Srinagar, May 13
India’s top interlocutor with Pakistan and Afghanistan today spelled out the first broad contours of the Kashmir solution, which has been worked out “quietly” with Islamabad over the past 14 years and survived a string of deadly and “high visibility” attacks.

“This is our moment to seize. A stable, peaceful, cooperative and connected neighbourhood is essential for us to realise our destiny. Solution of the Kashmir issue will help us on that path,” Indian Prime Minister’s special envoy Satinder K Lambah said as he spelled out the seven-point solution which rejects the redrawing of borders and envisages self-governance for Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).

The elaborate outlining of the Kashmir solution by the top envoy assumes significance as apprehensions about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the possible “spillover” of militants into Kashmir has emerged as a major security concern for the establishment. Lambah said the solution was “worth pursuing” if it “opens the door to a new future” for India and Pakistan. “Great powers do not wait passively for events to unfold, but seek to shape their environment in pursuit of their national interests," he said.

Lambah, a retired diplomat and former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, who has been assigned the task of the Prime Minister’s special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said the efforts made by India and Pakistan to seek a solution to the K-issue “gathered momentum this century”.

“It has been conducted quietly and without the knowledge, prompting and involvement of any third party,” Lambah said at a seminar organised by the University of Kashmir’s Institute of Kashmir Studies here. The former Indian Foreign Service officer repeatedly said he was speaking in his personal capacity at the seminar.

Lambah, who outlined the possible make-up of the Kashmir solution, said the process to mediate the solution “survived and sustained itself despite brutal and high visibility assaults” and through political transitions in both countries. Lambah referred to attacks on Parliament, bombing of Indian embassy in Kabul and three-day assault on Mumbai and linked them to the process to evolve the Kashmir solution. The Mumbai attack was initially blamed on Lashkar-e-Toiba; however, later investigation spoke about Al-Qaida commander Ilyas Kashmiri's involvement.

The envoy, who has worked on Pakistan with six Indian Prime Ministers in the last 35 years, said the Kashmir issue could not be “settled by war, force or violence” as the past six decades have “clearly shown” and the solution will have to be searched through ideas “that are practical, workable and acceptable”.

While spelling out a “possible outline” of the solution, Lambah read out a seven-point proposal that included self-governance for internal management of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the LoC, free movement and progressive removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers to ensure meaningful trade between the two sides of the LoC.

Lambah, however, said borders would not be redrawn and any agreement must ensure that the LoC was “like a border between any two normal states”.

“The essential prerequisite is that there has to be an end to hostility, violence and terrorism; once this happens, it will be important that military forces on both sides of the LoC are kept to the minimum, particularly in populated areas,” he said.

The seventh and the last point of the Kashmir solution is the “respect for human rights” on both sides of the LoC and the efforts to be made to reintegrate militants into society.

According to Lambah’s description, the process to seek the Kashmir solution began in 2001, the year when the Al-Qaida attack on the US changed the geo-political situation in the subcontinent and Pakistan snapped its support for militant groups active in Kashmir.

The process to look for a Kashmir solution, according to Lamba’s description, remained intact even as India underwent political transition from the BJP-led NDA government to the Congress-led UPA government while Pakistan went through multiple turbulences from being led by a military dictator to the elected civilian governments led by the centre-left PPP and the centre-right PML(N).

Lambah said the progress to reach out to a solution on Kashmir was “based on two pillars”, which included respecting ceasefire along the LoC and a “disavowal by Pakistan of the use of terrorism as a state policy allowing the use of its territory by non-state actors”.

“A solution of the Kashmir issue will substantially enhance India’s security, strengthen the prospects for durable peace and stability in the region and enable India to focus more on the rapidly emerging long-term geopolitical challenges,” he said. For Pakistan it will “hopefully strengthen its ability to turn the tide on terrorism and radical militancy”, Lambah added.

