Srinagar, August 12
Routine life resumed in the summer capital of the state after Eid festivities coupled with a shutdown call against the communal tension in the Jammu region.

As Sunday followed a two-day-long Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, a lot of hustle and bustle was witnessed since the morning as shopkeepers were seen opening their shops while others were going to their respective offices. Children too were seen going to their schools while other educational institutions including colleges also remained open.

Most of the shops, offices and business establishments had remained shut since Friday as Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated for two days in the Valley.

While communal clashes had erupted at Kishtawar in Jammu region on the first day of Eid on August 9, hardline Hurriyat faction chairman Syed Ali Geelani had called for a two-day shutdown on Saturday and Sunday. However, the effect of the shutdown call could not be gauged as most of the shops usually remain closed on the second day of Eid and Sunday.

The summer capital had remained in a festive mood two days before Eid as well as several people were seen rushing to their homes much before office hours.

Pertinently, the city yesterday had remained abuzz with rumours of extension of a shutdown call even as no such call had been given by the hardline Hurriyat or other separatist parties. While the situation here remained by and large peaceful today, several groups including the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muslim Khawateen Markaz , a constituent of the moderate Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Kashmir Bar Association staged protests against the communal tension in the Jammu region.

Reports reaching here said normal life resumed in most other parts of the Valley as well. However, a few areas in south Kashmir observed a shutdown today.

Anantnag, August 12
Pulwama and Shopian towns today observed a complete shutdown after more than a dozen people were injured during clashes in Pulwama last evening.

The people were protesting against the escalation of communal violence in Kishtwar area of the Chenab valley.

Sources said security personnel were deployed in full gear across both the towns.

"Any kind of movement was restricted by the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel remained deployed throughout the day," sources said.

All commercial establishments, schools, colleges and offices remained closed in both the towns and their peripheries. The police had sealed the main entry and exit points using barbed wire, restricting vehicular movement as well.

However, apart from some minor incidents of stone throwing in Shopian town, peace prevailed throughout the region.

More than 12 people, including a woman, were injured in Pulwama as violent clashes broke out between local youth and the security forces.

Clashes were reported from Rajpora Chowk, Bus Stand, Tahab Chowk and many other places across the town.

Reports said the police and the CRPF fired pellet guns, rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.

The woman, Asmat Jan, a resident of Dalipora village, was injured while she was standing at the window of the second storey house.

Police officials said she had a pellet injury, however, the family said a rubber bullet had pierced her cheek.

Asmat was shifted to Srinagar for treatment and reports suggested that she might have to undergo a cosmetic surgery.

Meanwhile, staff, including doctors and paramedics at the District Hospital, Pulwama, staged a dharna after some people allegedly went on a rampage on the hospital premises.

"Some people, accompanying an injured person, manhandled the doctors and thrashed everything that came their way," said a doctor.

"Some youth are under the impression that doctors informed the police about their presence at the hospital. However, there is a police post on the hospital premises and the police is doing whatever they are supposed to do. We cannot interfere in their work,” said a doctor.

“We also went to meet the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, who assured us that the guilty will be brought to book and security will be beefed up at the hospital," he added.

Srinagar, August 12
After remaining suspended for the past two days, the train service between Budgam in central Kashmir and Jammu’s Banihal area resumed today.

Railway officials said the decision to resume the service partially was taken after a joint meeting with the security officials.

“As the situation was normal today, we resumed the service partly from Budgam in central Kashmir to Banihal in Ramban district,” he said.

He, however, added that a decision about resuming the service up to Baramulla in north Kashmir would be taken on Tuesday morning.

The train service was suspended on Saturday after incidents of stone pelting on the railway tracks.

The Railway officials said that they were assessing the damage caused to the railway property in the stone pelting incidents.

Srinagar, August 12
After the Technical Committee approved the Srinagar Master Plan, officials of the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) will soon meet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his nod, before putting it in the public domain.

The SDA officials said within next three months, the Srinagar Master Plan (2001-2021) would be ready and implemented on ground.

“The technical committee had made certain suggestions which we incorporated and they have approved of it. We are meeting the Chief Minister shortly for his nod before putting the Srinagar Master Plan draft for public review to invite suggestions and observations from the stakeholders,” SDA vice-chairman Muhammad Shafi Rather told The Tribune.

“We will give two months period for suggestions and after incorporating the feasible suggestions, the draft will be taken to the Cabinet for the final approval,” he added.

The SDA Board in a landmark decision in April this year had approved extension of Greater Srinagar local area from the existing 417-km to 757-km.

“The SDA has proposed extension of the existing city limits towards south, west and northern directions along the new motorway coming up from Gallandar via Narbal up to Ganderbal,” said an official of the SDA.

The review of the Srinagar Master Plan was initiated by the government in 2011 and is aimed at regulating the growth and development of the city keeping in mind the present and future developmental possibilities.

Srinagar, August 12
Lawyers in Kashmir today boycotted the courts and held a protest demonstration, seeking an end to the communal violence in the Jammu region of the state.

The lawyers from the Kashmir Bar Association raised slogans in support of their demand and also tried to carry out a protest march from the Saddar Court Complex.

However, their march was foiled and they were not allowed to move beyond the outer gates of the complex.

