Anantnag, July 2
Amid a complete shutdown, thousands of people today thronged the villages of the three militants killed in an encounter in the Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district yesterday.

Three Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants and a policeman were killed in the encounter at Mandoora village of Tral, while three other security personnel, including a policeman and two CRPF personnel, were injured.

The slain militants were identified as Shahnawaz Ahmad Mir, a resident of Dadsaroo village of Tral, Aijaz Ahmad Laway, a resident of Lurgam, Tral, and Shabir Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Hayena, Tral.

Shops, offices, schools and other commercial establishments remained closed in Tral town and its peripheries. Traffic, too, was thin in the area and the police and CRPF personnel were seen deployed in most parts of the area.

Despite the shutdown and deployment of security forces, thousands of people thronged the three villages to attend the funeral prayers of the militants.

Eyewitnesses said a large number of people was seen at Hyena village, the native village of slain Hizb commander Shabir Ahmad, alias Adil. 

Srinagar, July 2
A senior leader of the ruling National Conference today said Kashmiris would solve the Kashmir issue themselves.

“India and Pakistan can perform their role in the solution of the Kashmir issue but those who live here will have to solve this issue because they are the real owners of this land,” said National Conference’s additional general secretary Mustafa Kamal in a statement.

He said, “The time has come to dismantle the Line of Control and join the two parts of Jammu and Kashmir.”

He said during 2008 and 2010 unrests, working groups were formed and asked to give recommendations. “When the recommendations were provided, they were thrown into the dustbin,” Kamal said.

The NC leader said the interlocutors report also met the same fate who had recommended removal of AFSPA, the return of power projects and restorations of autonomy.

Srinagar, July 2
The Cabinet which met here today under Chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accorded sanction to the establishment of Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge at Sopore in north Kashmir.

The Cabinet also sanctioned creation of 14 posts thereof including the post of additional district and sessions judge, junior scale stenographer, Nazir (who serves processes and acts as treasurer), reader, civil ahlimad, criminal ahlimad, copyist, jamadar, process server-cum-orderly, chowkidar and safaiwala.

An official spokesman said the Cabinet also approved upgradation of the post of Joint Development Commissioner (Works) as Development Commissioner.

“He will have administrative and financial powers of major head of the department. He will be in-charge of planning, monitoring, quality control and technical supervision of various sectors of R&B, PMGSY and other non-engineering departments which have their own technical wings and execute huge civil works. He will coordinate working of chief engineering on the analogy of Development Commissioner Power,” the spokesman said.

The Chief Engineer R&B and PMGSY will route their proposals with regard to planning, monitoring and implementation of projects through Development Commissioner (Works). 

Srinagar, July 2
While residents of the summer capital usually wait for the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) sweepers to dispose of garbage, the corporation has now pressed into service hopper vehicles for the door-to-door garbage collection.

“The vehicle will blow horn outside the doors of houses and then collect garbage,” said SMC media relations officer Masrat Yousuf.

The first batch of 12 hopper vehicles for the door-to-door garbage collection in the city was flagged off by Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora during a function here today.

Masrat said in the first phase, the vehicles would collect garbage from 12 wards of the city that include areas around Lal Chowk and Dal Gate. She said the SMC had started the service in these areas as the same were frequented by the tourists. In the next two months, another batch of hopper vehicles would be pressed into service for garbage collection so that all the 34 administrative wards got the similar facility, she added.

She said each hopper vehicle, which costs around Rs 4 lakh, had a capacity of 1.8 cubic metres and could move in narrow lanes therefore reducing the manual intervention directly and improving effectiveness of work delivery mechanism, efficiency and productivity.

Meanwhile, Jora also flagged off ‘Food Safety Buzz’ - a designed vehicle for food safety week. During the SMC’s ‘Food Safety Week’ that started today, the corporation will organise various events with an aim to promote awareness about the importance of food safety for public health.

“These programmes will be an eye opener for all, particularly those involved with the food industry, and also focus on highlighting the food manufacturing practices and other standards laid down in the Food Safety Standard Authority of India,” said SMC health officer Dr Rubeena Shaheen.

