Srinagar, October 27
To check female foeticide, the police, along with health authorities, have sealed 65 ultra sonagraphy (USG) clinics in the state and arrested five persons under different provisions of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act.

This was revealed by the Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range), Abdul Gani Mir, while addressing a national seminar on declining gender ratio in J-K held at Kashmir University today.

IGP Mir, who chaired the post-lunch session of the seminar, said inspection on as many as 669 ultrasound clinics were conducted to check the pre-natal gender diagnosis and female foeticide.

Speaking on the declining gender ratio in J&K, IGP Mir said countries like Norway, Finland and states like Kerala have shown that the states with high gender ratio and favouring girls are less corrupt. They prosperous with lesser crime rates and better human development index rankings.

He said the skewed gender ratio was a social problem and asked for a social remedy and change in mindset. “Good policing, sealing of illegal ultra stenography machines, raiding of abortion clinics and arrest of medical practioners involved in the heinous crime of determination of gender are a part of the solution,” he said.

Throwing light on a slew of measures undertaken by the state government, Mir said it had been made mandatory to include mothers’ name in all school records, daughters’ names in revenue records, giving share in land holding to daughters under the Sharia Act 2007 and sanctioning houses in the name of female members of households.

He said the reservation for women in panchayats, enforcing dowry prohibition is helping in improving the gender ratio. He suggested that inbuilt software in USG machines would help to track every USG conducted and thereby, keep a check on pre-natal diagnosis of gender.

Speaking at the occasion, J&K State Women’s Commission (J&KSWC) chairperson and MLA Habba Kadal Shamim Firdoos said we should get united to work for the womenfolk.

“We can’t segregate gender justice from other aspects of life. We have to rediscover it in context of overall goals of the society and it should be inclined with human nature and our ethos,” she said.

J&K State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission president Justice BA Kirmani (retd) underlined the need to address the gender issues on holistic manner rather than in isolation.

He said educational institutions like KU, CUK and others must collaborate in finding solutions to all such problems.

The seminar was jointly organised by the Department of Social Work, University of Kashmir in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir State commission for Women.

Srinagar, October 27
A day-long workshop on ‘maternal and child deaths review’ was organised today by the state unit of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in the city here.

Mission Director NRHM, J&K, Yashpal Sharma, while speaking at the workshop, urged for plugging of gaps in the delivery of essential services to put an effective check on maternal and child deaths.

Sharma said the purpose of the workshop on Maternal and Child Review is to establish a mechanism through which all deaths are reported, investigated and then accounted for.

The inaugural session was followed by a technical session in which detailed presentations on Maternal and Child Death Review were made by Divisional Nodal Officer Kashmir Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, Divisional Nodal Officer Jammu Harjeet Rai, and Associate Programme Manager State Health Society Younis Mushtaq.

The participants were sensitised to the latest guidelines on Maternal and Child Death Review and the reporting mechanism at community as well as facility levels.

The workshop was attended by all Medical Superintendents, Deputy Chief Medical Officers and Block Medical Officers of the health department and faculty members from government medical colleges and SKIMS and senior officers of health and medical education department from Kashmir division.

Handwara, October 27
A boy was attacked and killed by a leopard in Magam village of Handwara tehsil this evening. Fahim Rashid Lone, 7, was attacked by the animal at Danstan playing field, 
500 metres away from his home.

The victim was playing cricket when the leopard appeared and picked him up around 6.10 pm. The animal chopped the boy's neck, killing him instantly. Following the incident, the local residents took to the streets and protested against the Wildlife Department. They raised slogans against the department, blaming it for the prevailing risk to lives.

“The department is fully responsible for the killing of the minor. Leopards and bears are roaming in our village and despite repeated requests to restrict the movement of wild animals to forests, the department has failed to save people from such attacks,” said Abdul Rashid, a local resident.

The victim was the only brother of five sisters and was studying in class two in Kahkashan Public School Magam.

“The department ignored our repeated pleas and leopards continue to attack humans,” said Ab Rashid Lone, father of the deceased.

Sarpanch Bashir Ahmad Lone said despite four killings of humans in the vicinity in the recent past by leopards, the department has not done anything to prevent such killings of innocents.

“Humans, especially children, are increasingly falling prey to such attacks and the department is watching as a mute spectator. We will be forced to take to the streets against the department if attacks from wild animals are not done away with,” said Lone.

Naib Tehsildar Handwara Bashir Ahmad War and the SHO visited the spot and assured the protesters that measures will be taken to trap or kill the animal. Following assurances, the villagers called off protests.

During the past two months, five children have been killed by leopards in different villages of Kupwara. On October 5, Hanan Manzoor, 3, of Handwara tehsil, was killed by a leopard near his home. On September 26, Naveed Jahangir 7, of Pathan Mohalla, Munwan in Handwara tehsil was attacked and killed by a leopard near his home. The incident triggered protests against the department. On September 20, a leopard killed a class V student, Umar Manzoor Dar near his home in Pazipora village. Three days later, the mutilated body of the victim was found about 700 metres away from his home. 

