Srinagar, May 22
The ‘fake’ dervish, who was arrested on charge of raping four minor girls, was preaching mysticism for the past nearly one decade in different parts of Kashmir region and had gathered a network of followers.

Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Shamsabad area of Budgam district, was arrested by the police on Tuesday on charge of raping four of his ‘disciples’ - all minor girls.

Bhat’s youngest victim was a 14-year-old girl from south Kashmir and the other three were aged below 18 years, said a police source said. It was these four minor girls, all residents of south Kashmir districts, who first approached the police with a complaint of sexual exploitation which blew the fake dervish’s cover.

The police said the medical examination of the four girls had confirmed that they were raped.

The police was investigating to identify more possible victims and other angles including whether the fake dervish was a part of any network which supplied girls for flesh trade, a police source said.

In the recent years, Bhat was a frequent speaker on local cable channels delivering lectures on religion and mysticism. He also widely advertised about himself in vernacular dailies claiming to have achieved ‘morifat’, a mystical intuitive knowledge of the spiritual truth.

Bhat, a divorcee in his early forties, lured the minor girls by telling them that they would be “purified” by having a relationship with him. When the four minor girls recorded their statement before the police, Bhat was present there and remained silent, the source said. “He had nothing to say in his defence,” the source said.

The source said Bhat’s rise in the past three years was phenomenal. “It was in the last three years that he began to expand his activities. He took out rallies, addressed people in shrines and mosques. His fan following grew so much that people would wait for entire day to see him,” the source said.

Bhat’s influence in the area had grown so much that when the police got a clue about his sexual exploitation they had to wait for a fortnight fearing his arrest could lead to a law and order problem.

“Since we received the first report about his activities about him 15 days ago, we had to wait for the right time to arrest him,” the source said.

An estimated several thousand girls, according to a police officer posted in the area where Bhat operated, had stayed at his bogus seminary during the past 10 years where they were provided boarding facility during the two-month “spiritual” course.

Khan Sahib Sub-Division Police Officer Bashir Ahmad said Bhat was operating in the area for the past 10 years and ran a bogus seminary in Budgam district which was well decorated, spaciously and spread over two residential houses.

The officer said, so far, one of his accomplices identified as Abdul Gani Ganai of Yaar village of Budgam who was working as a cook at the bogus seminary had been arrested and searches were being conducted for another accomplice, a resident of Srinagar’s Zakoora locality.

Budgam Senior Superintendent of Police Uttam Chand said the investigation was expected to be lengthy. “We have achieved a major breakthrough and arrested the main accused, we are now looking for what else is there,” he said. 

Srinagar, May 22
Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir and two other MLAs called on Governor NN Vohra here today and felicitated him on his appointment for the second term.

During their meeting, the Governor and the Agriculture Minister discussed several important matters relating to the functioning of the two state farm universities and the need for effective coordination between the varsities and the state government extension agencies to ensure the rapid growth of the agriculture sector, particularly to secure diversification of agriculture to encourage cultivation of low-volume high value crops and the promotion of dairy and poultry farming and other allied sectors.

The Governor and Mir also discussed other important issues relating to the future of the state. Mir thanked the Governor for taking keen interest in the growth of agriculture in the state.

During their meeting, Pahalgam MLA Rafi Ahmad Mir discussed with the Governor, who is chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, various matters relating to the ensuing Amarnath Yatra and, besides, issues concerning several important development programmes being executed in Anantnag district.

Hakeem Mohammad Yasin, Member of the State Legislative Assembly, also called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan here today to felicitate on his continuing association with the future growth of the state.

During his meeting with the Governor, Yasin discussed various matters concerning the implementation of socio-economic development schemes and programmes and other issues relating to the interests of the state.

Srinagar, May 22
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has granted Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) four weeks’ time to bring on record the details of the violation of the Srinagar Master Plan.

The high court has also directed the SMC and the police to file status reports with regard to their proposal about regulating the street hawkers and vendors in the city. The directions were issued by a Bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the authorities, including the traffic police, for the street hawkers and vendors on Srinagar roads for hassle-free traffic movement.

On May 8, the high court had asked the authorities to furnish details of all the unauthorised constructions that had taken place in the city in violation of the Srinagar Master Plan over the years.

