The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

JCC reiterates 2-day lockout call
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 3
Despite the detention of employee leaders and government warning, the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), an amalgam of various employees' bodies, today said it will go ahead with its two-day lockout from tomorrow.

In a statement, the JCC has appealed to all the employees of the state to observe a complete lockout on October 4 and 5 against the "tyrannical approach of the state government".

Flaying the detention of employee leaders including Abdul Qayoom Wani, the statement alleged that the state government had "crossed all the limits of anti-people and anti-employee policy".

"Such acts have exposed the real face of the state government," the statement added. After the talks between the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) and the JCC ended in a deadlock on Friday, the employee leaders had called for a fresh protest.

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 protests, saying the government had failed to fulfil the promises made to them.

The employees' demands include release of arrears recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission, enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies and regularisation of daily wagers and casual workers working in various government departments. The other JCC demands are inclusion of five years of contractual service of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers in the service book and regularisation of education volunteers after seven years of service.

Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey has already issued orders to all divisional, district and police authorities to ensure that the employee leaders did not forcibly prevent others from attending work. He had also directed the secretaries to personally visit various offices during the strike days to ascertain the situation and report the attendance of the employees so that immediate action is taken against those those absent.

the demands

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

Sealing of illegal structures by SMC continues amid protests
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 3
Amid protests, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) continued to seal illegal structures here today following the directions of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Srinagar Municipal Corporation Media Relations Officer Masrat Yousuf said the sealing of illegal structures continued for the second day.

She said the Srinagar Municipal Corporation enforcement team, accompanied by a police team, sealed illegal structures at Karan Nagar area of the summer capital.

While nine buildings were sealed today, 19 were sealed yesterday even as owners of the business units continued to stage protests.

While several traders’ bodies yesterday held a demonstration at the Press Enclave, protests were also staged today by the affected businessmen when illegal structures set up at Karan Nagar were being sealed.

Eyewitnesses said minor incidents of stone-pelting also took place at Karan Nagar during the drive.

Pertinently, the High Court had, on September 30, directed the government to seal within three days all such illegal structures in Srinagar city against whom demolition orders and show-cause notices have already been issued by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation had informed the court that it had issued demolition orders and show-cause notices to 42 violators for sealing the structures raised in violation of norms. During the case hearing, the government counsel had sought further time from the court while submitting that sealing/demolition of the structures would require appropriate security measures.

The counsel had also submitted that sealing may cause law and order problems. The court had, however, gone ahead with its orders.

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation's sealing drive against illegal structures is scheduled to conclude tomorrow. The protesters have been alleging that the illegal structures raised by the influential “have been let off”.

2 Dept of Post employees killed in road accident

Srinagar, October 3
Two employees of the Department of Posts (DoP), J&K circle, were killed after a van they were travelling in collided with a truck in south Kashmir. The collision took place between a DoP mail vehicle and a truck on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, near Nambal, Awantipora, this morning.

Two employees of Postal Department, Mehraj Din Laiguru, a resident Barbarshah, Srinagar and Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, resident of Zambalgam Kokernag, Anantnag, were killed on the spot.

Two other persons sustained injuries and were shifted to a hospital for treatment. The police said the truck driver had been arrested. Chief Postmaster General, DoP, Chandra Prakash, Senior Superintendent N D Prajapati and other staff members condoled the demise of the employees.

The DoP spokesman said the deceased were dedicated to their work and were Grameen Dak Sewaks and were carrying mail to Anantnag district when the accident took place. He also expressed condolences with the bereaved families.

Elsewhere, 13 persons were injured in different road accidents across the Valley, a police spokesman said.

A vehicle turned turtle at Sheeri in Baramulla district, resulting in injuries to eight persons. All the injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment. The police has registered a case in this regard.

In another accident, a vehicle hit and injured a pedestrian in Awantipora. The injured was shifted to a hospital for treatment. The Awantipora police has registered a case.

A load carrier and a private vehicle collided at Main Chowk, Kakapora, in Pulwama district. Four persons were injured in the mishap and have been shifted to a hospital for treatment. A case has been registered in this regard.

Fire breaks out in school; students, staff escape unhurt
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 3
Oasis Public School, Gogji Bagh in the uptown area of Srinagar today caught fire due to blast in two LPG cylinders at the school kitchen. The fire soon engulfed the entire old building of the school, a major portion of which is constructed in wood.

