Srinagar, July 13
The authorities today foiled Hurriyat’s proposed march to Mazar-e-Shuhada by placing several separatist leaders, including Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, under house arrest.

Policemen perform a drill at the martyrs’ graveyard in Srinagar on Saturday. Tribune Photos: Amin War

On this day in 1931, 22 Kashmiri civilians were shot dead by the troops of former Dogra ruler Hari Singh outside the Central Jail in Srinagar, where they had gathered to attend the court proceedings against Abdul Qadeer, who had asked the Kashmiri people to defy the Dogra rule.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz had called for shutdown and protests on July 13 in the Valley and as per the programme, the Hurriyat leaders were to lead the protests marches from all district headquarters of Kashmir and converge at Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, on July 13, from where the march was supposed to proceed towards Mazar-e-Shuhad (martyr’s graveyard) at Naqashbandh Sahab shrine.

However, to prevent people and the separatist leaders from marching towards the graveyard, the authorities had imposed restrictions in many parts of the city.

To prevent separatists from taking out protest marches on the day, the authorities, as a precaution, had also placed several Hurriyat and separatist leaders under house arrest.

Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was on Friday prevented from offering Friday prayers at Jamia mosque here and today, he was placed under house arrest at his Nigeen residence in the city.

Condemning the police action, Mirwazi in a statement said by pacing Hurriyat leaders under house arrest, the government could not prevent them from leading the struggle.

The authorities had also placed hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani under house arrest since Friday.

In a statement, Geelani hailed people for observing a complete shutdown, saying that it (strike) demonstrates that people have not forgotten the mission of July 13, 1931 martyrs.

“Since July 13, 1931, nothing has changed in Kashmir, as even today people are getting killed in incident like the recent killing of two youth at Markundal in Bandipora,” Geelani said.

The other separatist leaders who were placed under house arrest included Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Mohammad chief Yasin Malik, Democratic Freedom Party head Shabbir Shah and National Front chairman Nayeem Khan.

The JKLF in a statement said Malik had been placed under house arrest since Friday night after the police and security forces cordoned his residence.

Terming the “blockades, restrictions, house arrests and detention” as “shameful act”, Malik said to stop people from raising their voices and banning peaceful political activities “has become a common practice of these so called democratic rulers.”

Srinagar, July 13
To pay tributes to the July 13 martyrs, Democratic Party of Nationalist (JKDPN) and Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir today visited the Mazar-e-Shuhada at Naqshbandh sahib here.

Mir, who was accompanied by his other party leaders, laid flower wreaths over the graves of the martyrs and offered prayers, a statement said here.

Later, a meeting was held at the party headquarters under the chairmanship of Ghulam Hassan Mir where rich tributes were paid to the martyrs of July 13, 1931, who sacrificed their lives to get rid of autocratic rule.

The minister said the martyrs paid supreme sacrifices for upholding the democratic principles and pluralistic ethos.

Anantnag, July 13
Jammu and Kashmir People’s League chairman, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza was today detained by the police in Kadipora locality of Anantnag.

Sources said Waza was on his way to lead a procession to martyr’s graveyard in Reshi Mohalla of Anantnag on eve of the Martyr’s Day.

“Waza was taken into preventive custody and was detained at the Sherbagh police station in Anantnag,” the police said. Imtiyaz Reshi, People’s League spokesperson condemned Waza’s arrest and called the restrictions on separatist leadership as undemocratic.

Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in all four districts of the south Kashmir region.

Sources said all commercial establishments, offices and schools remained closed throughout the region. “Traffic too was very thin in almost all parts of the region,” sources said, adding that a large number of police and CRPF personnel were deployed in the region.

People in many parts of south Kashmir visited the local martyr’s graveyards and paid tributes to them.

Srinagar, July 13
Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Saifuddin Soz today said Martyrs’ Day is a reminder that people have to “draw inspiration from the sacrifices of those great men who got martyred on this very day in 1931”.

“A solid foundation was laid down by the martyrs of 1931 that there are certain goals in life, including respect for human beings and their rights which cannot be compromised for anything in return,” Soz said in a statement here. “I wish and pray that the people of the state continue to draw inspiration from the sacrifices of the martyrs of July 13, 1931.”