Srinagar, October 27
The government has created a transformer bank at Pampore and is planning to set up two more banks in north and south Kashmir.

These banks are being set up to reclaim and repair non-functional transformers during winter months so that hassle-free power supply is provided to the consumers.

This information was given by the State Chief Secretary Muhammad Iqbal Khanday at a review meeting at Baramulla district headquarters yesterday.

He asked for publicising power curtailment schedule as well.

Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar also accompanied the Chief Secretary during the visit to Baramulla and Kupwara districts ahead of the winter season.

The visit was undertaken at a time when the Civil Secretariat and other state government offices have already been closed down here to reopen in Jammu for six months of winter on November 4.

In view of the coming winter, the Chief Secretary directed preparation of action plan for snow clearance well in advance. He asked the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla to convene meeting of all municipal committees to chalk out a snow clearance plan. He also directed ensuring of adequate availability of timber and firewood to the people.

The Chief Secretary, during the visit, at Baramulla, interacted with people from different sections of the society. In separate meetings, he sought their feedback about working of the administration and listened to their demands, said an official spokesman.

Deputations from Beopar Mandal, Baramulla led by president Ishfaq Ahmad Qazi, Auqaf-e-Islamia, Baramulla, led by Abdul Rehman Shalla, National Conference, Baramulla led by Ghulam Hassan Rahi, Congress, Baramulla led by Mir Mushtaq Nowshehri also met the Chief Secretary and apprised him about various issues.

The deputations brought to his notice day-to-day problems of people and sought their redressal - especially strengthening of staff at District Hospital Baramulla, decongestion of old town, availability of timber and firewood during winter months, rationalisation of power curtailment schedule and billing besides distribution of ration as per 2011 Census among consumers, sanitation facilities in the town and beautification of Jhelum banks in the town.

A deputation of Traders Federation, Sopore demanded early completion of Sopore bypass bridge, completion of Sopore hospital, beautification of the town, shifting of bus stand, shifting of the present waste dumping place near schools and identification of a new place for dumping solid waste, construction of a mini secretariat and providing more space to Girls Higher Secondary School.

Srinagar, October 27
A court here in Srinagar has listed for final arguments the case relating to the alleged killing of a teenager in Soura locality by the police in 2010.

The court has to decide whether a case FIR is to be registered against the accused officials or not.

Umar Qayoom Bhat, a teenager from Soura, was killed three years ago in 2010 allegedly by the Jammu and Kashmir police personnel. He had died at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences after allegedly being beaten by police in August 2010 unrest.

The police has already submitted a report of its investigation into the incident to the Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, who has now kept the matter posted for final hearing this week, counsel Shabbir Bhat, who is pleading the case on behalf of the slain teenager's family, said.

"During the course of arguments scheduled for this week, the court has to decide whether to register a case First Information Report against the police or not," Shabbir said.

During the previous hearing, the police, while submitting its status report, has said the authorities at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, had not replied to the questionnaire forwarded by the police to ascertain the cause of the slain youth's death.

Umar's father Abdul Qayoom Bhat, in his complaint, had said his son was taken into custody on August 20, 2010 and subjected to third degree torture in police station Soura before his release on August 21, 2010.

He had further alleged that his son had suffered damage to some vital organs during police torture and had to be hospitalised on August 23, 2010 because of severe internal pain.

The police said Umar had been arrested along with two other youth on the day had.

It stated in its report that the trio was booked under sections 107 and 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code and produced before the executive magistrate concerned on August 25, 2010 in good health.

Srinagar, October 27
The "SMC Week" has been extended to boost various drives launched in the summer capital during the week.

Even as the "SMC Week" was scheduled to conclude today, Srinagar MC Media Relations Officer said the corporation's activities will continue for another few days. "SMC Week" had started on October 21 to improve city sanitation, cleanliness of unattended spots, desilting of drains and allied matters with more emphasis on cleanliness of Brari Nambal Lagoon and river Jhelum bundhs.

SMC held "public darbars" and issued birth and death certificates. SMC commissioner GN Qasba urged people to directly contact Health Officer in case the certificates were not issued on time or in the event of any negligence of any official.

Srinagar, October 27
Three people died and 15 others were injured in different road accidents across the Valley, the police said today.

Khateji Begum (70) and Shakeela Begum, residents of Behrampora, died and eight others were injured when a bus collided with an oil tanker at Seloo near north Kashmir’s Sopore town.

Those injured have been admitted in hospital, said a police spokesman. In south Kashmir, a car hit 28-year-old Zahida, a resident of Dessu, at Zalangam near Kokernag resort. The woman died immediately after being hit by the car, said the spokesman. Five persons were injured when a cab in which they were travelling skid off the road at Sangam near south Kashmir’s Bijbehara town. All the injured were admitted in hospital, said the spokesman.

A tipper collided with a car at Chattergam in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, resulting in injuries to two persons, said the spokesman. Both the injured were admitted in hospital. 