“We condemn the communal violence in Kishtwar and its surrounding areas and the attacks by the communal elements against a particular community,” Bar secretary M Ashraf Bhat, who along with other senior lawyers led the protest, said.

He said the Bar would not allow the repeat of the 1947 situation in the region and warned of large scale agitation if the authorities failed to stop the violence in the region.

The lawyers also demanded disbanding of the Village Defence Communities (VDCs), which they alleged were responsible for the atrocities in the affected area.

“The Bar also demands disbanding of the VDCs involved in various atrocities and violence in the area,” Bhat added.

Earlier, on the request of the Bar, lawyers in the high court and other subordinate courts boycotted the court proceedings.

“This was to show solidarity with the people affected by the communal violence in Kishtwar and its surrounding areas,” Bhat said.

Srinagar, August 12
The police has arrested separatist leader and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman (JKLF) Yasin Malik ahead of his planned “peace” march here today. However, Yasin’s supporters took out a march before being arrested.

While addressing a press conference yesterday in the wake of the communal violence in Kishtwar and its surrounding areas, Yasin had announced that he would took out a “peace” march in Srinagar on Monday and also seek disbanding of the Village Defence Committees (VDCs), which have been alleged to be behind the recent violence.

The police raided the residence of Yasin located in the Maisuma locality of the city early this morning and arrested him, a JKLF spokesman said, adding that he had been lodged at the Kothibagh police station.

However, later in the day JKLF activists and supporters took out “peace” march from the Maisuma locality, condemning the communal violence in the Jammu region. However, they were not allowed to move towards the Lal Chowk area by the police. Around a dozen activists were arrested by the police later from near the Budshah Chowk area.

“The peace march, which was led by JKLF vice-chairman Bashir Ahmad Bhat, condemned the communal violence in Kishtawar and urged people to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood,” a front spokesman said, adding that the participants also condemned the terror unleashed by the VDCs in the Jammu region.

The march also called for reigning in the communal elements in the Jammu region, the spokesman said.

Apart from the JKLF, activists of the Muslim Khawateen Markaz, a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, also took out a protest demonstration from the Ghanta Ghar area in Lal Chowk up to Press Colony here to condemn the communal violence in the Jammu region.

Srinagar, August 12
The Hurriyat Conference chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, today lashed out at the mainstream political parties for playing politics over Kishtwar clashes for mere “electoral gains”.

Mirwaiz also expressed resentment over the state government’s decision not to disband the Village Defence Committees (VDCs), which according to him were “unleashing terror” in the trouble prone areas.

“Despite repeated red flags and the incidents of repression, the state government chose not to disband and disarm the notorious and communal VDCs,” Mirwaiz said.

“Armed individuals belonging to the VDCs are toying around with law and order. They are unleashing their wrath as and when they deem fit,” he alleged.

The moderate Hurriyat leader also questioned the government’s role in supporting the Special Police Officers (SPOs).

“First, the mainstream parties in connivance with the agencies operating in J&K, openly and tacitly, funded and facilitated the dreaded Ikhwanis in the 1990s and now they have extended their unflinching patronage to Special Police Officers and so-called Village Defence Committees,” Mirwaiz said.

He also termed the state government’s reaction to the incidents of violence in Kishtwar as suspicious and appealed to the Hindu community not to allow the political parties to use them for their own ambitions.

“Both communities have to live with each other in the same traditional spirit of co-existence and amity,” Mirwaiz said.

He also assured the people of Kishtwar that the citizens from all parts of Kashmir were deeply concerned at the situation unfolding in the area and affirmed their support to the victims.

Srinagar, August 12
Former Director General of Police (DGP) and member, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Ashok Bhan met Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhawan here today.

An official statement here today stated that the Governor, who is the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, discussed with Bhan several matters related to the infrastructure and other logistical facilities which were being established for meeting the requirements of the progressively increasing yatra.

“Issues relating to security and disaster management were also discussed in the meeting,” the statement said.

“Bhan accepted the Governor’s request to chair committees which would view the enforcement of security arrangements in the yatra area and the management of the sports stadium complex at Katra,” the statement added.

Srinagar, August 12
Budding technocrats at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, have started a series of social campaigns as part of the Techvaganza-2013, a mega science fest, to be held at the end of this month.

Students will participate in awareness campaigns on women empowerment, saving black bears from extinction, teaching free computer courses to the underprivileged students and the eradication of poverty in rural areas.

The Social Awareness and Youth (SAY) wing of the NIT students' union will lead these campaigns even after the festival is over.

There are various facets of the social campaigns which are being driven by students. For instance, the eradication of illiteracy involves teaching poor children of the rural belt of Moti Mohalla Kalan near the Dalgate area of Srinagar.

"It has been found that most of the children in this belt are dropouts. We want to inform these children as well as their parents about the importance of education," said Ankit, event coordinator.

Besides this, the students will spread awareness on how to resolve the man-animal conflict. A career counselling project has also been undertaken for the aspiring professionals.

Srinagar, August 12
The police today thwarted the press conference of the hardline separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, here as it did not allow mediapersons to enter his residence.

The police cordoned off Geelani’s residence at Hyderpora, which houses the separatist leader’s party office and prevented mediapersons to get inside the complex. Geelani was likely to address the media on the Kishtwar issue, where three people died following communal clashes since August 9.