Srinagar, September 17
After staging protests in the morning, government employees today decided to defer their five-day stir. The Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), an amalgam of various employees' bodies, which had called for the five-day protest beginning today, suspended it after talks with the recently constituted Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC).

Last week, the CSC was constituted in an effort to end the government-JCC deadlock over employees' demands that included 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 working in various government departments.

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

Talking to reporters after the meeting with the CSC, JCC leader Abdul Qayoom Wani said the employees staged protests in all districts of the state, barring Shopian in south Kashmir where curfew was in place. However, after holding a meeting with the CSC, Wani said they decided to defer the stir till September 27, when the JCC was scheduled to again meet the CSC.

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

However, the JCC then resumed the protest, saying the government had failed to fulfil the promises made to it. The JCC had been holding frequent protests and strikes for meeting its demands, affecting work at various government offices.

Anantnag, September 17
With curfew entering the 11th consecutive day in Shopian district of south Kashmir today, life has come to a standstill, with people facing difficulties in coping with the situation.

Schools, colleges, offices and other establishments have been locked for the last 11 days while people have been kept confined to their dwelling units.

Students and their parents remain worried as their future hangs in the balance. "It is the most crucial time of the year. Our exams are nearing and we remain bound," said a local student.

Fruit traders of the town are also a worried lot, with the apple season around the corner and the fruit mandi closed. The Shopian fruit mandi has an annual turnover of more than Rs 700 crore. Traders worry that they may incur huge losses if the situation persists.

Farmers are distraught, alleging that CRPF personnel have been damaging their standing crops in their apple orchards. "People who live in the vicinity of my apple orchard called me last evening and told me about damaged fencing and the crop," said a resident, requesting anonymity.

People are facing acute shortage of essential supplies like baby food and medicines. Local chemists say they have exhausted their stock of medicines and are finding it difficult to arrange some life-saving drugs in the wake of the stringent restrictions.

"My six-month-old daughter has been going without baby food for two days now. Our neighbours have been generous to spare some milk," said a resident.

Local residents allege that the forces are not allowing patients to be ferried to hospitals and those who somehow make it are not allowed to move back. Hospitals are finding it difficult to feed the increasing number of patients and attendants with canteens, markets and ATMs closed.

Srinagar, September 17
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) today castigated the state coalition government for failing to utilise development funds in north Kashmir's Bandipora district.

The opposition party's senior leader and Bandipora MLA Nizamuddin Bhat blamed the state government for administrative callousness and cost esclation, saying there had been a delay in completion of projects in the north Kashmir district.

Bhat said no forum had proved impressive enough to address the issues, as a result of which people continued to suffer. "People took to the streets on several occasions to seek attention. Unfortunately, public protests fall on deaf ear of the unresponsive and vindictive administration," the MLA said.

Bhat said the development work of roads, bridges, hospital, guest house, grid station and other infrastructure was virtually on hold. "The power sector has become a parasite, with no visible improvement in the working of its agencies," Bhat said.

Srinagar, September 17
Moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was stopped by the police from visiting the curfew-bound south Kashmir district of Shopian and detained this afternoon.

Mirwaiz, who heads the moderate separatist faction, was leaving the compound of the Raj Bagh head office of the Hurriyat Conference when he was detained. He was whisked away in a police armoured car and taken to his Nigeen residence.

The Hurriyat faction's spokesman said Mirwaiz was placed under detention at his house. The detention triggered protests in several parts of the old city, where protesters placed stones on roads to block traffic.

Before being detained, Mirwaiz issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the state government, telling it to lift curfew from Shopian district, which remained under strict restrictions for the 11th consecutive day.

"We are not even given the chance to express solidarity with the people. This is injustice," Mirwaiz said while being detained. "This is state terrorism. We are issuing an ultimatum to the government to lift curfew from Shopian," he said.

Shopian remained under curfew for the 11th consecutive days since September 7, when four youths were killed by CRPF personnel in the district. One of them was suspected to be a militant while three were civilians. Another youth was shot dead on September 11.