While a shutdown was observed today on the call of separatists, the state government has made the Martyrs’ Day a gazetted holiday.

Baramulla, July 13
Wild animals are on a killing spree in Baramulla district. Barely a day after wolves (locally called Ram hoon) killed 10-year-old Yasir Khan, son of Manzoor Ahmed Khan, near his house in Harushnar Kreeri, the wolves today attacked and killed 12-year-old boy in Hale hamlet of Kreeri village.

Adil Ahmad (12) was attacked by a pack of wolves when he along with a few other friends was collecting apricot in an orchard. The wolves pounced on him and dragged him away. Local residents alleged that the authorities were playing with their lives.

"The animals chopped neck of the victim and his mutilated body was found in a nearby orchard. The Wildlife authorities are fully responsible for the killing of the minor boy in this village. We had already apprised the department of the movement of wolves in the village, but to no avail," said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a local resident.

Local residents of Harushnar and its adjoining villages said they were reeling under immense scare of attacks from wolves and other wild animals. "We fear to step out of our homes even during the day time. The wolves have intensified their movement in villages and are posing a serious threat to our lives," said Abdul Ahad from Hale.

According to wildlife officials, wolves have become deadly for humans for the first time in the history of wildlife Kashmir.

Wildlife warden, North Kashmir, Abdul Rouf Zargar said the department had issued shoot-at-site orders against the maneater animals. "We have also set up cages and control rooms in the affected villages. Trapping the animals has become very difficult due to dense vegetation and orchards in hamlets close to forests," Rouf said. He urged the people to stay away from fruit orchards and vegetable fields. "We are sparing no efforts in eliminating the maneaters. It appears that packs of wolves, who killed the minor boy in Harunshar, killed another minor boy in nearby hamlet today," he added.

Srinagar, July 13
A 27-year-old woman is battling for life at a hospital after she set herself on fire in north Kashmirs Bandipora district.

The victim was a resident of Bandipora, a police spokesman said.

“In an attempt to end her life, the victim sprinkled kerosene oil all over her body and set herself ablaze,” the spokesman said.

The woman was admitted to a hospital in the city where her condition was stated to be critical.

The police spokesman said further investigations were on in the case.

Kupwara, July 13
At least 10 persons were found to be infected with Hepatitis-B in Kakad hamlet of Diver village in Lolab valley. Kupwara Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Aleem-u-din Ahmad said, “Ten people have been tested Hepatitis-B positive so far. We have collected 100 more samples from the hamlet and the report is awaited.”

Panic gripped the hamlet following eruption of the disease. The health authorities would administer Hepatitis-B vaccine to prevent further spread of the disease.

“The deadly disease involves a costly treatment and is not curable in most of the cases. We are in the process of arranging vaccines which would be given to other members of the affected families so that the viral infection does not speared further,” said the CMO.

Dismissing fear among inhabitants that the viral infection was waterborne and they were suffering due to consumption of contaminated water, the CMO said the infection was linked to blood and spreads through infected needles and unsafe blood transfusion.

“There is no need to panic. A medical team is conducting awareness programme to educate people about the deadly infection and measures to prevent further spread of the infection,” he said.

A doctor said, “Family members of the affected families are prone to infection and they should take necessary steps to avoid the infection.” “Four members of a family are suffering from Hepatitis-B and two members had already died of the infection last year,” he said.

Hepatitis B is an infectious inflammatory illness of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus is transmitted by exposure to infectious blood or body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids, while viral DNA has been detected in the saliva, tears, and urine of chronic carriers.

Srinagar, July13
Despite the state government’s assurance of offering rebates on essential commodities this Ramadan, the rising prices of essential commodities, especially fruits and vegetables, have increased.

Experts believe that knocking the doors of consumer courts might help the people against the profiteers and black marketeers.

“If the administration has failed to help people, they should go to the consumer court and file case against these erring traders. I think an increased level of awareness among people should be there regarding the usage of consumer courts,” Sarhat Shah, an economist said.