Panic gripped the school premises but the school authorities alongwith the CRPF men from the adjacent CRPF camp located there helped children escape.

"The fire broke out in the early morning when the annual school examinations were going on. The students were writing their papers," a school administration official said.

A CRPF spokesperson said that the CRPF men immediately jumped to the rescue of school teachers and students.

"We called fire services soon after and the fire brigade arrived on time. Fortunately, all students escaped unhurt," a CRPF spokesperson said.

As the news of the school fire spread, parents of the children rushed to the spot.

There was a traffic jam in the area for several hours after the fire broke out.

The school authorities said that the newly constructed building of the school is intact while the old building is completely damaged.

Non-functional transformers leave villagers groping in dark
Amin Masoodi

Sopore, October 3
Residents of Shatmuqam Lolab and Darzi Mohalla Kupwara have been groping in the dark for the past one month due to non-functional transformers in these villages. Residents of Shatmuqam Lolab said the transformer which was installed yesterday after one month again developed a snag.

They demanded that a new transformer should be installed at the village. “The village has been groping in the dark for the past one month. After repeated pleas, the transformer was installed after a month only for it to develop a snag again. In absence of power supply, we are forced to illuminate houses with candles,” said Mohd Aziz, a local resident.

“The old transformer often develops snags, leaving us high and dry. We have requested the power division concerned to install a new transformer in the village,” he added.

The villagers threatened to take to the streets if power was not restored to normal. “If power is not restored before Monday, we will be forced to take to the streets in protest against the power division. We are made to pay tariff for the entire month even if the supply is snapped for some time,” said Iqbal Ahmad. Inhabitants of Darzi Mohalla Kupwara complained that the transformer which developed a snag at least three weeks earlier has not been lifted and at least 50 families are groping in the dark. “Despite repeated requests to lift the out-of-order transformer, the same has not been restored for the past three weeks. We will forced to take to the streets if the electricity is not restored in a few days,” said Shabir Ahmad, a local resident.

Students said that they were the worst sufferers. “We have been forced to study in candle-light for the past three weeks. Although Darzi Mohalla is part of Kupwara town, the power division concerned seems to be the least bothered about ensuring smooth power supply to the mohalla,” said Irshad Ahmad, a class XII student.

Power cuts create ordeal for students
Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, October 3
As the winter season approaches, power supply in south Kashmir region, particularly in rural areas, has gone from bad to worse, much to the inconvenience of students appearing in various examinations.

According to reports, unscheduled power cuts in many parts of the South Kashmir region have left people high and dry. Locals say the winter is yet to set in and the power scenario has already worsened.

“This is the examination season in Kashmir and the frequent power cuts are taking a toll on the students' studies,” said Bilal Ahmad, a parent from Srigufwara area of Anantnag. He said that many parents in the area have sent their wards to their relatives in Srinagar so that they can study without worrying about the power cuts. “I cannot afford to send my child to Srinagar. We have to bear the brunt,” said Bilal Ahmad. People in unmetered areas say the Power Development Department (PDD) had earlier released a particular schedule for the power supply; however, over the last one month or so, the schedule has been thrown to the winds.

"Our area hardly gets any power supply these days,” said Muhammad Akbar, a resident of Damhal Hanjipora area of Kulgam district.

The metered areas in the region fare no better than the unmetered ones, with the power scenario more or less the same. The people living in the metered areas of the south Kashmir region rue that they are being subjected to unnecessary power cuts.

Poor BSNL service irks mobile, landline users in Sopore
Amin Masoodi

Sopore, October 3
Poor service of BSNL continues to irk mobile and landline subscribers in Sopore town of north Kashmir. The subscribers said that they were suffering immense inconveniences due to poor services.

They threatened to take to the streets and destroy the “useless” BSNL cables if the service was not improved at the earliest.

“Despite repeated pleas to improve the poor services, the cellular company continues to test our patience. We will be forced to destroy the phone cables in main chowk Sopore, if the company does not improve its service," said Haji Mohd Ashraf, president, traders’ federation, Sopore.

There are six mobile towers in the town and subscribers said that most of the towers were not working properly and the company's officials were not running generators to run the towers when electricity went off.