The moderate separatist leader warned that if curfew was not lifted, he would demand a march to the south Kashmir district.

"If curfew is not lifted by tomorrow, we will be forced to call on the people to march to Shopian," he said. He said he would address a press conference tomorrow if curfew was not lifted from Shopian and call for the march.

Meanwhile, hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani reiterated his call for a march to the office of the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) tomorrow. He urged the people to assemble at the Hyderpora office of his party at 11 am.

Kupwara, September 17
The Department of Education continues to inordinately delay the release of promotion lists of teachers and masters to lecturers in science subjects even as acute shortage of teaching staff, especially in science subjects, has badly affected studies in higher secondary schools across Kashmir.

Teachers in the seniority lists of science subjects, including botany, said they were forced to make repeated rounds of the Civil Secretariat in pursuance of the release of the promotion lists despite fulfilling all requisite formalities in time.

On January 2, the School Education Department issued promotion orders to the level of lecturer to 24 in-service masters in the discipline of botany. The next day, it directed 37 masters and teachers figuring in the seniority lists to submit postgraduate certificates in the administrative department within a period of 15 days.

“We submitted the marks and degree certificates in time and completed all requisite formalities, but the department continues to delay the release of the promotion lists. We are forced to make repeated visits to the Civil Secretariat and the Minister for Education, only to be told that a meeting will be convened and the promotion lists released,” said Mohd Akbar Sheikh, a master in the seniority list for botany.

A similar procedure was followed by the department in other disciplines like zoology, physics and chemistry, but a majority of in-service masters and teachers were awaiting promotions. Following a Cabinet decision dated May 16, the government had cleared the validity of degrees obtained through distance education.

The order read, “Degrees obtained through distance education, which have been approved by the Distance Education Council and awarded from the headquarters by University Grants Commission recognised universities established by an Act of the state legislature, shall be recognised for the purpose of employment.”

In the wake of the Cabinet decision, the Public Service Commission and the Service Selection Board accepted application forms for jobs in various government departments as per advertisements. The teachers said the department issued the promotion lists in 20 subjects, including biotechnology, on March 30 and teachers and masters in the seniority list were promoted and adjusted.

“What is the point in delaying the promotion lists despite the clearance of validity of degrees? We are being made to run from pillar to post while in-service masters and teachers promoted on March 30 have been adjusted,” said Mohd Aslam, a master in the seniority list for botany. Minister for Education Tara Chand said, “We have constituted a committee to prepare the promotion lists and will speed up the process so that the lists are released at the earliest.”

Srinagar, September 17
Ashraf Sehrai, a senior separatist leader and close aide of hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, today suggested an open debate on unity efforts within the leadership of the breakaway Hurriyat leadership.

Sehrai, who is the general secretary of the Geelani-led Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, made this statement while speaking during a function organised by the National Front to release a book based on the writings of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru here today.

“Many things were said here today and many suggestions were also made as far as unity of the leadership was considered. But it would take a lot of time reply to the things pointed out here,” Sehrai said as he began to spoke during the function.

“I too have many things to say on unity. A lot of secrets are buried in my heart too. The occasion does not warrant that I should open those secrets or use those against someone. That is not our way,” Sehrai said.

He was referring to an earlier speech by former Bar Association general secretary GN Shaheen, who had castigated the separatist leadership of Kashmir for lack unity in rank and file.

Shaheen had suggested that all the separatists should unite on one single platform to “carry forward the movement” to its logical conclusion.

“Everybody has been talking about unity. But let me say that those proponents of unity should do it first with themselves. Charity begins at home,” Sehrai said.

“I am ready to discuss unity efforts. Let someone organise a mehfil-e-mubahissa (debate function) where we can discuss all these issues. But for that, someone has to come forward and take an initiative,” Sehrai suggested.

In his address, senior Hurriyat leader Shabbir Shah, who had been on the forefront as far as unity efforts within breakaway Hurriyat factions are considered, said past efforts on this front did not yield results.