People complained of increase in prices of vegetables and fruits which are specially in demand during the month of fasting.

Consumer Affairs and Price Distribution (CAPD) director Mushtaq Ahmad Mir said the enforcement wings of the department were taking action on ground and that the prices of the commodities were under control.

“In our review meetings, we categorised the essential commodities under various price slabs. By far, there haven’t been any serious violations of the prices fixed by the department,” Mir assured.

People, however, are crying foul over the assurances given by the authorities.

“Forget about the rebates and concessions during the month of Ramadan, the prices have surged manifold. This holy month becomes an opportune time for black marketeers to hoodwink people. Tomatoes are sold at Rs 80 per kg. Brinjals cost Rs 50 per kg. What is a common man supposed to do under such circumstances? The state government seems to be unmoved by the plight of a common man,” Imtiyaz Bhat, a businessman said.

The prices of essential commodities shoot up in the month of Ramadan and around Eid when the shopping season is at its peak.

However, the wholesale dealers, retail outlets and vendors often violate the government set guidelines and do not abide by rate lists for which people pay the price.

“The government has never booked these people who sell the commodities at exorbitant rates. The market checking is a mere eyewash. As a result, the prices are quoted even higher every year putting a common man to inconvenience,” Shakeel Rehman, a government employee said.

Srinagar, July 13
As many as 21 persons, most of them passengers, were injured in several road accidents across the Kashmir valley in last 24 hours, a police spokesman said here today.

Eleven people were injured when a passenger bus in which they were travelling met with an accident at Chookibalan near Kralpora in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the spokesman said. All the injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment.

In south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, a cab met with an accident at Poshinari resulting in injuries to three people who were travelling in it. All the injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment, the spokesman said.

Three more people were injured in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district when a car hit a motorcycle at Chanapora near Tangmarg. All the injured persons, who were riding the motorcycle, shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

A child was injured when he was hit by a mini-bus near south Kashmir’s Bijbehara town. A case has been registered in this regard, the police spokesman said.

A motorcycle met with an accident on KP Road at Seer Hamdan near south Kashmir’s Mattan town resulting in injuries to motorcyclist Zakir Hussain Malik and his pillion rider Nisar Ahmad Wagay. Both the injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment, the spokesman said.

Srinagar, July 13
Protest broke out in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district after the locals caught two youths who were roaming under suspicious circumstances in Rayil Kangan, 65 kilometre from here, today.

The locals suspected that the two robbers were roaming in the area for the purpose of theft. “We handed them over to the police and we were told that the two were policemen,” said a protester over phone from Kangan.

The sources said the protesters later blocked the Srinagar- Leh road for an hour as they demanded a probe as to what the two cops were doing in the area in civvies.

The police, however, said they had received a phone call from panchayat member today morning and he had demanded the two policemen to be sent to the area in the civvies as he suspected that robbers were roaming in the area.

“ We sent our two men and handed them over to the sarpanch, but some people later got hold of these men and harassed them,” said a police officer.

The police has to use force to quell the mob to ensure that the highway remained open.

Srinagar, July 13
A medical and veterinary camp was organised by the 30 Rashtriya Rifles under the aegis of Headquarters 7 Sector, Rashtriya Rifles at Kalamchakla in Kupwara village on Wednesday.

A large number of people from the civil society and dignitaries from Qaziabad attended the camp.

"A team of six Army doctors, seven civil doctors, including one veterinary doctor, seven civil nurses and eight nursing assistant offered consultation and treatment for various ailments, including diabetes, hypertension, anaemia, respiratory disease and dermatological diseases.

A total of 687 patients and 568 animals were benefited from the medical-cum-veterinary camp," a defence spokesman said.

"The team of doctors spoke to the ladies present with an aim to enhance awareness regarding common medical ailments during the pre and post natal period, immunisation of newborn and de-worming of children and adolescent," he said.

Immunisation for children and lecture on aids awareness and precaution was organised as a part of the medical camp.

"A mobile ambulance with lab and x-ray facilities was also present during the camp. After the preliminary investigation, those needing further treatment were referred to higher medical centres," the spokesman said.