Srinagar, June 4
In a new twist to the ongoing probe into the “misdeeds” of “fake dervish Gulzar”, who was arrested on charges of raping minor girls, one of his women supporters has levelled charges of rape against three police officials, one of whom is in charge of the ongoing investigation into the matter.

The woman has also alleged that she was forced to give a statement against Gulzar before a magistrate in Budgam and threatened with death if she didn’t toe the police line in her statement.

The police has, however, dismissed the allegations as an attempt to scuttle the ongoing investigation against Gulzar and aimed at maligning the image of police force.

In her complaint before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, the 19-year-old girl from Nambla village in Uri, north Kashmir, has alleged that she was a part of the group of Gulzar’s supporters who had demonstrated against his arrest in the Press Enclave area of Srinagar on May 23 and was subsequently arrested by the police from Kothibagh police station in Srinagar on that day.

She has alleged that from Kothibagh police station she was taken to Khansahab police station and later released on the request of her maternal uncle.

“The police and media came and I lodged a protest against the police at Khansahab but this proved devastating for me as I was then picked up by the police at Khansahab and tortured to hilt,” she alleged in her complaint filed through her lawyer Mushtaq a Dar.

“I was forced to give a statement against Gulzar Ahmad Bhat before a magistrate at Budgam, as I was told that all my family members would be done to death in case I don’t depose what the police at Khansahab told me to before the magistrate. After being tortured, I was threatened with instant death”, she has alleged.

She further alleged that she was later raped at some unknown place in Srinagar, as her father was “kicked and thrown” out of the police vehicle she was in near Hyderpora petrol pump in Srinagar.

“I was a member of the peaceful procession, which was taken in favour of Gulzar, now labelled as ‘fake dervish’. The accused who raped me need to be punished,” she has submitted in her written complaint before the CJM, Srinagar.

The three police officers accused of rape by the girl include Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Khansahab, Budgam, SHO, Khansahab Police Station and another police officer posted in the same area.

The CJM after acting on the complaint has “forwarded” the complaint “in original” to the SSP, Srinagar, with a further direction to get the matter investigated by some senior police official. The court has further asked the SSP to file a compliance report in this regard within a week.

The police has dismissed the allegations levelled by the girl as a ploy to scuttle the ongoing investigation into the alleged misdeeds of Gulzar.

“We are verifying whether the girl is the same who had earlier deposed against Gulzar before a magistrate”, SSP Budgam Uttam Chand told The Tribune.

“However, the allegations seem to be an attempt by the supporters of Gulzar to scuttle the ongoing investigation against him”, he said, adding this was also an attempt to malign the image of Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The CASE FILE

Gulzar Reshi, alias Syed Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, was arrested on May 21 after four minor girls charged him with rape

A woman supporter of the ‘fake dervish’, in her complaint before a court in Srinagar, has alleged rape by three police officers, one of whom is currently investigating the case

The woman has alleged that she was forced a give a false statement against Gulzar before a magistrate

So far, six girls gave come forward and recorded their statements before the police against Gulzar 

Srinagar, June 4
A panel of Kashmir Ulema and religious heads, which was formed last week to monitor the ongoing investigation against dervish Gulzar, today met Inspector-General of Police (Kashmir) Abdul Gani Mir.

Mir, while promising a “fair and impartial probe”, assured the visiting delegation that the police without succumbing to any “pressure” would “unearth and expose” the whole racket behind the misdeeds of Gulzar.

Gulzar Reshi, alias Syed Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, was arrested on May 21 after four minor girls lodged a joint complaint before the police charging him with rape. As per the investigators, the medical examination of the girls has also confirmed rape.

Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (Joint Council of Islamic Scholars) in a statement issued today said a delegation comprising panel members headed by Jamiat-Al-Hadees secretary Abdul Rehman today met IGP (Kashmir) Abdul Gani Mir to express and convey the “reservations and restlessness of Kashmiri people” over the evil deeds of Gulzar in the garb of religion.

“The meeting was held in a pleasant atmosphere during which IGP Mir assured the panel that the police would not let the people down in this matter and won’t accept any pressure or coercion while investigating the matter”, the statement said.

“IGP Mir assured that the police will investigate the matter thoroughly and expose the whole racket behind the evil deeds as the police is also a part of the society and is also feeling ashamed by the evil deeds of Gulzar”, the Ulema Council said in the statement.