“We made a lot of efforts on this front, but did not succeed. But unity is possible only on the principles, on the basis of fikr-o-amal (thought and practice),” he said.

“But we will have to learn from our mistakes as the path ahead is difficult. Freedom is not going to be offered to us on a platter by India. We will have to come out of our houses and institutionalise this movement,” Shah said. 

Srinagar, September 17
The Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) today said it would start a campaign to develop a consensus between various political and separatist parties towards forming a joint strategy for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Addressing a press conference here, AIP president and Langate MLA Engineer Rasheed said the party would knock on the doors of separatists and mainstream leaders so that the AFSPA and the PSA were revoked.

“From Syed Ali Shah Geelani to Omar Abdullah and from Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, every politician has been strongly advocating the revocation of the AFSPA for long, but unfortunately, New Delhi does not even bother to consider their genuine demand,” he added.

Stating that the AIP would form three or four groups for deliberations with different shades of opinion over AFSPA revocation, Rasheed said the party would be shortly writing letters to different parties and leaders.

He said the AIP had communicated with many parties and individuals, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and sought appointments so that state and Central governments were motivated and forced to remove these laws.

“Joining hands will bring some sense of security among Kashmiris whose life has become hell. Let Kashmiri leaders realise their duties and not feel shy in talking to each other. There is no option but to have a consensus over this burning issue and get rid of the called AFSPA,” he said.

“Though revocation of the AFSPA or the PSA cannot resolve the Kashmir dispute, it can give self-confidence and sense of security and make security forces accountable to a large extent,” he said.

Rasheed said he would raise the issue of disbanding village defence committees in the upcoming autumn session of the Assembly. 

Srinagar, September 17
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today inaugurated the National Research Institute of Sowa Rigpa in Leh district of the region, an official spokesman said.

After the upgrade of this centre as the National Research Institute in 2009, the infrastructure upgrade at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore had been taken up at the new complex, the spokesman said.

Minister for Urban Development Nawang Rigzin Jora was present at the inauguration ceremony. Jora demanded opening of a college in Ladakh for study of the Buddhist medical system.

On behalf of the people of Ladakh, Jora extended gratitude to Azad for his support in granting recognition to Sowa Rigpa in the Indian Medical System, the spokesman said.

Responding to the demands put forth by Jora, the Union Minister said the Sowa Rigpa committee in the Central Council of Indian Medicine was being constituted, which would look into the issues of curriculum and education of the Amchi system. He said he would find a way out to establish a college for Sowa Rigpa in Ladakh in view of its immense role in public health.

The Union Minister also appreciated people of Ladakh for the preservation of age-old manuscripts of the Buddhist medical system.

Central Council for Research and Sidha Director General Abhimanyu Kumar in his welcome address expressed gratitude to the Union Ministry of Health for support and assistance in the upgrade of Sowa Rigpa National Research Institute at Leh.

CEC Rigzin Spalbar, Leh Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police were also present at the inaugural function.

Srinagar, September 17
A two-day seminar on ‘Health Care in Detention’ was organised by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in collaboration with the JK Prisons Department and Directorate of Health, Kashmir, a police spokesman said.

"The seminar was principally designed to improve the health care system in detention and discuss every issue pertaining to it," he said.

During the inaugural session, Director General (DG) Prisons, K Rajendra Kumar spoke about the importance of medical care in prisons in order to restore and maintain the health of inmates and to maintain a satisfactory standard of general sanitation and hygiene within the institution.

Kumar emphasised that the prisons department is putting in its best efforts to provide access of healthcare services to all the prison inmates and to fulfil the health care needs in timely and efficient manner, he said.

The Director Health Services for Kashmir region also spoke at the seminar.

Head of 'Health in Detention Unit' of ICRC Geneva, Raed Abu Rabi, who was the main speaker at the seminar, spoke on various issues in context of healthcare in detention and role of ICRC in improving the living condition of inmates throughout the world.

