Anantnag, April 3
Lawyers at the District Court here suspended their work today after an FIR was lodged against three advocates for beating up a woman in the court premises yesterday.

The Bar Association of Anantnag suspended their professional duties in support of the accused lawyers. They demanded that a counter FIR be registered against the woman, who along with two other persons, had beaten up the accused lawyers and ransacked the chamber of one of them.

Taking cognisance of a complaint lodged by 30-year-old Khalida, wife of Mudasir Ahmad Khanday of Larkipora, Dooru, the police yesterday registered an FIR against three lawyers, including a woman.

Khalida had moved the court against her husband over some domestic issue and yesterday after the hearing of the case she alleged that the lawyers of her husband attacked her.

“The woman was taken to District Hospital Anantnag and was referred to Children and Maternity Hospital in Anantnag,” reports said.

Doctors at the hospital said the woman was bleeding profusely and had to be admitted and kept under preventive observation.

The Bar Association at the District Court, Anantnag, however, refuted all allegations and said it was Khalida and her two accomplices who attacked the lawyers and not the other way round.

“Khalida, along with Tanveera and her husband Javaid ransacked the chamber of Farooq Ahmad, a senior lawyer, pleading the case of Khalida’s husband,” said Reyaz Ahmad Khan, acting president of the Bar Association.

He said the trio then attacked the lawyer and another woman lawyer, thrashed them and used abusive language.

“The police acted in haste and didn’t conduct any investigation before registering the case,” said Fayaz Sodagar, executive member of the Bar Association.

Khan said they immediately lodged their protest with the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), who in turn summoned the SSP concerned and asked them to lodge a counter FIR.

“As of now, no FIR on our behalf has been registered,” Khan said.

He said the Bar Association would file a defamation suit against the woman. “We will also move a court against some media houses for misreporting the incident,” members of the Bar Association said.

They refuted the police claims, declaring the accused lawyers absconding, and said the lawyers were present within the court premises even at the time the police came to lodge an FIR.

Meanwhile, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Saifullah today said on the floor of the Legislative Assembly that an inquiry would be conducted into the incident and culprits would be punished as per the law.

He alleged that the lawyers had beaten up the said woman mercilessly and action would be taken against them.

Srinagar, April 3
Teachers serving under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in various government schools of the Valley are yet to receive their salaries since September 2012. An amalgam of various government teachers today protested against the alleged injustice against them by the state government in Press Enclave, Lal Chowk.

“Eight months on, the state government hasn’t paid heed to our demands. Monthly salary is our right and we work hard for that but little do the authorities care. We even protested in February this year and we will launch a statewide agitation if the government turns a deaf ear to our demands,” said Showkat Ahmad Bhat, chairman, J&K Teachers Forum.

The protesting teachers also claimed support of various other government schoolteacher factions for the alleged injustice being meted out to the SSA teachers.

“We have the support of the Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum too and we are against the negative approach of the Education Department and the SSA wing for not releasing salaries, which are pending for the past six months. The government had released Rs 9,598.28 lakh to the SSA under order number 22 of Edu 2013 dated 10/1/2013 and Rs 3,633.27 lakh to Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) scheme but it has not been released to date by the departments concerned,” the leaders said.

Srinagar, April 3
Winters are in no mood to bid goodbye. After a brief spell, woollens and heating gadgets have made a comeback in households of the Valley due to temperature plunging several notches below normal for the past few days.

Though the April month usually signals an end to winters, the situation is different this year as people are still wearing woollens and the same are readily available at shops in important markets of the Valley.

“By now we usually put our fresh stocks of summer clothing, but this year no one seems to be interested in buying summer clothes. Sweaters, pullovers and jackets are still in vogue,” said Muhammad Ishfaq, owner of a fabrics shop at the Residency Road.

The overnight rain that was witnessed by the Valley yesterday even forced people to wear ‘Phiran’, which is an exclusive winter garment in the Valley and the most effective cold fighting winter-gear.