What Lambah says No redrawing of borders Free movement from one side of the LoC to the other Progressive removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers in specified locally produced goods to ensure meaningful trade between the two sides of LoC End to hostility, violence and terrorism Military on both sides of LoC to be kept at minimum Self-governance for internal management on both sides of the LoC Respect for human rights and reintegration of militants into society

Jammu, May 12
Over 2,500 “illegal immigrants” settled in various parts of Jammu continue to pose a serious threat to the security in militancy-plagued Jammu and Kashmir.

“Scattered in shanties across Jammu district, some of these citizens from Myanmar are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in New Delhi, but a major chunk still don’t exist in the records,” said an Intelligence source.

“The state government, which has provided water and electricity supply to some of the clusters where these immigrants are living in, has buried its head under sand like an Ostrich to the possible repercussions from this floating population of illegal immigrants to the security,” the source said.

These people have settled at Kiryani Talab, Bhatindi, Sunjwan, Bari-Brahmana, Talab Tillo, Narwal Bala and Narwal Pain areas of Jammu and sources claimed that till date the state government did not conduct any serious exercise to keep a tab on them.

“The Intelligence Bureau has been alerting the Union Home Ministry from time to time,” the source said, adding these immigrants can be easily be misused by terror outfits active in the state.

An Army officer said given the network of terror outfits like HuJI (Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami) and LeT (Lashkar-e-Toiba) in the subcontinent, presence of illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh in the state should be a matter of “grave concern” for those at the helm of affairs.

“The state cannot afford to remain complacent as they can be used as couriers by terror outfits,” the officer said.

Pertinently, there have been cases where these people have been arrested by the BSF close to Indo-Pak border intending to ex-filtrate to Pakistan.

Around 40,000 Myanmar nationals are living in J&K, Haryana, Hyderabad and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border.

State Home Secretary Suresh Kumar, however, said these immigrants had the relevant permission from the United Nations body.

“They (Myanmar nationals in Jammu) have permission from the UNHCR, while some of them have applied for it,” Kumar said.

Asked if they posed a threat to the security, Kumar said: “I think they are kept under the police surveillance.”

On the resolution of the issue, the official said it has to be dealt at the diplomatic level. “The issue has to be dealt at the UN-level. What can we do,” he asked.

Senior Superintendent of Police Atul Goel said the police have maintained record of such people from Myanmar.

“As per our records 2,500 people from Myanmar are living in shanties in Jammu district and all of them have UNHCR cards. In case we find any national from Myanmar without such a card, FIR under relevant sections is registered against him,” Goel said.

Jammu/Srinagar, May 13
The unopposed re-election of Union Minister Farooq Abdullah as the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has raised many eyebrows, with the Opposition upping the ante against Farooq and demanding prosecution of the National Conference (NC) patron and those accused in the Rs 40-crore cricket scam.

Critics alleged that Farooq had not only managed to get himself reinstated as the JKCA president by participation of “fictitious members” in the election process yesterday, but also ensured the entry of his close aides, allegedly involved in the cricket scam.

Mehboob Iqbal, former JKCA chairman and Farooq’s rival, was upset over the way the elections were held in Srinagar. He said: “The elections were held to hush up the scam and members were bribed by offering important posts of the chairman, general secretary and chief executive officer (CEO).” He alleged that it was a “stage-managed show” as fictitious members participated in the election while genuine members were kept out of the process.

Iqbal, who owes allegiance to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with former Ranji cricketer Abdul Rouf and other JKCA members, had staged a walkout from Hotel Lalit Grand Palace in Srinagar where the elections were held yesterday.

One of the accused in the cricket scam, Saleem Khan, then general secretary of the association, was appointed as the CEO of the JKCA while former treasurer Ehsan Mirza, prime accused in the scam, was let off after he deposited Rs 2 crore to show that recovery (in lieu of the scam) had been made.

A JKCA member, who wished not to be named, said: “It (the election) was a complete mockery of the set norms and regulations.”

“After the notification for the JKCA elections was advertised, it was imperative for the state cricket body to put up the final list of the JKCA members so that they knew in advance about the election process. Unfortunately, that did not happen and the list was disclosed yesterday,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PDP, while terming Farooq’s re-election as another example of the politico-criminal nexus in the state, has demanded prosecution of the NC leader and others accused in the infamous cricket scam.