Superintendents from all the jails of Kashmir division and the Prisons Medical Officers and doctors from Directorate of Health Services attended the seminar, the police spokesman said.The spokesman said a similar seminar is going to be organised in Jammu later this month.

Srinagar, September 17
To assess and take stock of the crops damaged during the recent high-intensity hailstorm in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo today conducted a tour of various affected villages.

An official said the Minister for Social Welfare visited Nandimarg, Cheknagam, Yarikha, Dobdaban, Danikhur, Margbal, Sangankanan, Gujarpora and other adjoining areas of Kulgam.

The minister was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, officers of the revenue, agriculture, horticulture and other departments.

The Minister for Social Welfare was informed that many villages of the district were affected due to the strong winds and hailstorm causing damage to the standing crops of paddy and maize besides vegetables and fruits.

The minister asked the revenue officers to assess the damage in the district and submit the report for release of compensation to the affected people as soon as possible.

Srinagar, September 17
'Watan Ki Sair' -a tour for students of the Valley, organised by the BSF, Kashmir Range, concluded yesterday.

During the closing ceremony, Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services and Sports Taj Mohi-ud-Din underscored the need for organising more cultural exchanges among students and youth for better understanding of society and people.

Two contingents of boys and girls had been flagged off for an India tour by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand on September 6. During the tour, students visited Agra, Delhi, Rajasthan, Bangalore, Mysore and other places and interacted with people.

Taj complimented the force and other organisations that organise such cultural exchange programmes, saying these help to bring people closer to each other.

BSF IG DK Upadhaya, DIG Rajendra Pandey and other officers were present on the occasion.

Jammu, September 17
A two-day training programme for the trainers of the Navjaat Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (NSSK) under the National Rural Health Mission began here today at the Department of Paediatrics, Government SMGS Hospital, Shalamar. Participants from all the ten districts of Jammu division are being imparted training on better implementation of the NSSK.

The said training programme is being organised under the supervision of the Mission Directorate, NRHM, J&K, and was inaugurated by Dr Rekha Harish, Head of the Department, Paediatrics, Government SMGS Hospital.

The participants will be trained to further train medical officers and paramedics for providing essential newborn care as part of health services. The programme is meant to further reduce the neo-natal mortality rate and infant mortality rate in the state. Dr SS Slathia and Dr Sanjeev Digra are the master trainers for the programme. Dr Harjeet Rai, District Nodal Officer, NRHM, J&K, and others were also present on the occasion. 

Srinagar, September 17
Six persons, including five CRPF personnel, were injured in different road accidents across the region, the police today said.

Five CRPF personnel were injured when the vehicle in which they were travelling met with an accident in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.

The personnel of 82 battalion of the CRPF were on their way from Sonmarg to the city when the mishap happened near Gagangeer Park in Ganderbal, a police spokesman said.

The injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment, the spokesman said.

In north Kashmir's Bandipora district, Bilal Ahmad Wagay, a resident of Sadunara village, was injured when the tractor he was driving skidded off the road near Badugam village, the spokesman said.

The driver was shifted to a hospital here.

Anantnag, September 17
Protests erupted in Hakura village of Anantnag after a local youth succumbed to his injuries received during a confrontation with a thief.

Local residents took to the streets and raised slogans against the government amid clashes.

The deceased has been identified as Bilal Ahmad Dar (24) of Hakura village. He was injured on September 11 and was in a hospital in Srinagar ever since.

Locals said a man riding a horse had "intruded" into their village about 9 pm on September 11.

"Confronted by the local youth, the intruder tried to make a dash. However, they chased him down," said a local resident. "While they were nabbing him, he attacked them with a knife, injuring two people. One of the injured was Dar," he said.

"While the other injured is stable, Dar succumbed after battling it out for six days," said Zahid, Dar's friend.

The "intruder", identified as Muhammad Shamsher Sheikh, a resident of Zilatgam, Bihar, was handed over to the police by some village youths.

"He is in the police custody and has been charged with murder today," said Anantnag Superintendent of Police RK Jalla.