“It is strange that people are still draped in ‘Phirans’. Blame it on the unpredictable weather. There is a chill in the air just like the winters. However, schools have directed children to start wearing summer uniforms, which is not possible as of now,” Mumtaz Jan, a housewife said.

As for the heating appliances, they are again being used by people to fight the cold even if their usage means soaring power bills.

“It is surprising that we have to use heating gadgets at this time of the year but there seems to be no relent on the part of the cold weather,” said Tanveer Ahmad, a teacher.

Srinagar, April 3
Mountains in Kashmir were covered with fresh snow as rains lashed the region overnight and this morning for a second consecutive day today, bringing down the day temperature.

Snow fell over the Zabarwan mountain range, which rings around the Srinagar city on its eastern edge, covering the upper reaches of several mountain peaks with a white blanket.

This is for the second time since spring began in the region that Zabarwan Mountains have received snowfall.

Snow was also recorded in north Kashmir’s Gulmarg skiing resort where the minimum temperature dropped to minus 2 degrees Celsius, an official of the state Meteorological Department said.

Gulmarg resort received 2.4 mm of rainfall and 2.5 cm of snow overnight.

The official said rainfall was recorded in most parts of the region overnight, including in Srinagar city. Light rains continued in the region for the third consecutive day today.

Srinagar received 3.6 mm rainfall overnight and 8.4 mm rainfall during the day today, the official said.

In the afternoon, however, the sun shined brightly over the city, warming the cool morning weather.

The maximum temperature in the city was recorded at 14.9 degrees Celsius, which is two degrees below average normal while the night temperature fell to a low of 6.7 degrees Celsius.

The Weather Department forecast bulletin said light rain and thundershowers might occur at one or two places in the region.

Anantnag, April 3
A complete shutdown paralysed Shopian town and its adjoining areas for the fourth consecutive day today, while a negotiation between the district authorities and civil society failed to bear any fruit.

Violent protests amid shutdowns are being witnessed in this south Kashmir district since Sunday, after police detained some youth from different areas of the town on Saturday.

The police on Saturday evening detained one Zubair Ahmad Turay, son of Bashir Ahmad Turay and a resident of the Bonna Bazar area in Shopian, and Shakir Ahmad Mir of the Zainapora area.

Mir, according to reports, is the district president of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.

The people in Shopian are demanding an immediate release of the two and a complete shutdown followed by widespread violent clashes are being witnessed in this south Kashmir district ever since.

The police paying no heed to public protests booked the two under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and were shifted to an undisclosed jail.

“Yes, the two of them have been booked under the PSA and have been shifted to a jail,” said Shopian Superintendent of Police Mumtaz Ahmad.

Family members and neighbours of Zubair have been maintaining that he is being harassed unnecessarily by the policemen.

“They (the police) have been harassing Zubair and his family members unnecessarily,” said the protesting people. “He has been detained more than six times so far,” they said.

Reports said all commercial establishments remained closed throughout the day and traffic too was thin on the roads. Schools and colleges too remained closed in the area.

Stray incidents of stone-throwing were reported from some parts of Shopian town. “The police resorted to baton charge and also fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters,” they said.

A meeting between the civil society members and the district authorities was held today at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

The people demanded release of the youth, which according to the sources, were turned down by the police officials.

However, Shopian Deputy Commissioner Javaid Ahmad Khan said the people went away satisfied. “I think the shutdown will not continue now. The people left my office satisfied,” he said.

Srinagar, April 3
After the rigorous exercise of regularising domestic LPG connections last autumn, 100 per cent home delivery of cooking gas in Srinagar city will be a reality soon. The situation during the last couple of months has delayed the process. A complete ban is also imposed on point delivery beginning this month, which had become a common feature over the years in the trouble-torn Kashmir.

Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) and Transport Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan told the Legislative Assembly in Jammu yesterday that the home delivery of LPG cylinders in Srinagar and Jammu had proved successful. He said 95 per cent consumers of Srinagar and 92 per cent consumers of Jammu were availing the home delivery facility at present. He added that all major towns of the state would be provided home delivery facility of LPG cylinders from June this year and the facility would be extended to rural areas also after July.

“We have started from zero and are close to achieving a target of 100 per cent home delivery”, said Mir Mushtaq Ahmad, director, CA&PD, Kashmir Division, adding a public awareness campaign was launched to ensure the home delivery.

The department had during the past couple of months issued lists of dealers in the capital city and other major towns of the Valley with contact numbers for booking cylinders to ensure the home delivery. As of now, consumers in Srinagar get the refill within two to three days after booking while efforts are on to provide it within a day, Mir said. He said thrust was now on starting the home delivery service in other major towns of the Valley, where nearly 25 per cent target had been achieved so far.

The law and order situation in Kashmir, particularly Srinagar, during February and March had led to delay in the home delivery system and a ban on the point delivery system. Director CA&PD told The Tribune that point delivery had been enforced since March 5 but due to curfew and general strikes, it was delayed and now the point delivery system was completely stopped in Srinagar from April 1.

However, the LPG dealers in Srinagar have been facing difficulty on account of access to certain interior localities and pleas from working couples who are not available at their places at the time of home delivery of LPG.

These consumers have been approaching the dealers in Srinagar for point delivery system, said one of the dealers.

The Central government’s decision to put a cap on subsidised LPG cylinders for domestic consumption and the home delivery facility had also streamlined the distribution system.

According to Mir Mushtaq Ahmad, there has been a decline in the number of domestic LPG consumers, as only registered consumers get the subsidised cylinders. 

Srinagar, April 3
Two days after the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested three employees of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution on charges of eve-teasing and wrongful restraint, a complaint was lodged with the National Commission for Women (NCW) over the incident.

The complainants have urged stringent punishment for the accused found guilty of “sexual harassment” of the woman employee.

The complaint was filed by the Citizen’s Welfare Council (CWC), a non-government organisation, and the Jammu and Kashmir Health Education and Literacy Trust.

“We have filed a complaint with the NCW because security of women is a primary concern of society. The accused must be given exemplary punishment,” Chairman, CWC, Bashir Ahmed Bhat said.

On April 1, the police had arrested Ajaz Ahmad Khan, president of CAPD Employees Union, along with two others - Waseem Ahmad and Abdul Qayoom - under Sections 294 and 341 of the CrPC.

The trio had allegedly misbehaved with the woman, who is also an employee of the department.

Bhat said while the state government was contemplating to make new laws seeking more stringent punishment for sexual crimes against women, sexual harassment of women is increasing.

“We urge upon the government that strict laws should be framed to check crimes against women. The state government should table the Criminal Amendment Bill, 2013, in the J&K Assembly immediately to give more teeth to the existing laws for offences against women,” Bashir added.

Later, the three employees were bailed out by a local court in Srinagar.

Srinagar, April 3
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the police to present all case diaries related to the disappearance of Showkat Ahmad Paul, a resident of Lawaypora and who has been dubbed as “fidayeen” by a section of the media, by April 10.

The family of Paul, who is “missing” since June 23, 2003, from the Lal Chowk area, approached the high court with a petition seeking his whereabouts. “After Paul went missing in 2003, the police on the directions of the Chief Judicial Magistrate registered an FIR in Kothibagh in 2005. We want to know his whereabouts,” the family said in its petition.

“We are constantly being harassed by security agencies after the media reports surfaced that our son was alive and was planning a fidayeen attack,” it added.

Justice Husnain Masoodi later directed the Kothibagh SHO - where the missing case is registered - to present all the case dairies by April 10, the next date of hearing.

Paul, the family said, was a college student when he was allegedly picked up by an Army Major on June 23, 2003, at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. Since the day Paul went missing, his family has been trying to know his whereabouts. The family has also visited various jails across the country to trace their son.