Srinagar, October 27
Several Valley-based hotels will remain shut for two days from tomorrow to oppose the directive for installation of individual sewage treatment plants (STPs) in their premises.

Faiz Bakshi, convener, Coordination Committee of the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF) and Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA), said the hotels will also display banners across different tourist destinations reading, “Sorry, we are closed”.

“We have made it clear to the government and State Pollution Control Board that our industry will not install STPs. The government is obliged to install common STPs under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) scheme to cover the entire commercial and domestic sectors to safeguard the environment,” he said.

He pointed out that the hoteliers had also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Secretary on October 25 in this regard.

Even as the memorandum stated that the hotel industry shared government’s concern about the promotion of eco-tourism, preservation of environment, protection of ecology and the safeguard of water bodies, it pointed out that it had been decided during an earlier meeting with the authorities that the STP’S would be constructed by the government and connected with drains/sewer lines, Bakshi said.

“Furthermore, that the hotels having up to 19 rooms will construct one septic tank and above 20 rooms construct an additional septic tank and so on. The installation of STPs by individual hotels as being demanded by the State Pollution Control Board was not found to be possible,” the body had said in the memorandum.

President KHARA, Showkat Chowdhary claimed that the government “backtracked from its stand” and they had no option but to close down their hotels.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), an amalgam of various traders’ bodies, today backed the strike call of the KHARA and KHAROF.

The KEA spokesperson, while supporting the call, said the government should take a serious view of the matter and come forward with a “proper and positive policy” in this regard.

Srinagar, October 27
The J&K Hoteliers Club (JKHC) today urged the government to take appropriate measures to save the tourism industry from “extinction”.

“The tourism industry, of which hotels is a part, is a huge employment generator in the private sector and needs to be saved for the sake of balance in the economy of Jammu & Kashmir,” the JKHC said in a statement here today.

“It is essential that the government takes immediate steps and adopts the right measures on a war footing, so that the tourism industry is saved from extinction,” it added. The statement was issued following the government directive for installation of individual sewage treatment plants (STPs) at the hotels. “In our opinion, government is squarely at fault for non-implementation of the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM), through which funds were provided for Srinagar and Jammu cities in the first instance, for safe-guarding air and water pollution.”

“Out of a variety of options, installation of STPs by the government is an option as laid down in the scheme provided by the Union Ministry of Urban Development… JKHC members fail to understand the logic of individual installation of STPs by hoteliers,” the statement said.

The JKHC, however, said going for a strike as called by other hoteliers’ groups “may not be all that advisable”.

Srinagar, October 27
Adequate stock of food and other essential commodities will be provided for snow-bound Machil, Karnah, Keran and other areas of the state and the process will be completed by November 10, this was said during a review meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday.

Winter stocking at Machil, Karnah, Keran and other snow-bound areas would be completed up to November 10, the meeting was informed.

It added that an amount of Rs 15 lakhs has been released under the BADP, for providing fuel to existing gensets at Machil and Keran sectors.

Khandey was taking a review of the overall development scenario in Kupwara and progress achieved under the district plan, centrally sponsored schemes and flagship programmes during the current fiscal up to September, an official statement said here today.

The meeting was also informed that under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 82,119 job cards were issued to rural labours and 7.44 lakh man-days were provided to the locals, it added.

It was also informed that out of 5,071 works, 2,119 have been completed under the flagship scheme.

Under the Indira Awas Yojna 900 works were completed up to September, while 63 school buildings were completed under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and another 39 buildings were accomplished under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, the Chief Secretary was informed.

Meanwhile, 154 un-electrified villages have been taken up under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna under phase two.

The Chief Secretary, on the occasion, directed the Power Development Department to discuss the power schedule with the district administration, so that people will not have to suffer during the winter months, the statement said.

Srinagar, October 27
Even as dry weather conditions continued to prevail across the Valley today, the weatherman has forecast light snowfall in the upper reaches and rainfall in the plains from coming Wednesday.

“Light snowfall in the upper reaches and rainfall in the plains is expected in the Valley from the afternoon on October 30,” Director MeT office Sonam Lotus told the Kashmir Tribune.

Lotus said inclement weather conditions were likely to remain in place till October 31.

While slightly overcast conditions were witnessed in the morning today, Srinagar city witnessed a sunny day in the afternoon. Weather has remained mostly dry during the past few weeks and people have been enjoying pleasant weather conditions during the day ahead of the coming winter season. However, nights continue to remain chilly.

Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 21 degrees Celsius today as per an official of the Meteorological Department. Similarly, Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, saw a high of 19.7 degrees C while border town Kupwara recorded a maximum of 21.8 degrees Celsius.

Tourist resort Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded a maximum of 17 degrees Celsius while recording a low of 2.4 degrees C. Minimum temperature in Srinagar, Qazigund and Kupwara was 6.1, 4.2 and 4 degrees Celsius respectively.

Meanwhile, most parts of Ladakh region recorded sub-zero night temperature. Leh saw a low of minus 1 degrees while Kargil recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.6 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in Leh and Kargil was 15.5 and 17 degrees Celsius respectively.