During its meeting on May 28, Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulemahad had formed two panels following the arrest of the self-styled faith healer and dervish Gulzar Ahmad Bhat alias Syed Gulzar Reshi on charges of raping minor girls in his seminary located in Budgam district of central Kashmir.

While one of the panels with prominent religious scholars of Kashmir as its members was tasked with working out a “joint” fatwa (Islamic decree) against Gulzar, another panel was entrusted with ensuring and monitoring a fair and impartial probe into the matter by the police.

Srinagar, June 4
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today clubbed a public interest litigation (PIL) by moderate Hurriyat faction seeking a ban on the use of pellet guns and pepper gas with other identical petitions already being heard by the court.

The PIL filed by Hurriyat Conference through its legal cell would now be heard by the court on June 27 along with other petition, wherein notices have already been issued to the respondents, including the J&K Government.

The PIL was filed by Hurriyat legal cell head Syed Mannan Bukhari through his counsel Ajaz A Dar on May 28 and it was listed before a Bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey in the regular cause list.

While counsel Ajaz advocated for admitting the matter and issuing notices to the respondents, Advocate-General M Ishaq Qadri, representing the state government, pleaded for clubbing the matter along with identical matter already before the court.

The Advocate-General further submitted that the high court is already hearing two identical PILs calling for banning the use of pepper gas.

After hearing both the sides and agreeing with the view taken by the AG, the high court directed for clubbing the PIL by Hurriyat Conference along with identical PILs in the matter and called for listing the same on June 27.

The two other PILs calling for banning the use of pepper gas have been filed by advocate BA Misri, Mian Rouf and Nasir Qadri before the court, wherein notices to the respondents for filing their responses have already been issued by the high court.

The PIL by moderate Hurriyat has prayed that directions should be issued to the respondents not to use pellet guns or pepper gas on protesters and advocates for the use of non-lethal weapons such as water cannons on the protesters.

Scores of people have been injured by the pellet guns which were introduced to tackle protests after the 2010 unrest. Last month, a 20-year-old youth had received pellet injury in the old city area.

Besides, pepper gas is being used by the police and paramilitary forces during protests and it was also introduced after the 2010 street protests.

Srinagar, June 4
The J&K Hoteliers Club (JKHC) has urged the government to ensure round-the-clock power supply for the benefit of the tourism sector.

After an executive committee meeting of the club held here last evening, JKHC chairman Mushtaq Chaya said uninterrupted power supply was necessary to stabilise the tourism sector.

He also hailed the efforts of Tourism Minister GA Mir and Director Tourism, Kashmir, Talat Parvez, for their steps towards boosting tourism in the Valley as the sector had taken a hit in the aftermath of the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in February. Chaya expressed satisfaction that the tourist arrivals had started picking up yet again.

Stating that the Amarnath yatra was an “important component” of the state’s pilgrim tourism, he demanded that the government should entrust the sale of helicopter tickets for Amarnath yatra to the registered airlines only.

JKHC junior vice-chairman Amit Amla reiterated the demand that the government should give industrial benefits to tourism industry. “Tourism industry will further thrive here in the Valley if the government gives this important sector the benefits which are given to industrial sector,” he said.

The secretary-general of the club, Musadiq Shah, also said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should work for according industrial benefits to the tourism sector.

He also stressed for formulating a comprehensive tourism policy for the overall development of tourism.

During the meeting, JKHC joint secretary general Tariq Rashid Ghani said new members from Patnitop and Jammu had also joined the group.

Kupwara, June 4
Inhabitants of Amargund Sharkote in Handwara tehsil are groping in the dark for the past 10 days. The power supply to the village was snapped after a woman, Shaheena Akther, wife of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, suffered serious burn injuries when she accidentally touched a live low tension wire on the ground near her house.

Locals said following the incident on May 26, the power division Handwara snapped the supply forcing them to reel under darkness to date. They alleged that due to negligence of the Power Development Department (PDD), the woman was battling for life in the District Hospital, Handwara. “The woman is battling for life at the district hospital and the village is without power supply for the past 10 days. We have made several requests to the officials to restore the power supply but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” said Mohd Aslam, a local resident.

Locals said the mishap could have been avoided had the supply line been propelled tied on an electricity pole. “On the fateful evening, a wind disrupted the power supply line as it was loosely tied on a polar tree. The line fell on the ground and the poor woman became a victim of the department’s negligence,” said a local resident.