“The mobile towers are down when the electricity supply is snapped. Despite having generators with each tower, the employees do not take the trouble to run the generators for continuation of mobile signal,” said Aijaz Ahmad, a trader.

Deputy General Manager BSNL Nazir Ahmad Joo said, “I will look into the matter. I am sure it may be an individual problem and not the collective problem of subscribers in the town.”

On September 2, traders made a written complaint to Chief General Manager Telecommunication about poor service in Sopore town but nothing has come out of it yet.

“Although the higher authorities are aware of the poor services giving inconvenience to people in the town, nothing has been done to improve the services. It takes employees of BSNL a month to rectify the snag in landline phone in the area,” added Ashraf.

Many others subscribers threatened to surrender Sim cards and not pay the bills if the service was not improved.

Deputy General Manager BSNL Nazir Ahmad Joo said, “In order to improve the cellular services in the town, we have already sent a proposal to Delhi. I am hopeful the proposal will be approved and services improved in the town.”

No CT scan machines yet in 10 district hospitals in Kashmir division
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 3
The government is planning to equip all the district hospitals with CT scan machines. Though currently, CT machines are available in five district hospitals in the state, not a single district hospital in Kashmir valley is equipped with the CT scan machines.

This was revealed by the health minister in a written reply to a question which was raised by senior PDP leader and MLA Abdul Redman Veeri during the ongoing Assembly session.

"All the district hospitals will be equipped with CT scan and MRI machines in a phased manner. Presently, the CT scan machines are available in five district hospitals of the state, namely Gandhi Nagar Hospital, district hospitals of Rajouri, Kathua, Udhampur in Jammu division and SNM Hospital in Ladakh," the health minister Shabbir Khan stated in his written reply to the question tabled in the ongoing Assembly session.

Veeri, in his question, had asked whether it is a fact that all the district hospitals in the state are without CT scan and MRI facilities with particular reference to district hospital Anantnag. Veeri had asked the health minister to spell out the reasons for this.

"The orders for procurement of nine CT Scan machines have been placed by the purchase committee, out of which five are for district hospitals in Jammu and four for the district hospitals in Kashmir division," the health minister added in his reply.

10th North Kashmir Sports Festival
Super 6 lift volleyball title
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 3
Numerous matches were played in different events like football, cricket, kabbadi and volleyball during the 10th North Kashmir Sports Festival, being organised by the Baramulla police.

In volleyball, Super Six, Baramulla, registered a dramatic win against Seer Sports, Sopore, in the finals of the tournament, which was played at Sports Stadium, Bandipora.

In table tennis women’s event, Chhavi Rautela won the match by defeating Injila Farooq by two sets (21/15, 21/19) at the Indoor Stadium, Janbazpora.

In football, Wullar Sopore defeated Sober United while the match between Hashmie Bandipora and Mohammadan Sopore ended in a draw.

In cricket, Syndicate Sopore defeated Coaching Centre, Sopore, by three wickets, United Cricket Club, Sopore, defeated BCC Blues, Baramulla, by one run, Rising Star, Sopore, defeated Shah-i-Hamdan, Baramulla, by three wickets, MCC Sopore defeated Seer Sports XI by six wickets and Victoria Baramulla defeated Kaloosa XI, Bandipora, by 106 runs.

In kabbadi, the semifinal matches were played today at DPL Kupwara. KC Nutnoosa, Kupwara, defeated KC Chogul 8-5 after a tie in the main game (41-41). Nowpora defeated KC Haigam by 10 points (29-19).

A police spokesman said a large number of people gathered in all the districts to witnessed the matches.

In table tennis women's event, Chhavi Rautela won the match by defeating Injila Farooq by two sets (21/15, 21/19)

In football, Wullar Sopore defeated Sober United

In cricket, Syndicate Sopore defeated Coaching Centre, Sopore, by three wickets

In kabbadi, KC Nutnoosa, Kupwara, defeated KC Chogul 8-5 after a tie in the main game (41-41)

Kashmir’s herdsmen demand tribal status
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 3
The Chopan (herdsman) community of Kashmir has demanded tribal status. To press for their demands, the community leaders today held a protest here in the city. The protesters were carrying banners and placards demanding grant of tribal status to the community, compensation for the losses to its livestock, employment avenues, quality education to their children through mobile schools and welfare measures for the community.