Paul’s mother Fareeda is also a member of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons and she has been taking part in the monthly sit-in protests in Srinagar for demanding the whereabouts of their dear ones.

Srinagar, April 3
The separatist National Front (NF) led by Nayeem Ahmad Khan has expressed concern over the policy of “re-arresting” separatist leaders and the youth in general.

A spokesman of the NF said a meeting was held here today and the party leaders expressed concern over the re-arresting of its chairman, Nayeem Ahmad Khan under “false cases”.

“After Khan, re-arresting of Mushtaq ul Islam, Mir Hafiz Ullah, Mohammad Yousuf Falahi and others, it is clear that they have been put behind bars even against the judicial orders,” the spokesman said.

It was decided that after consulting the legal experts “some solid steps” would be taken to counter the re-arresting policy of the government, the spokesman added.

Kupwara, April 3
Patients and attendants are facing hardships due to lack of space and furniture in the ward block of sub-district hospital, Sopore. The hospital’s out-patient department (OPD) receives around 1200-1300 patients almost everyday. Patients of remote areas of Sopore also visit the hospital for treatment.

Residents demanded that the construction work on the new ward block should be completed at the earliest and the block made functional for their convenience.

The new ward block is 140-bedded and the existing ward has only 40 beds.

They, however, expressed satisfaction that a team of specialist doctors under the supervision of the BMO were working round the clock to treat patients. In spite of absence of staff, the hospital management is working hard to help treat patients.

“Patients are also facing issues at the ward block due to lack of furniture and space. At times, two patients are forced to use one bed. The block remains jam-packed with patients round the clock as the hospital witnesses tremendous rush,” said Haji Mohd Ashraf, president, Traders’ Federation, Sopore.

Ashraf hailed the efforts of the BMO, Sopore, Syed Masood Ahmad.

“He has been working hard to ensure that every single patient gets treatment to the best of his satisfaction. He visits almost each patient to enquire about the treatment,” Ashraf said. Residents also demanded to expedite the construction work of the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) located near the sub-district hospital.

They said nearly Rs 3 crore had been earmarked for the construction of the hospital but only a fraction of funds spent so far on it.

They said the MCH would reduce patient rush at the lone maternity hospital, Lal Ded, in Srinagar.

“The ailing women and children are forced to visit Lal Ded hospital for treatment. The construction work is going on at a snail’s pace and for months the work was suspended for unknown reasons. The hospital would help reduce rush of patients at Lal Ded hospital,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a local resident.

The BMO said: “Despite shortage of staff, we are working hard to provide treatment to patients. The hospital needs the services of 30 doctors and 97 paramedical staff.”

“The new ward block is likely to be commissioned in April. We are running the MCH on an internal arrangement basis,”  he added.

Srinagar, April 3
Two senior academicians from the University of Kashmir have been appointed as expert members in the Jammu and Kashmir State Biodiversity Board, which was established by the State Department of Forests in February 2013.

The academicians include Dean, College Development Council (DCDC), Prof Ghulam Mustafa Shah and Prof Azra Nahid Kamili, HoD, Environmental Science, of the university.

Besides Professor Shah and Dr Kamili, the list also includes the Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir Agricultural University of Science and Technology SKAUST (Jammu) and VC-SKAUST (Kashmir) and the Director Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh, as the expert members. The term of the members will be two years.

Professor Shah, who earlier served as the Head, Department of Zoology, and Dean, Biological Sciences at the university, expressed his gratitude to the authorities for his appointment as a member of the board and termed its formulation as a significant development that would explore scientific and technological innovations to meet the challenges of water, food and health security of the state.

Srinagar, April 3
Fire damaged a house in the Mattan area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, the police said today.

The house of Mohammad Yousaf Tantary, Mohammad Ramzan Mir and Fayaz Ahmad Khan of Rambirpora village of Anantnag district was damaged in the fire last evening, the police said.

It added that the fire led to partial damage of the house. Later, it was brought under control with the help of fire engines.