resulting in injuries to seven passengers, a police spokesman said. All the injured passengers were shifted to sub-district hospital, Pampore, for treatment.

Shakeela Begum (50) of Pazalpora village was injured when she was hit by a passenger cab at Brakpora in Anantnag district.

In Kupwara district, a passenger cab hit and injured a pedestrian at Batergam village. Identified Bashir Ahmad Gojri (20) of Batergam village was shifted to a hospital, the spokesman said.

In Kupwara district, a passenger cab on way from Trehgam to Kupwara town collided with a motorcycle at Tikker village resulting in injuries to motorcyclist Hilal Ahmad Lone (30) and pillion rider Shabir Ahmad Bhat.

The two injured were shifted to sub-district hospital, Kupwara, for treatment from where Lone was referred to SKIMS Hospital here and Bhat was referred to Bone and Joints Hospital for further treatment.

An unidentified vehicle hit and injured two pedestrians identified as Muzaffar Ahmad Dar and Zahoor Ahmad Dar, both residents of Boniyar area Baramulla district, at Barsoo in Pulwama district, the spokesman said. Both the injured were shifted to sub-district hospital, Pampore, for treatment.

Srinagar, March 31
Mutahidda Majlis-e-Mushawarat, the separatist council spearheading the demand for return of the bodies of 2001 Parliament attack convict Muhammad Afzal Guru and 1960s militant commander Mohammad Maqbool Butt, has mellowed down this week’s protest calendar, limiting it to only two days.

The council has called for a shutdown on Saturday and asked the religious leaders at mosques to lead protests after Friday congregational prayers later this week. It has also appealed the residents to run their businesses on Sunday as a compensatory working day instead of on Saturday.

Mutahidda Majlis-e-Mushawarat, which was formed after the hanging of Guru to spearhead protests to demand the return of the bodies, includes both the factions of separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference, hardline women separatist outfit Dukhataran-e-Millat and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. While Guru was hanged in Tihar jail last month, Butt was hanged there in February 1984. Both of them were buried inside the jail.

The protest calendars of the past weeks had included call for demonstrations by different sections of the society on daily basis. However, the recent protest calendars issued by the separatist council have evoked a rudimentary response and except for the once-a-week shutdown, its call for daily protests has largely gone unheeded.

The past week’s shutdown, called by the council, also evoked a feeble response as most business establishments and traffic services remained functional in most parts of the Valley.

Kashmir remained closed for 23 days after the February 9 hanging of Guru, which sent the region into a spiral of protests, shutdowns and curfews.

In recent weeks, the region has shown signs which hinted the tension, which had gripped the region in the aftermath of Guru’s hanging, is slowly defusing.

Kupwara March 31
Several patients suffering from backache, skin, liver and spleen disorders and a few other diseases were effectively treated through “Regimental therapy” at Ayush unit of the sub-district hospital at Kupwara.

Nearly 370 patients were treated at the Ayush unit in the past one year. Doctors said many were fully cured of their diseases. Earlier, patients were forced to go to Srinagar for the therapy but in October last, the Directorate of Indian System of Medicine (ISM) provided the unit with necessary machines and other infrastructural facilities for the therapy.

The regimental therapy is a special method of treatment to improve constitution of the body by removing waste matters and improving the defence mechanism.

“This method of treatment is very effective for ailments like arthritis, backache, skin and other disorders. It is also very effective for correction of blood-related problems and relieves the patient of high blood pressure,” said unit’s senior medical and nodal officer Dr Shabir Ahmad Bhat.

The therapy includes hot and cold bath and steaming process for effective excretion of waste matters from the body. “A patient undergoes treatment for about 40 to 50 minutes and it is repeated at regular intervals. The biggest advantage of the therapy is that in most of the cases patients are not required to take antibiotics and pain killers,” Dr Bhat added.

He thanked ISM Director Dr Kabir for making the facility available in a backward district.

