Srinagar, September 16
Business resumed today in the Kashmir valley, barring Shopian district which remained under curfew for the 10th consecutive day, after remaining shut for two days in protest against the killing of five youths.

All markets in the city reopened after two days and transport services resumed across the region today.

Shops, business centres and other commercial establishments were open in the city. Schools, colleges and universities resumed work.

Kashmir was shut on Saturday and Sunday in response to a bandh called by hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani to protest against the killings in Shopian.

Geelani today issued a fresh protest schedule, calling for a shutdown on Saturday and protests on Friday. The separatist leader termed the “continuity in struggle” against the “forcible occupation and killings” as a “necessity”.

He called for a march to the office of United Nations Military Observers Group for Indian and Pakistan on Wednesday this week.

He urged the people to assemble at the hardline group’s Hyderpora office, from where Geelani would lead the march and deliver a memorandum at the United Nations office.

Kashmir had remained shut on four days since the killing of four men in Shopian on September 7, when the region was shut to protest internationally acclaimed music conductor Zubin Mehta’s performance in the city.

The killing of four people on September 7 in the south Kashmir town, when Mehta was performing in the city, and another youth who was shot dead on September 11 at the same spot, had stoked anger in the region.

The police had said it suspected that one of the four youths killed last week was a militant while the rest of the victims had no record of militancy.

Shopian was under curfew for the 10th consecutive day. Curfew was relaxed in Shopian for a few hours on September 11.

After the fifth youth was shot dead in the afternoon, the authorities had reimposed curfew in the south Kashmir district.

Curfew was lifted today from the districts of Pulwama and Kulgam, following which life returned to normal in the two districts adjoining Shopian.

Srinagar, September 16
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today granted the authorities a two-week time to file the status report about the preliminary investigation on the paper-leak issue during the J&K Common Entrance Test.

However, it directed the authorities concerned to give all details in the status report.

These directions were passed by a Division Bench of the High Court headed by Chief Justice MM Kumar after the Advocate General sought time to place on record the finding of the preliminary probe being conducted by the Crime Branch into the matter.

The court is hearing a public interest litigation with regard to the recent paper leak in the J&K Common Entrance Test (CET-2013), which was conducted by the Board of Professional Entrance Examinations.

“The Advocate General states that SSP crime in charge says that the preliminary inquiry is likely to be completed within two weeks,” the Bench observed in its orders today, while observing that the status report in this regard should be filed within two weeks, giving all details.

Earlier on September 11, the court had summoned the entire record related to a previous complaint regarding the misconduct of the J&K Common Entrance Test (CET) which was held in 2012. The records were placed before the Bench by the Advocate General today.

“In the report of the SP, Crime Branch, it has been mentioned that an anonymous complaint was received on July 17, 2012, alleging that seven candidates had got selected for MBBS through CET-2012, who did not perform well in their class X and XII examinations,” the Bench had observed in its orders on September 11, while referring to the report submitted by the Crime Branch.

The Crime Branch in its compliance had further submitted that the Bench observed that the verification had revealed that out of the seven candidates, only five were selected for the MBBS and after verification of their class X and XII results, were found to be “meritorious” students.

Srinagar, September 16
The government today said police and security personnel had been instructed to treat identity cards of examination staff and admit cards of candidates as curfew passes.

Nearly three lakh candidates from across the state would appear in a test tomorrow for 17,000 posts of teacher, laboratory assistant, library assistant, junior assistant and village-level worker.

The police and security personnel had been instructed to treat identity cards of examination staff and admit cards of candidates as curfew passes for the examination in case curfew continued to be in operation in Shopian tomorrow.

It said the DC had notified that candidates who were to appear in the written test at Government Degree College, Shopian, would now appear in the test at Rainbow International School, Batapora.

The examination centre at Government Degree College, Shopian, had been shifted to Rainbow International School Batapora.