However, as the matter came up before the Bench today, the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), one of the respondents in the PIL, submitted a copy of the Srinagar Master Plan before the court. The SMC, however, sought more time to file details of the illegal constructions that had taken place in violation of the Master Plan.

“We grant four weeks’ time to the SMC to file their response by bringing on record the violations of the Srinagar Master Plan, which have already come on record by virtue of the stand taken by the Advocate General that there are violations of the Master Plan as many residential areas are being used for commercial purposes in the city,” the Bench observed. The Bench also directed the SMC and the police to file status reports with regard to the proposal for regulating the hawkers and street vendors in the city.

In the PIL filed by Mujeeb Andrabi through his counsel Firdous A Parray, it had submitted that the respondent authorities had failed to provide better living conditions to the people of Srinagar city.

The petitioners had further prayed the high court to take “strong note” of the illegal constructions and violation of the Master Plan in the city and pass directions to the authorities concerned for demolishing such structures in the interests of the public.

“This petition is filed to clear the hawker menace, which has made the life of the residents of the city miserable, traffic movement gets slowed down on the roads, which are already facing heavy vehicular movement,” the PIL had stated. “It is prayed that the authorities be directed to make Srinagar a hawker-free city by removing all the hawkers and provide them alternative space,” the petitioner stated in the PIL, adding that the authorities be directed to remove all illegal structures, erected in violation of the Srinagar Master Plan.

“As the Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation has failed to check the menace of illegal constructions, the supervisory powers be assigned to the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir,” it added. 

Srinagar, May 22
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be releasing a commemorative stamp in the memory of celebrated Kashmiri poet Ghulam Ahmad Mehjoor here next month.

In a statement here, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Prof Saifuddin Soz said he met the Prime Minister in New Delhi today where he agreed to release the stamp.

He said the Prime Minister was expected to visit Kashmir on June 25 and 26. Soz said Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Communication, was also expected to be present during the stamp-release function.

“The proposal for this commemorative stamp was initially mooted by the Mehjoor Foundation. Later, when I raised this issue in the Rajya Sabha as a special mention on November 21, 2011, the Government of India responded positively and agreed to release a commemorative stamp on Shair-i-Kashmir Mehjoor. It is a very happy occasion that the people of the state will have an auspicious occasion to remember Gulam Ahmad Mehjoor, who was accepted very widely as harbinger of message of harmony and togetherness of mankind,” he added.

Srinagar, May 22
A 10-bed Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) was inaugurated by Medical Education Minister Taj Mohiuddin today at the Valley’s only children hospital.

The NRC has been established with support from the J&K National Rural Health Mission and is meant for management of children with severe acute malnutrition.

An official spokesman said the admitted children would be rehabilitated nutritionally with provision of full diet to accompanying mothers also.

“The diet is prepared in a designated kitchen in the NRC by a cook under guidance of nutrition counsellor. The mothers/guardians are provided nutritional counselling for home-based nutritional rehabilitation upon discharge from the nutrition rehabilitation centre. The discharged patients are provided free transportation back home through JSSK scheme of the NRHM,” he said.

A recreation and play way area has been developed where the admitted children would be provided toys, non-formal education aids and television with DVD and dish connection.

“The NRC is manned by a nine-member team with an assistant professor of paediatrics as consultant in charge. The team selected after due process include one medical officer, one nutrition counsellor, four nurses for round-the-clock nursing care, one cook and two attendants-cum-cleaners,” he said.

Srinagar, May 22
The state cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here yesterday, approved various decisions, including those related to relief for earthquake-hit areas in Doda and the establishment of the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation (JKMSC).

An official spokesman said sanction was accorded to the submission of memorandum for grant of special package involving Rs 607.77 crore to Government of India for the rehabilitation of the affected people and for restoration of public infrastructure in Districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban which were devastated in the recent earthquake.

The Cabinet also approved expansion of engineering education at degree level, strictly as per the norms prescribed by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), Government of India and subject to the approval by the AICTE and ‘no objection’ from the Higher Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir Government. At present, only 10 per cent aspirants who apply for engineering courses in the state are accommodated. Therefore, more engineering colleges are required in the state.

The Cabinet also approved a master plan of Yusmarg Development Authority. The document will be made available for public viewing in DC Office, Budgam and in the office of Chief Executive Officer, Yusmarg Development Authority, Yusmarg.