In a statement, senior PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra said the “hush-hush manner” in which Farooq reinstated himself as the president of the JKCA was an “assault on the interests of youth” who had suffered immensely as a result of the NC “greediness and lust for power”.

The BJP has also pointed fingers at the JKCA elections, calling it a violation of the model code of conduct. The party requested the Election Commission to declare the JKCA elections null and void.

Srinagar, May 13
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the solution of the K-issue would have to satisfy the "aspirations of the majority" of the people in the state.

"You have to work out a solution which will satisfy the aspirations of a majority of people," Omar said. Nearly 67 per cent of the population in Jammu and Kashmir comprises Muslims. Omar said such a solution is "difficult to sell yet this is only way-out".

The CM, who was speaking at a discussion session on the Indo-Pak back channel talks, said the Kashmir issue had "political genesis and it requires political resolution".

Omar's comments came at a time when PM’s special envoy Satinder K Lambah spelled out the first possible draft of Kashmir solution worked out between India and Pakistan. Omar emphasised the need to address the "aspirations of the majority of the people of Jammu and Kashmir while finding out any political solution to the K-issue" which he maintained is not any economic problem, an official statement said.

He said the "longevity of dialogue without any logical conclusion" takes the sheen out of it. "This has made people apprehensive of the success of this process," he said. Omar said the transitions in the Pakistan administration had impacted the “forward movement” in the back-channel dialogue.

Jammu, May 13
The Pakistan army again violated the truce deal by opening small-arms fire in the Krishna Ghati (KG) sector of Poonch district last night.

On May 10 night, the Pakistan army had opened fire in the same sector around 12:15 am. “The Pakistan army opened small-arms fire in the KG sector between 9.40 pm and 9.50 pm last night. It was an unwarranted and unprovoked act on their part that drew an equal response from our troops,” said defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta. He said there were no casualties. — TNS

Srinagar, May 13
The Army has started screening students from the Valley for the second edition of Super-30, a project aimed at coaching IIT aspirants. Last year, nine of the 22 students trained by the Army became eligible for the IIT advance exam.

A defence spokesman in Srinagar said the Kashmir Super-30 project was launched across the Valley in March 2013 by the Army in collaboration with the Centre for Social Responsibility and Leadership.

“The second edition of the Kashmir Super-30 project has already been launched by the Chinar Corps across the Kashmir valley through a series of seminars. The screening test for selection of brightest students from the poor and unprivileged sections of society was conducted on May 11 in various districts of the Valley,” the defence spokesman said.

“They will undergo a 10-month training programme which will prepare them for the national-level entrance exams of IIT/JEE. They will be provided free of cost boarding and lodging facilities,” the spokesman said.

Srinagar, May 13
While the hardline Hurriyat Conference has called for a shutdown against the arrests of youths and separatist leaders, the J&K Police said those detained in preventive custody would be released in a phased manner.

Over 600 youths were detained across the Valley during the elections so as to ensure peaceful polls. The detained youths were either involved in stone-throwing or had a history of being involved in stone-throwing in the past.

“We have released many and a few were released on bail in the recent days,” said a senior police official. ?

“We will release more in the coming days. But, those involved in intimidating voters and chronic stone-throwers will not be released,” he said

The official said the arrests were made to prevent protests and violence during the poll process. — TNS

Samba, May 13
Notwithstanding the claims of the state government and the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) of clean and green environment in the state, the practice of discharging industrial waste and untreated effluents into drains and water channels continues unabated in Samba and Bari Brahmana.

The worst-affected areas are Burj, Tanda, Raipur, Sujwan, Chak Manga Gujran, Teli Basti, Kargaal, Meen Pargal, Meen Charkan, Data Talab, Barjani, Chani Kartholi village of Samba and Badi Brahmana, which are situated around pesticide and chemical units.

In Samba, industrial untreated sewage waste is polluting the Basanter river. Same is the fate of the Badi Brahmana drain that merges with Balole nullah. Pollution of drains and rivulets has now started affecting the groundwater. This has started affecting the health of people in many parts of Samba district.