Srinagar, September 16
Even as government employees in the state start a five-day stir from tomorrow, the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), an amalgam of various employees' bodies, will hold talks simultaneously with the recently constituted Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC).

“Despite the talk offer from the government, we will go ahead with the five-day protest programme beginning with district-wide protests across the state,” JCC leader Farooq Trali told The Tribune.

He said the JCC leaders wre scheduled to meet the CSC headed by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather here tomorrow morning.

Stating that the JCC was open to talks, Trali said they had not called off the stir as previous attempts to resolve their issues through talks had failed.

After a series of protests and strikes by employees last year, the government had reached an agreement with the JCC, wherein employees were assured that a decision on their demands would be announced by September 30.

However, the JCC had then resumed protests, saying the government had failed to fulfil the promises made to them.

Last week, the CSC was constituted in an effort to end the government-JCC deadlock over the employees’ demands.

Those include release of arrears recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission, enhancement of retirement age from 58 years to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies and regularisation of daily wagers and casual workers in various government departments.

The other JCC demands are inclusion of five years of contractual service of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers in the service book and regularisation of education volunteers after seven years of service.

The protests tomorrow will be followed by a ‘mashaal’ march to the Chief Minister’s residence on September 18. Trali said protests outside the Divisional Commissioner’s office would be held in Jammu on September 18 and 19.

The JCC had called for ‘Raj Bhawan chalo’ in the summer capital on September 19. Trali said a two-day lockout strike would be observed on September 20 and 21. The previous three-day JCC protest ended on September 11.

Srinagar, September 16
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to equip ambulances with the global positioning system (GPS) in its effort to stem out misuse and improve efficiency of the service.

The decision to equip ambulances with GPS has been taken by the Health Department, Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmed Khan disclosed yesterday at a monthly review meeting of health services in the region.

Khan said the department would establish two control rooms, one each in Jammu and Srinagar, to regulate the service that could be availed of by dialling 102.

"This mechanism will not only help tracing vehicles in times of need, but also ensure checking their misuse," the minister said.

The state government has so far failed to upgrade the region's ambulance service with modern facilities. Most ambulances operating in the region are primarily transport vehicles, with no life-saving facilities attached to those.

In June, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad inaugurated the mobile medical service in the region and flagged off four hi-tech medical mobile units or critical-care ambulances which would operate in far-flung parts of the Kashmir valley.

Critical-care ambulances render life support to patients in critical emergencies and are fitted with defibrillator, pulso-meter and vital monitoring equipment, folding stretcher, GPS-supported navigation, two-way radio, life-saving medicines and dedicated paramedic staff.

Khan said that a scheme to provide free healthcare facilities to children up to the age of 18 years would soon be launched in the state.

The first phase of the Rashtriya Swasthik Bal Karyakram would be implemented in two districts in Kashmir and one district in the Jammu division. The other districts would be covered under this programme in a phased manner, the minister said.

"The services of ISM doctors and other paramedical staff will be engaged on contractual basis. They will visit different areas for screening and check-up of children for free treatment at health institutions," Khan said at the meeting.

Commissioner Health and Medical Education Ganzaffer Hussain, Director ISM Abdul Kabir, Mission Director National Rural Health Mission Yash Pal Sharma, Director Health Services Kashmir Saleem-ur-Rahman, Project Director AIDS Control Society Madhu Khullar, Director Family Welfare Baldev Sharma, Controller Drugs and Food Control Organisation Satish Gupta and other senior officers of different wings of the department were present at the meeting.

The minister also said the state government had decided to organise crash courses in gynaecology, anaesthesia, radiology and other streams to enable doctors posted in remote areas to cater to healthcare needs of patients.

Khan said in view of paucity of staff at health institutions in far-flung areas, the doctors posted there would be imparted crash courses in all important streams to enable them to handle emergency cases.

Srinagar, September 16
Darhal MLA Zulfkar Ali called on Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhawan here today and presented to him a memorandum on development needs and demands of his area.