“Through intense steaming for about six weeks, I am relieved of the unbearable pain. I thanks doctors for curing me,” said Bashir Ahmad (58). Amina Begum said, “Doctors treated me for backache and joint pain by giving the therapy for about two months. I am feeling much better now.” The therapy clost Rs 600-700 at private clinics in Srinagar. “At the Ayush unit, I paid only Rs 50 as fee. I am relieved of my backache to a great extent,” said Haji Abdul Samad.

Dr Kabir said medicines would be made available soon at the unit. “Funds are expected to be released to purchase medicines. I am hopeful that medicines would be provided from the first week of May,” he said.

Srinagar, March 31
A local court has “kept in abeyance” a tender notice issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Bank recently after an entrepreneur approached the court with a complaint citing certain anomalies in the tendering process.

The court of 1st Additional Munsif, Srinagar, which issued the notice on Saturday, has stayed the whole tendering process till further hearing on April 15.

The tender notice was issued by the bank recently in the local print media, wherein procurement of rice, pulses, sugar among 300 different perishable and non-perishable items, amounting to crores of rupees was sought from the interested firms.

However, complainant Laibaika Trading Establishment, which had also participated in the tendering process, alleged that the bank had manipulated the tender notice and given undue preference to their favourite companies while floating the tenders.

“The bank advertised a tender notice seeking procurement of 300 different items, calling for quotations on the payment of Rs 500 to obtain the tender document,” said Umar Nazir Tibet Bakal, the proprietor of the complainant company in its application before the Court of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, who then assigned the matter to 1st Additional Munsif Javaid Ahmad.

“However, the J&K Bank had specified certain brands for the food items, which is believed to have been done to favour certain companies,” the application said.

“For pulses, the bank wants the procurement of only Rajdhani brand and likewise for the tea, the bank only wants a specific brand, which is unprecedented during any tendering process,” Umar Nazir stated in his complaint.

“The bank can give certain specifications for the quality of the items, but mentioning particular brand name raises suspicion,” he said and alleged that it showed that the “bank wants to appease certain businessmen.”

“Wanting procurement of only a particular brand defeats the purpose of open competition and tendering,” he submitted to the court, while praying for grant of interim relief and other orders from the court to stop the “corrupt practice.”

“Heard and considered. In view of the emergency pleaded prior notice as required is hereby dispensed with and till next date of hearing, the tender notice published in daily newspaper on March 26, 2013, shall remain in abeyance,” the court of 1st Additional Munsif Srinagar observed in its orders passed on Saturday.

“This order is however subject to objections from other side (J&K Bank) and the other side is at liberty to approach this court for modification/cancellation/or variation of this order by or before the next hearing,” the court further observed in its orders while posting the matter for further consideration on April 15.

Srinagar, March 31
The police has recovered a huge cache of banned drugs during a routine checking of vehicles on the outskirts of the city.

A police spokesman said an Hyundai Eon car was intercepted during a routine checking on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Tengpora. During search of the car, 600 bottles of a banned drug were recovered from the vehicle, the spokesman said. The spokesman said a case had been registered at the Batamaloo Police Station. 

Srinagar, March 31
With an objective to discuss the career planning of the students enrolled in the department, Directorate of Distance Education,

University of Kashmir (KU), organised a ‘course representatives meet’ for the students for various courses through distance mode.

Vice-Chancellor of KU Prof Talat Ahmad was the chief guest on the occasion.

While inaugurating the programme, he stressed on the need to develop a strategic approach to deliver quality education and equip students with the required knowledge, skills and competencies to make them employable. He emphasised that there was a need for students to connect to a wider environment and real situations to be able to apply the theories, concepts, models and strategies. Prof Talat Ahmad advised the students to explore avenues across the globe and informed them about various initiatives being taken by the University for generating employment opportunities.

Prof Neelofer Khan, Director, Directorate of Distance Education, in her welcome address stressed upon the need to initiate innovative programmes for distance learners and to make these programmes more meaningful and result oriented. She said the various measures initiated by the directorate to provide students with greater learning opportunities included meet the eminent, industrial visits, entrepreneurial and skill development programmes etc.