The inhabitants of Bhat Mohalla said most of the supply lines in the mohalla were lying suspended on poplar and other trees and a slight wind could lead to a mishap. They said despite written representation to the power division Handwara, nothing had been done to redress the problem. “The power supply lines pose a danger to people, especially children. A slight wind could disrupt the line and lead to an accident like the one happened in the recent past. The village should be supplied with poles with electrical lines properly tied over the poles,” said Mohd Afzal, a trader.

A senior power department official said, “The power division is assessing the number of electricity poles and conductors required for the village. We will soon start arranging the lines and restore the power supply in the village.” 

Kupwara, June 4
Normal life was hit in Karnah area of Kupwara district due to a general strike against dilapidated roads and lack of other basic facilities.

Schools, government and private offices remained closed. Shops and other commercial establishments, including banks, also remained closed and transport was off the roads.

“The government has ignored this bordering area, especially on the developmental front. Roads are in a bad condition and people are suffering immensely due to lack of basic amenities like healthcare, power and drinking water. It’s high time for the government to address problems of the people or declare Karnah as a non-government entity,” said Muneer Ahmad Khan, a local resident.

Residents demanded that they should be provided with the a telephone facility. “In this information age, we are deprived of telephone services. Politicians visit the area only when elections are round the corner. They make hollow claims of ensuring all basic facilities to the area only to woo the voters and achieve vested interests,” said Hayat Ahmad, a resident of Dragger village.

Locals also demanded that the primary healthcentre be upgraded to a District Hospital. “The hospital lacks many key healthcare facilities. Patients are suffering due to non-availability of specialist doctors like gynecologists and pediatricians,” said Abdul Hamid. The locals demanded that all major and links roads in the area should be macadamised.

Passengers remained stranded in Kupwara due to the strike. “No vehicle moved from Kupwara to Karnah today. We will be able to go back home tomorrow,” said a passenger. 

Srinagar, June 4
A Sikh body has taken exception to the “orders” of a private school management in north Kashmir which has reportedly asked the Sikh students not to wear a turban. The government officials have denied the allegations saying there was no such ban.

“It is ridiculous and not true. The school management had held three meetings with the parents of Sikh students and that were held in a cordial atmosphere. The school has no problem with turban wearing,” said an education official in Baramulla.

However, the Kashmir Sikh Displaced Forum had said the ‘order’ showed “bigotry approach towards the Sikh students” by the school management.

“In free India all citizens have the freedom to profess and wear their religious symbols and no authority has any legal right to ban the turban which is the unique identity of Sikhs throughout the world,” a statement issued by the President of the Forum, Prof Gunwant Singh, said.

The statement reminded the school authorities that Sikhs have won many legal battles in the civil courts of western countries against the ban on turban. 

Kupwara, June 4
Minister for Tourism Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Tuesday visited Chandigam in the Lolab valley of Kupwara district to take stock of the ongoing construction works. He met members of the Sogam-Lolab Welfare Forum and discussed various issues aimed at enhancing the tourist influx to the Lolab valley.

The forum demanded installation of solar street lights for Sogam. Members of the forum demanded macadamisation of the Gangbook-Chuntiwari road leading to newly-developed tourism spot Chandigam.

“The minister issued on-the-spot directions to the officers concerned to make an assessment and install the solar street lighting in Sogam. The minister also heard our views aimed at enhancing the flow of tourists to Lolab,” said Bashir Ahmad Lone, chairman, forum.

The forum also demanded widening of the Sogam-Kupwara road for the smooth flow of traffic. “The minister agreed that widening of the vital road was imperative for the smooth flow of traffic to the Lolab valley,” he added.

The minister was accompanied by Director Tourism Kashmir, Talat Parvez, MLA Lolab and MLA Langate.

Srinagar, June 4
The Central Institute Of Indian Language (CII), Department of Higher Education, in collaboration with Markaz-I Noor Centre for Sheikh-ul-Alam Studies, Kashmir University, organised an ‘Orientation Programme on Translators’ which started here at University of Kashmir.

Bashar Bashir, chairman, Markaz -I- Noor, Centre for Sheikh -ul Alam Studies KU, briefed the participants about the performance and functioning of the centre over the last few years and said presently 14 PhD and MPhil scholars were pursuing research at the centre.

He said the translation of the centuries old ‘Reshinama’of the Baba Nasir-ud-din Ghazi had been completed and would be released by the centre next month.

Dean Academic Affairs KU Prof AM Shah, who was chief guest on the occasion, said the orientation programme was the need of the hour as there was an urgent need for preservation of the great works of Kashmiri scholars, sufi saints, poets and philosophers, historians and writers in other regional and global languages.