The problems faced by the Darhal area and the demands of the people included the need for launching a special drive for the recruitment of the youth of Rajouri and Poonch districts in the Army, paramilitary forces and police, speedy completion of ongoing road projects under the PMGSY in both districts, provision of an industrial package for the two districts and allotment of adequate rations to the people of the area as per its population.

Other demands included augmentation of medicare services by establishing more primary health centres and sub-centres and upgrading existing health institutions, effective implementation of the RAMSA, upgrade of educational institutions and augmentation of irrigation facilities.

Chandigarh, September 16
Rajya Sabha MP and BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir affairs in charge Avinash Rai Khanna said the clash in Kishtwar area was a well-planned conspiracy of the Jammu and Kashmir Government.

Addressing a press conference on the findings following the visit to Kishtwar area post clashes, Khanna said the situation in Kishtwar was still explosive. The minority community was badly affected and people were afraid to even move out. Demanding a CBI inquiry into the episode, he sought an immediate suspension of DIG Wani.

Khanna said the majority community, in the area, was instigated to damage the houses and shops of the minority. The affected women and shopkeepers approached the police, but all pleas fell on deaf years. The administration, infact, did not make any effort to stop violence that spread over eight hours and damaged every possible belonging of the minority.

“While the local police became mute spectator, the Army and CRPF kept on waiting for administration orders. The local people have verified that Sajad Kitchloo (who was State Minister for Home at the time of riots) was in the government bungalow at Kishtwar for the whole day,” Khanna added.

He demanded a CBI probe into the issue and a strong assertion from the government that minority and their belongings were safe in Kishtwar. During the violence, three persons were killed while several got injured. Despite the fact that FIR had been registered in shooting a minority dead, no action has been taken so far.

Srinagar, September 16
Member of Legislative Assembly Abdul Haq Khan called on Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhawan here today and presented to him certain problems and development needs of his area.

The issues raised by Khan included construction of the Lolab-Bandipora tunnel, speedy completion of the Lolab bypass road at Kupwara, expeditious construction of the Kanthpora, Shimrayal, Thayan Mohri, Lashtiyal and Batnar bridges and electrification of all uncovered villages in the Lolab area.

Other demands included launching of a special drive for the recruitment of the youth of the area in the police and taking required measures for the protection of forests and providing timber and firewood to the people in required quantities.

Interacting with Khan, the Governor observed that the issues raised by him would be taken up with the authorities concerned in the state government.

Kupwara, September 16
At a time when farmers were looking forward for an improvement in weather conditions to complete the crop harvesting, a heavy hailstorm damaged standing paddy and maize crops to the hilt in a few villages of Kupwara district this evening. The storm intensity was so severe that it knocked down apples and walnuts from trees.

The most affected villages include Hirri, Alachizab, Trehgam, Ticker, Hundi, Hayan, Batergam and Hanjipora. DC Kupwara Itrat Hussain Rafique accompanied by a team of officers from the Agriculture and Horticulture Department visited the affected villages. "It was one of the high-intensity hailstorm that hit some villages in the district. I see walnuts and apples lying on the ground. Paddy and maize crops have also been severely hit," said the DC Kupwara.

At some places, the gusty winds followed by the storm broke down twigs of walnut and other trees. "The high-intensity storm also damaged twigs of walnut and other trees. It appears to be 100 percent loss at a few places due to this natural calamity," the DC added.

Locals said hailstones weighing around 20 to 30 grams continued up to 40 minutes, forming an icy layer of about three-to-four inches on the ground. They said besides paddy and maize crops, the storm also damaged vegetation in the fields.

"The high-intensity storm wreaked havoc to standing and harvested crops. We suffered immense damage at the time of reaping crops. We appeal to the government to provide compensation, said Nisar Ahmad, a resident of Hirri.