Srinagar, July 2
Inviting students from Kashmir for higher studies in Germany, its Ambassador to India said the objective was not only to attract students, but professionals to work in the European country, which had long relations with India.

“India has a good number of young people who need to be trained in Germany,” visiting German Ambassador Michael Steiner said after addressing students and faculty of the University of Kashmir at its Convocation Complex here today.

“We are, as you know, economically successful but will lack six million professionals by 2025,” he told the students. The German Ambassador added: “We, therefore, need motivated young people from abroad who want to qualify”. “Kashmir also needs that its young people are trained and qualified. Many will come back and then be able to help build Kashmir’s future,” he maintained.

The Ambassador said it was “not about brain drain but brain circulation”. At the same time, he advised the Kashmiri students not to abandon “Kashmir and (Kashmiri cultural identity”.

Replying to a question, Michael said Germany was as safe for Indian students as India was safe for Germans. “We need to be vigilant,” he said adding that there was a largest number of Turks in his country. The Ambassador said 11 per cent of the students in Germany were from foreign countries and there had been no incident of any harassment during the recent years.

“There are 6,000 Indian students studying in various institutions in Germany,” the Ambassador said.

Germany offered 1,000 courses in English language, the Ambassador said added that while it was necessary to learn German language and Indians were learning it “relatively effortlessly”. Asking the students to check the possibilities of admissions in different institutions in Germany, Michael Steiner said a German House for Research Innovation was set up in Delhi like other centres in Tokyo, Sao Paolo, Moscow and New York. Three specialists from the German House, New Delhi, were also present to facilitate the aspiring students of Kashmir University, he said. The Ambassador also elaborated on five points for seeking admission in any institution of Germany. These included any Bachelors degree, learning basic German in speaking and writing, choosing the right university for admission, securing financial basis like scholarship and, a visa from the Embassy.

Srinagar, July 2
The Committee on Estimates of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today took serious note of the slow pace of construction work of school buildings under the Sarva Shiksha Abhyan (SSA) and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidhalya (KGBV) schemes.

The committee directed the departments concerned to gear up their field functionaries and ensure completion of the targets.

The committee, which met under chairmanship of MLA Mustafa Kamal, discussed various issues related to the Education Department, a statement said.

“The committee suggested for constituting a technical education committee to look after all on-going school buildings and other development works carried by the department across the state,” it said. The committee suggested that the village education committees should also monitor the construction works, infrastructure and availability of teaching staff and submit their report about negligence, if any, to the official concerned, the statement added. — TNS

Kupwara, July 2
Detention of notorious timber smugglers under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in smuggling-prone areas of north Kashmir has put a check on timber smuggling to an extent.

A senior forest official said the smuggling, especially in Kandi range of Kamraj forest division, had declined to a great extent during the past one year. The forest range had booked 43 notorious timber smugglers under the PSA in Kandi range from March 2011 to January this year. The department is also conducting awareness programmes at regular intervals to educate people on the importance of forests and ramifications of timber smuggling.

During this period, the forest range had seized over 5,500 square feet of illicit timber. The seized timber amounts to Rs 4.80 crore. The forest compartments from 26 to 32 
had earned a dubious distinction of being the largest smuggling affected areas in Kandi forest range. The official said after years of efforts, the forest range had managed to put a check on unabated timber smuggling in compartments.

“We have got Mohd Maqbool, a dreaded smuggler booked under the PSA. During the past 15 months, 43 smugglers have been booked under the same Act,” the official said. Maqbool was involved in the killing of a forester on January 1, 2011. For the past many years, a gang of notorious timber smugglers had been active in areas including Rampur, Rajpur, Chahar and Kahwal falling under Kandi forest range.

Last year, a forester lost his life while fighting with the smugglers and four other employees were injured. “Forester Shakeel Ahmad Malik, who was critically injured in a brutal attack by smugglers in compartment No. 31, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS. Four other employees on night patrol were also injured,” he said.

In its raid against smugglers, the forest range had seized 33 horses, 29 horsecarts, 16 vehicles, including two trucks and a matador, involved in transportation of smuggled timber. It had also recovered three boats from Wullar lake and five hand-driven rehris.

Srinagar, July 2
The Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar, said the youth of the state should understand the true spirit of Islam and contribute in propagating its message of gaining quality knowledge to improve the lot of human existence.