“There is a need to pass on the rich heritage and legacy like the great sayings of the Shaikh-ul-Alam (RA) and many others which we have inherited from our ancestors to the next generation of Kashmiris, in particular, and to the outside world, in general. However, to popularise and disseminate these great works among the outside people there was a need for translation and such events and workshops could prove to be very effective in getting the desired results.”

Zaman Azurdah, former Dean Faculty of Arts KU, said the University of Kashmir had the privilege of holding such events in the past and this event was important in terms of letting others know about the translation of the language in other forms. 

Srinagar, June 4
Chief Minister’s political secretary Tanvir Sadiq accused the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being a safe haven for the corrupt people. “The PDP has now got the distinction of being the only party whose majority of leaders have cases against them on corruption charges,” Sadiq alleged.

“On one hand, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed talks about a corrupt-free society, but on the other hand, he takes all corrupt people into his party-fold who have cases still pending in various anti-graft courts,” he said.

Sadiq alleged that BJP members had come from New Delhi to garner support for the PDP. “It proves beyond doubt where his loyalties lay. For 40 years, the PDP patron used to unfold Congress flags in every village of the state and now, he is using the green flag to hoodwink the people,” Sadiq said.

Sadiq said the people were wise enough to understand the designs behind PDP's double speak.

The Chief Minister’s political secretary said the PDP had forgotten its self-rule formula and were now looking for other ways and means to find a resolution. 

Srinagar, June 4
The Medical Education Committee of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) organised a specialised course for the Valley-based medical students of postgraduates of obstetrics and gynaecology.

A FOGSI member said the three-day course, which concluded yesterday, was held for the post-graduates pursuing MD/MS, DGO, DNB and MRCOGs and was aimed to strengthen the obstetricians and gynaecologists network in the state.

The programme was coordinated by FOGSI president Dr Hema Divakar and joint secretary Dr Vidya Bhat in association with the Srinagar Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society.

“This is a three-day examination-oriented teaching programme. The classes were taken by local faculty of Srinagar as well as renowned teachers from all over India, many of who have been regularly involved as examiners during the postgraduate examinations,” the member said.

As many as 45 postgraduate students from in and around Srinagar attended the programme, Divakar said. 

Jammu, June 4
Manik Gupta played a cracker of a knock (78 runs) to help KC Cricket Club register a thumping 46-run win over Challenger Cricket Club (CCC) today in the ongoing “Salute and Tribute to the Players” Cricket Tournament being played at the Parade Ground, Jammu, organised by the Parade Sports Association.

Batting first, KC Cricket Club accumulated 158 runs for the loss of four wickets in the allotted quota of 20 overs. Manik Gupta played a defiant unbeaten knock of 78 runs off just 52 balls. He pierced seven hits to the fence and three mighty heaves for the maximum. Vimarsh Kaw also contributed 27 runs with the help of three boundaries.

For CCC, Sumit, Yogesh and Himanshu shared a wicket apiece. In reply, CCC could manage only 112 runs losing nine wickets in the process. Parveen played a gutsy knock of 31 runs while Aditya Pratap made 26 runs.

Somaya Jain, Sahil and Banddp Singh of KC Cricket Club shared two wickets apiece while Manik Gupta and Raman Dutta took one wicket each. Manik Gupta of KC Cricket Club was declared man of the match. Sadiq Hussain Malik and JD Singh were the umpires while Sunny was the scorer.

Earlier, National Cricket Club (NCC) scripted a last ball win over Rainawari Cricket Club (RCC), Srinagar, in a thrilling match.

Batting first, RCC accumulated scored 129 runs for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted quota of 20 overs. Aman was the top scorer with 32 runs off 26 balls while Rahul Moosa and Puneet Watal 
contributed 25 and 23 runs, respectively.

Srinagar, June 4
In a bid to create awareness among people, especially the youth of Srinagar, about environment, Prabhat Bhatti, a Nangal, Punjab-based wildlife photographer, organised a photo exhibition on birds in a prominent Srinagar school.

The exhibition was part of his programme to celebrate the World Environment Day that is being observed on June 5.

“Students showed keen interest towards the exhibition. Pictures of birds of north India were displayed at the exhibition,” Bhatti said.

Wildlife officials of the Valley, school management of Kashmir Harvard School, where the exhibition was held, attended the function.

Bhatti said similar kind of exhibitions would be held in other parts of the country to create awareness among the people about the environment and wild birds.