'The intensity of hailstorm was so severe that it thrashed apples and walnuts and inflicted heavy damage to the fruit orchards," said Abdul Majid from Trehgam.

Traffic movement was halted along the busy Trehgam-Chowkibal road for about half-an-hour due to low-visibility conditions, following the storm. 

Srinagar, September 16
As many as 26 persons, most of them passengers, have been injured in different road accidents across the Kashmir valley, police said today.

A passenger bus rammed into a tree at Ashmuqam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district resulting in injuries to 22 passengers, including the bus driver, a police spokesman said.

All injured have been shifted to a hospital for treatment.

In another accident, a motorcycle skidded of the road near Khanpora bridge in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district resulting in injuries to motorcyclist Zahid Ahmad Mir, a resident of Kralhar. The injured has been shifted to the hospital for treatment, the spokesman said.

In central Kashmir’s Budgam district, a car and a van collided at Ichgam village resulting in minor injuries to the van driver, identified as Ghulam Hyder Bhat. The injured was shifted to the 
District Hospital, Budgam, for treatment, the spokesman said.

Two persons were injured when a car and an Army vehicle collided with each other at Palhallan in Baramulla district. Both the injured, identified as Mohammad Altaf Lone and Riyaz Ahmad Sheikh, residents of Uri town, have been shifted to Sher-e Kashmir Institute of medical Sciences (SKIMS) hospital in the city here, the spokesman said, adding that their condition was reported to be stable.

The police has registered a case and seized the Army vehicle.

Srinagar, September 16
With private buses on city roads being stopped at will, leading to traffic jams, the traffic police and students of the Department of Law, Kashmir University (KU), will soon start a joint counselling drive.

Students and police officials will be seen counselling erring drivers at various routes of the city and creating awareness among passengers over reservation of seats for women.

Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Haseeb-ur-Rehman said the drive would be started later this week.

"As Tata-407 buses usually take passengers at will, our department, along with students of the Department of Law, KU, will start a drive this week where we will counsel bus drivers to take passengers at designated stops only," he told the Kashmir Tribune.

The SP Traffic said the department had last week held an interactive session with the Department of Law in an effort to find a solution to traffic-related issues.

He said it was decided that they would jointly start an awareness drive against erring drivers. He said once the drive was over, the traffic police would take strict action against the offenders.

"We are hopeful that through the involvement of students, we will be able to create active awareness among drivers as well as passengers," he added.

He said they would counsel drivers, bus conductors and passengers to ensure that seats were reserved for woman commuters.

The traffic police, besides challaning offenders in the past, had begun various novel means of creating awareness of traffic rules.

The department had earlier this year distributed chocolates and New Year cards among drivers found following traffic rules.

In September last year, the department had launched a counselling drive, during which the traffic rule violators were offered a glass of water instead of being challaned. The violators were counselled by senior citizens and police officials.

Srinagar, September 16
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asked the agencies concerned to speed up the work for timely completion of projects.He said this while reviewing the progress on various projects being implemented under Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding by J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), an official spokesman said here in a statement.

He said rehabilitation of affected people due to various projects earmarked for launching under loan-2 of the ADB should receive priority attention. “The loan-1 of ADB to various projects is shortly closing as such ERA should concentrate on ensuring completion of these projects within the targeted timeframe,” he said directing for making comprehensive proposals for launch of big ticket projects under loan-2 of the ADB.

In his Power Point presentation, Chief Executive Officer ERA Tahseen Mustafa, said out of 117 projects under loan-1, 101 projects have been completed so far while the rest would be completed by the end of this year. He said 94 percent of physical targets and 92 percent of financial targets have been achieved by the middle of August 2013.

The meeting, the statement said, also discussed the action taken report of the ERA on the decisions taken in the previous meetings. It also took appraisal of various mega projects under implementation in the state under ADB funding. The meeting reviewed the status of sub-projects and the scope of loan-2 of the ADB.