Addressing the protestors, the JKCWA state president Haji Abdul Aziz said a resolution to grant tribal status to Chopan community was passed in the state Legislative Assembly in 2010 but the Centre had not taken any cognizance of the resolution so far.

He said granting tribal status to Chopan community was a long-pending and a genuine demand which needed consideration.

“The same community in Jammu division has already been granted the status and there should be no discrimination as far as the status of the community living in Kashmir is concerned”, he said.

While expressing serious concern over the miserable living standards of the Chopan community, Aziz demanded compensation for the losses to its livestock, suffered due to recent incessant rains in the state.

He stressed upon pragmatic welfare measures for sheep breeders, Gujjar and Bakerwal communities and urged for eliminating the exploitation of middlemen in their activities. It was very important to provide their community a platform in the form of an advisory board to address their demands for their uplift, he added.

APS Srinagar lifts Academic Excellence trophy
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 3
Army Public School (APS), Srinagar, has lifted the Academic Excellence Trophy 2012-13 for outstanding performance of the students in the annual examination for the second time in succession.

At a felicitation ceremony held at Nagrota, the principal of APS Srinagar, Sandeep Marhatta, was presented the trophy by Lt Gen HJS Sachdev, SM Chief of Staff of Northern Command.

The trophy is an indicative of highest Academic Performance Index (API) among the Army Public Schools of Northern Command.

The presentation ceremony was followed by a two-day principals' meet in which the principals of APS Leh, APS Srinagar, APS Udhampur, APS Dhar Road, APS Akhnoor, APS Nagrota and APS Rukhmuthi participated.

Principal APS Srinagar, Sandeep Marhatta dedicated the trophy to the hard work of the students and teachers. They said that every endeavour will be made to maintain the excellent performance of the School in the coming examination.

Sagar asks separatists to shun negative politics

Srinagar, October 3
Asking the separatists to shun the tendency of negative politics, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar today said the separatists had always believed in opposing the good initiatives undertaken by the government in socio-political and other spheres of life.

He made this statement while addressing a gathering at Wanihama, Hadoora, in the Ganderbal district today, an official statement said.

“Separatists should not always go on criticising the government on the various initiatives undertaken for uplift of the socio-economic profile of the people, besides the other ones taken in the political sphere”, Sagar was quoted in the statement. “Their one-point agenda is to criticise the government, in spite of the measures taken in the various realms of life, be it political, social, economical, this trend of negative politics and thought should be avoided”, he asserted. — TNS

Mufti visits Anantnag, discusses problems of the area with residents
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 3
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed visited various areas of Anantnag constituency today, where he met a large number of people and discussed various problems of the area with them.

A PDP spokesman said Mufti visited Krangsoo, Pehroo, Anchidoora, Anzullah, Donicheck, Bangdar, Mir Danter, Pethbugh, Schichen and Achabal Adda, where he received a warm welcome from the people.

“At many places, he announced grants out of his Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for different development works, including Rs 10 lakh for development of Schichen as a model village,” the spokesman said.

Mufti also visited the Rehmati Alam Trust Hospital which is under construction.

“He discussed with the management the plans for construction, which aims at building a 300-bed hospital,” the spokesman added.

Muftis said the scenic spots of the town should be developed for providing recreational facilities to the locals and make the town tourist friendly.

Referring to the need of upgrading educational facilities in the area, Mufti, during his visit to the south campus and degree colleges, said his government had opened the south campus of the University of Kashmir to provide higher education facilities to the students locally. He said the idea was to basically introduce subjects that would increase the employability of students, but that had not been achieved.

Shabir visits Pulwama district hospital, suspends RMO
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 3
Taking serious note of the unpunctuality and indiscipline of the staff and poor sanitation conditions in District Hospital, Pulwama, Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan, during his surprise visit to the hospital, issued orders for suspension of Resident Medical Officer Dr Riyaz Ahmad and Staff Nurse Sara.

“The Minister also imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on Causality Medical Officer, besides demanding explanation from the Chief Medical Officer, Pulwama and Medical Superintendent of the District Hospital,” an official spokesman said.

“He directed the Director Health Services, Kashmir, to immediately visit the hospital and initiate inquiry against the officials responsible for mismanagement, indiscipline and poor sanitation in the hospital, which affects the healthcare facilities and asked for immediate steps to be taken for the smooth functioning of the hospital at the earliest,” he added.