Prof Shabir A Bhat, Director, Business School and Career Planning and Counselling, KU, said since the advent of the new economic policy and the consequent emergence of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation regime, the domain of business education has diversified and came under stiff competition all across the globe.

The address was followed by a thought provoking session by the representatives of IYOGI, a Delhi based business processing outsourcing company, which included Naveed Ahmad, Vice-President IYOGI, Gurgoan and Manshu Singh, HR Head.

They presented an overview of opportunities for the youth in the corporate sector in India and abroad. At the end, the students asked them questions, which were answered by the guests.

Vice-Chancellor of KU Prof Talat Ahmad emphasised that there was a need for students to connect to a wider environment and real situations to be able to apply the theories, concepts, models and strategies. Prof Talat Ahmad advised the students to explore avenues across the globe and informed them about various initiatives being taken by the University for generating employment opportunities.

Srinagar, March 31
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar distributed cheques among fire victims and beneficiaries of Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan at Ganderbal today.

During his visit of the district, he presided over a detailed review meeting of physical and financial achievements. The Deputy Commissioner (DC), Ganderbal, Itrat Hussain Rafiqi and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.

“Sagar was informed that 98 per cent of the Rs 49 crore funds of the district plan were spent on the execution of various development works and welfare schemes in the district during 2012-13. Rs 22 crore were expended on various road projects while 114 km road length had been macadamised in the district. Work on five bridges at a cost of Rs 6.90 crore was apace, out of which one had been completed at Gundi Rehman,” a spokesman said.

Speaking on the occasion, Sagar stressed upon the officers to immediately start work on new targets fixed for the year 2013-14 without wasting time for approvals. He said officers should not keep projects lingering for petty things.

“Don’t keep projects lingering for small procedures” he said.

Sagar also directed the DC to acquire additional land of 700 kanals for Central University for which 3,400 kanals had already been acquired and Rs 20 crore had been disbursed as compensation to the land owners.

Srinagar, March 31
The J&K Police organised a talent hunt competition in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday. Many youngsters from the three districts of north Kashmir took part in the competition.

The competition ‘Choona Hai Aasmaan’ was held under the civic action programme of the J&K Police, north Kashmir range.

A police spokesman said the function was attended by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, north Kashmir Range, JP Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP), Baramulla, Zubair Khan and other senior officers.

DIG Singh, in his address, appreciated the participants who had come from various districts.

“I assure the participants and other members of the society that such activities will be carried out at range and district levels in the future,” Singh said.

At the end of the occasion, prizes were distributed among the winners.

Srinagar, March 31
After receiving complaints regarding the absence of many field employees, the Rural Development Department (RDD) has asked the officials to strictly maintain movement register.

“It has been observed that the field officers are not maintaining their movement registers and as such, it has become very difficult to ascertain their whereabouts. It is as such affects all the assistant commissioners (development), project officers, district planning officers, executive engineers, block development officers, panchayat inspectors and junior engineers to maintain movement register,” an order issued by the Director, Rural Development, Kashmir, Altaf Ahmed Mir, read.

Sources in the department said maintaining of the movement register was a practice that was to be followed by the employees during their field visits, but most of the officials in the department were not following the norms.

“We have been experiencing that whenever any senior official visits the department, he is informed that one or the other officer is on a field visit. But many officers do not maintain the records of their visits affecting the functioning of the department. So, it is mandatory to maintain the movement register,” said a senior RDD officer.

Not only the seniors, but also the junior officials of the department like panchayat secretaries, had been asked to submit their advance tour programme well-in-time to the BDOs.

“Their (panchayat secretaries) salaries will be released only after receipt and check of their work done tour diaries,” the order read.

The officers have been asked to strictly follow the new directions.

“Any negligence shall be viewed seriously and disciplinary action shall be taken against the defaulting officers,” the order said.