Sagar was speaking at a two-day National Seminar on “Muslim Response to Modern Education: Approaches and Prospects”, organised by the department of Islamic Studies, Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora.

Vice-Chancellor, IUST, Prof AR Trag, Commissioner Secretary, Agriculture, Dr Asgar Samoon and various other academicians and scholars were also present on the occasion.

Sagar said the state government had tried to provide every opportunity to the youth to excel in different fields.

“We have a good lot of bio-technologists, scientists, engineers, CEOs and IT sector professionals who have excelled in their respective fields and are also practicing Islam,” Sagar said.

Prof Trag, while speaking on the occasion, gave a brief overview of the University and the contribution of Muslims in various fields, especially education.

Dr Samoon also spoke and gave an account of the historic uniqueness of Kashmiri culture, advent of Islam and general overview of the Islamic thought.

Srinagar, July 2
Army Goodwill School, Hajinar (Tangdhar) celebrated its 13th Annual day function today with splendor and joy. The school children performed various educational, cultural and entertainment programmes in front of a huge gathering of more than 450 people from all over Tangdhar.

Apart from senior Army Officers, the civil dignitaries of Karnah valley and parents of the school children were present.

“ The Annual day started with hoisting of National Flag followed by a cultural programme which included welcome song, skit, Kashmiri folk song cum dance, Qawwali and Bhangra dance,” an Army spokesman said.

Prizes were distributed by Zahoor Ahmed Mir SDM, Tangdhar, A R Badana, Ex MLC, Abdul Rashid Bhat Tehsildar and Nazir Ahmed ZEO, Tangdhar to the participants of various events. All students excelling in the various academics during the year were suitably felicitated.

Srinagar, July 2
Hardliner separatist Syed Ali Geelani today said incidents like the Markundal firing, where two civilians were killed in alleged Army firing, was driving youths to become militants.

Geelani, in a statement issued here, said incidents like Markundal were driving the youth to the “path of sacrifice”. “They think that instead of dying helplessly, it is better to give up their life fighting against the oppression and sacrifice their present for the future of the nation,” Geelani said.

Two civilians -Irfan Ahmad Ganai (17) of Markundal village of Bandipora district and Tariq Ahmad, in his early 20s, of Kondbal village of Ganderbal district, were allegedly shot dead by the Army during a counter-insurgency operation at Markundal village on Sunday morning.

Army denied shooting at Ganai and said it shot Ahmad in self-defense when protesters, agitating against Ganai’s killing, tried to attack an Army ambulance.

AIP rejects probe into Sumbal killings

Langate MLA and Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) president Engineer Rashid today said his party rejected the government probe into the recent Sumbal killings.

Addressing party workers at Chandigam, Lolab, in Kupwara district, Rashid said the people of Kashmir “have become wary of the word ‘probe’ because for them it is nothing but a time-buying exercise meant to deceive and hoodwink”.

“If Defence Minister AK Antony, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz and other leaders claim that AFSPA is no impediment to the prosecution of armed forces personnel guilty of human rights violations, then why are the Armymen responsible for the killing of the two youth not being punished?” he added. He said “Kashmiris will not beg before New Delhi for the revocation of AFSPA from J&K.”

Srinagar, July 2
The Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Association (KHARA) today held an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to discuss various issues confronting the tourism sector.

The AGM, held at the Nigeen Club, was chaired by KHARA president Showkat Chowdhary. “We discussed various issues that the tourism sector and its real stake holders are facing. We also sought the opinions of the members for the betterment of the hospitality and for the improved functioning of the association,” Chowdhary said after the meeting.

KHARA is the oldest association of hoteliers, guest house owners, restaurant owners and dhabawallas, which was formed in 1956. The association has over 700 members from across the Valley.

Chowdhary said the members of the association also deliberated upon the annual Amarnath Yatra.

Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF) president Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, House Boat Owners Association (HBOA) president Mohammad Azim Tuman and other stakeholders of the tourism sector also attended the KHARA meeting.

Srinagar, July 2
Human rights activist and lawyer Parvez Imroz was today arrested for allegedly assaulting a police official. He was later released after submitting a personal bond.

The Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), the human rights organisation he heads, however, alleged that prior to his arrest, Imroz was “abused and pushed” by a traffic police official when he was on his way to the high court in his car.

“At around 10.30am, Imroz along with his nephew was driving into the high court complex, Srinagar. DSP (Traffic) Riyaz Halwai, along with other traffic policemen, was managing the traffic in an aggressive manner,” JKCCS convener Khurram Parvez said.

The DSP moved towards the vehicle and began abusing both Imroz and his nephew and ordered them to move the vehicle in a different direction, Khurram stated, adding that the traffic official was “abusive and threatening”, which was “questioned” by Imroz.

“As the police is not accustomed to being questioned and behaving decently with people, the DSP got further infuriated, lost control and physically manhandled Imroz. The DSP then tore his shirt to falsely implicate Imroz”, he alleged.

After this feud, Imroz was arrested and taken to the nearby Shaheed Gunj police station from where he was taken to the Shergari police station, where an FIR was registered against him for allegedly assaulting a police official.

“At Shaheed Gunj police station, Imroz was detained for about half an hour and later at Shergari police station, he was further detained for another hour and released on personal bond at around 1pm after being given to understand that an FIR under Section 353 of the RPC was filed,” Khurram said.

On the other hand, refuting the allegations of the lawyer, Shergari SHO Mohammad Asgar Bhat said Imroz assaulted the DSP (Traffic) when he stopped him from taking a right turn towards the high court near the Civil Secretariat.

“He should have obeyed the traffic policeman, but instead he assaulted the official on duty,” the SHO said.

Srinagar, July 2
The erring handicraft dealers in the city here, during an inspection conducted by Revenue and Handicraft Department officials, were fined Rs 16,000 today.

The inspection was conducted jointly by the Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, along with the Enforcement Wing of Quality Control Division of Directorate of Handicrafts, to ensure sale of quality handicrafts by dealers at Boulevard and Dalgate areas of the city, an official spokesman said.

During the inspection, handicraft dealers were found running their business without a valid Tourist Trade Registration Certificate and without proper price tags and cash memos. An amount of Rs 16,000 was realised as fine from the erring dealers, the official said.

The spokesman said all the dealers had been warned to desist from selling machine-made items as Kashmiri art and adhere to the rules and regulations of the Tourist Trade Act, failing which, necessary action as warranted under the law would be initiated against them.

Srinagar, July 2
Additional Director General of Police (Armed) S M Sahai congratulated the police football team for winning the 20th State Football Championship.

Wishing them success and best of luck for the future championships, the ADGP urged the players to work hard in order to improve their performance and team confidence so as to bring honour to the department.

Sahai praised the great standard displayed by the players of the team during the championship in which 38 teams from all across the state participated.

“It has been praise worthy performance by the team and the support staff,” he added.

He said Armed Police Headquarters would send a recommendation for a cash reward for the players of the winning team and the SPOs playing in the team would be recommended for conversion as constables. Besides commendation certificates would also be awarded to the players.

While interacting with the players of the winning team, the ADGP urged them for generating team spirit and a feeling of oneness. He said, “Build to your team a feeling on oneness in order to strengthen the team confidence and spirit so that excellence becomes a reality, the way a team plays as a whole determines its success.”

The Jammu and Kashmir Police lifted the 20th State Football Championship by beating the defending champions Jammu and Kashmir Bank with a solitary goal in the final match of the championship played at Polo Ground, Srinagar. The team has won the championship after a gap of eight years. 

Srinagar, July 2
Two matches of the J&K State Power Development Corporation Annual League Football Tournament-2013 were played at Polo Ground, Srinagar, today.

The first match of ‘A’ division was played between Shaheen Sports FC and Jahangir Sports. It was Shaheen Sports who took the first lead in the 33rd minute through Toaheed Ahmad but they could not hold it till the end. An equaliser came at the 59th minute through Abid Ahmad and the game ended with 1:1.

The second super division match was played between J&K PDC and Iqbal Sports. Both the teams played aggressively and had their chances in the first half as well but failed to convert them into the desired result.

In the 2nd half, Bilal Ahmad from PDC cracked a goal in the 44th minute to have his team up by 1:0.