In another decision, the Cabinet approved unification in the pay scale of patwaries notionally with effect from 15.12.2005 and monetarily from 22.02.2008. The Cabinet also accorded sanction to the establishment of the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation (JKMSC) for the purpose of purchase of drugs, instruments and disposables and other equipment required in the healthcare institutions.

The corporation will achieve the objective of economizing the purchases, facilitate procurement of quality and standard drugs and put in place a fool-proof drug testing mechanism. 

Srinagar, May 22
Dozens of residents today protested on the banks of Dal Lake against the power tariff hike in Kashmir. The protest also left hundreds of vehicles, including that of tourists, stranded for almost an hour.

The residents of various localities around Nishat colony assembled on the boulevard road that connects Srinagar with the famous Mughal Gardens and staged a dharna.

“The protesters did not even allow the tourist buses to ply on the road and they shouted slogans against the government and Power Development Department (PDD),” said an eyewitness.

The protesters said the government had increased the power tariff many times in the recent past but failed to provide electricity to their localities. — TNS

Srinagar, May 22
CPI (M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Wednesday reacted sharply to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s claim that government was spending more on power purchase than the amount realised from the consumers, saying people cannot be blamed for administrative problems.

“The much-hyped half-left contemplation on return of power projects from the NHPC, a complete inertia in terms of initiatives to start new power projects and controlling the huge Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses are responsible for the electricity crisis in the state,” Tarigami said in a statement.

He said the government was “not doing any favour” to the people of the state by purchasing power on market rates available to it.

Tarigami, while referring to the dismal revenue recovery and the transmission and distribution losses, said the government seemed in a “deep slumber vis-à-vis the shortage of manpower in the Power Development Department (PDD)”.

“The PDD is facing acute shortage of manpower for manning the power infrastructure in the state. Around 6,000 posts are lying vacant in the department in all categories. These include gazetted, non-gazetted and class four posts categories. Why the government has not filled these posts, which are an essential component of the revenue recovery section,” he said.

He demanded immediate regularisation of all the daily wagers and casual

labourers who had completed seven years of service in PDD and other engineering departments. “It is appalling that we have entered in 2013 but the government is far from fulfilling its commitment to these daily wagers. The administrative apathy towards their genuine issues is against the canons of justice and fair play,” Tarigami added.

Srinagar, May 22
Independent MLA Abdul Rashid Sheikh criticised the ruling National Conference (NC) for crossing all moralities and alleged that the party could go to any extent to exploit Kashmiris in order to get their votes.

Addressing his workers at Panzala Rafiabad in north Kashmir on Wednesday, Sheikh said by organising a function to pay tributes to late Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone and offering “double Farooq” accord to Umar Farooq, head of moderate Hurriyat Conference, the NC had tried to misinterpret the history and had “got exposed by showing worst kind of opportunities”.

“If Ali Mohammad Sagar and his party honestly believe that these two leaders have sacrificed their lives for the honour and dignity of state, why did the NC not join resistance movement in 1989 and left Kashmiris at the mercy of security forces,” Sheikh said in a statement.

“Who does not know that NC has been crying all along since 1989 that the resistance movement, of which Lone sahib and Mirwaiz were front pioneers, is a movement started at the behest of Pakistan and separatist are befooling people. Obviously, when suddenly the NC has started glorifying the sacrifices of these leaders, anyone will raise doubts,” the MLA said.

He said the attempt was to befool people and create confusions within the ranks of Hurriyat, just to implement the principle of divide and rule, but Kashmiris knew that since 1947, NC’s one-point agenda had been to grab power by hook or crook. 

Srinagar, May 22
A faction of Peoples’ Conference, led by Bilal Lone, today observed the death anniversary of Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone in Kupwara by organising a rally.

In his address, Bilal Gani Lone, who is also an executive member of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, reiterated his stand on the elections and the boycott strategy of the separatists.

The rally was organised at Loneharray, the native village of Abdul Gani Lone, who was killed on May 21, 2002 in Srinagar by unknown gunmen.

Bilal, son of Gani Lone, said he had no plans to fight the elections but made it clear that time was not ripe to issue boycott statements, reports said.

Apart from Bilal, the other leaders who addressed the rally in Kupwara today included Prof Bhat.