Srinagar, September 16
Chief Minister's political secretary Tanvir Sadiq on Monday interacted with various deputations at the Chief Minister's private office here in the city.

Sadiq, while meeting the delegations, said that road communication sector had been receiving focused attention from the past four-and-a-half years and Omar Abdullah-led government had concentrated on improving the accessibility to the far-off and remote areas and upgrade existing road network in the state. He said hundreds of new bridge and road schemes had been implemented and many more were in the pipeline to open up backward areas and improve communication facilities, aimed at generating economic activities of wide-range nature and helping in the development of infrastructure smoothly.

Speaking to various deputations, the Chief Minister's political secretary said the inclusive development and reaching out to every area in the process of development had been made the benchmark of their governance.

Some 50 deputations from various areas of the state, including Kupwara, Uri, Srinagar, Qazigund and scores of individuals met Sadiq at the Chief Minister's office.

Srinagar, September 16
Around 100 pony-wallahs took part in a ‘Ponython’ at north Kashmir’s tourist resort Gulmarg today.

The race of the pony-wallahs, which was organised by the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, started from the Strawberry Valley and after racing through the Potato Farm Road, ended at The Golf Club.

“Visit to Gulmarg is incomplete without a pony ride. We conceptualised this race to recognise the pony-wallahs. I am delighted to see the response and fervour of the locals at The 1st Lalit Ponython,” said Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson & Managing Director, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group.

The winner of the Ponython, Altaf Hussain, received a reward of Rs 50,000 while the first and second runners up Talib Hussain and Ayoub Hussain got a reward of Rs 30,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively.

Srinagar, September 16
With the return of Ganga Charri to Naraan Naag in Ganderbal district, the four-day long 5th Annual Gangbal yatra concluded.

Pilgrims returned to the summer capital today after performing a ‘Vedic Mahaygya’ at the Gangbal Lake yesterday, which is located around 14,500 feet above the sea level in the Harmukh mountain range.

Vinod Pandit, chairman, All-Parties Migrant Co-ordination Committee (APMCC), which organised the pilgrimage along with the Harmukh Ganga Gangbal Trust (HGGT), said the yatra concluded after performing ‘Ganga Ashtami Puja, Mahashradha’ of the departed souls, besides the ‘Vedic Mahaygya’.

HGGT vice-president and APMCC national spokesperson King Bharati thanked the district administration, police force and the Army for their support in conducting the yatra smoothly.

HGGT trustee Usha Nakhasi said the yatra had seen significant growth over the past five years. The pilgrimage had been resumed by the APMCC in 2009. Pandit said the yatra was resumed in 2009 after more than 100 years as it used to be an annual affair from the ancient period. Pandit said the main aim behind making the pilgrimage to Gangbal-an annual affair-was part of the APMCC’s mission to reopen all historical religious places and resume ancient pilgrimages of Kashmiri Pandits.

He said the same was being done to save the cultural and religious history of Kashmiri Pandits as majority of them have migrated out of Kashmir after the eruption of militancy in the state.

Srinagar, September 16
The Army Public School, Srinagar (APS), has clinched the Northern Command Inter Army Public School Football Tournament (2013-14) trophy by winning the final match, being held at APS Nagrota in Jammu this week.

The tournament was conducted by Army Welfare Education Society (AWES), in which six Army Public Schools of Northern Command took part, an official spokesman said here in a statement.

In the final match, APS Srinagar maintained its winning streak by defeating the host team APS Nagrota by 2-1. The final match was equally contested by both teams and the spectators were thrilled by the skill display of players, the statement said.

Basit Bhat of class X of APS Srinagar scored maximum goals in the tournament, it added.

“The APS Srinagar football team received a grand reception and welcome by the schoolprincipal staff and students. Principal Sandeep Marhatta felicitated the team and sports teacher for their achievement and expressed the hope that the team would exhibit its mettle and talent successfully in the future”, the statement said.