Out of about 500 units in Samba district, many do not have effluent treatment plants (ETPs). The result: Toxic chrome effluents are discharged into Balole and Basanter rivers.

Besides skin diseases, a number of cases of cancer has been reported from many villages of Samba district.

Consumption of polluted water is said to be the main cause behind the rising number of malignant diseases in these areas. Though the SPCB had tightened the noose around the pesticide units in 2007 and temporarily suspended their functioning for two months after massive protests by local villagers against these units in Samba, but there has not been much improvement in the past seven years.

"With the aim to provide employment to locals and to carry out economic reforms in the region, hundreds of industrial units were established in Samba district,” said Paramjeet Kour, a resident of Tanda village. “However, besides employment and economic growth especially from pesticide and chemical industries, people received only contaminated environment and malignant diseases only," Paramjeet added.

"Pesticide and chemical units in defiance of rules promoted pollution in the area. As a result, 180 families who were involved in the profession of vegetable farming have been severely affected by hazardous effects and many others became victims of diseases caused due to pollution. Dozens of pets had also died due to pollution by these industries," she added.

"We lodged protests against the State Pollution Control Board many a time to put pressure on the government to close the pesticide units,” said Nikka Singh, former sarpanch of Burj Tanda. “However, despite repeated visits by the environment subcommittee constituted by the state government no hard steps were taken against the industries violating the norms," he added.

"A number of people have suffered because of pollution, included me. Tumour and cancer cases, besides stomach, eye, skin and respiration problems, are common among residents of many villages that fall in the vicinity of Basanter and Balole nullah," said Dwarka Nath, another resident of Burj village of Samba, who is suffering from a skin disease due to polluted water.

"We have been seeking the closure of pesticide and chemical industries since long," he added.

"Polluted water has claimed four lives in Barian village. Residents of other villages are also suffering from various ailments. The state government has completely failed to check pollution of groundwater. Inhabitants of many other villages also claim that people were suffering due to consumption of polluted water," said Sugreev Singh, another local.

"We inspect factories in routine and mandate them to follow the rules. Board officials keep conducting surprise checks on industries and action is initiated whenever any violation is noticed," said Anil Sharma, district in charge of the State Pollution Control Board. "Pollution has been controlled to some extent and SPCB is trying its best," he added.

Pollution woes The practice of discharging industrial waste and untreated effluents into drains and water channels continues unabated in Samba and Bari Brahmana The worst-affected areas are Burj, Tanda, Raipur, Sujwan, Chak Manga Gujran, Teli Basti, Kargaal, Meen Pargal, Meen Charkan, Data Talab, Barjani, Chani Kartholi village of Samba and Badi Brahmana, which are situated around pesticide and chemical units. In Samba, industrial untreated sewage waste is polluting the Basanter river. Same is the fate of the Badi Brahmana drain that merges with Balole nullah. Pollution of drains and rivulets has now started affecting the groundwater.

Srinagar, May 13
Prof Ravi Jyee, vice president, International University, School of Medicine, Michigan, and head of SAARC Medical Education, Research and Training Programme, called on the Governor NN Vohra here today.

Ravi informed the Governor, who is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, that he, along with Dewa Ramlu, vice president, International University, School Of Medicine, Michigan, US would like to assist the Board and train doctors, particularly those who would be doing duty during the yatra, in clinical cardiology.

Srinagar, May 13
Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir Talat Ahmad called on Governor NN Vohra, Chancellor of the university, here today.

The Vice Chancellor briefed the Governor about the to-date status of all important academic, research, co-curricular and infrastructure development activities at the university.

As desired by the Chancellor, he gave him a list of all significant matters to be decided in the coming weeks.

Samba, May 13
The Education Department yesterday sent 44 students of the remote areas of Samba district on a tour of the country.

Deputy Commissioner, Samba, RK Verma along with Chief Education Officer Jail Kumar flagged of the educational and motivation tour from the deputy commissioner’s office complex here.

The tour participants will visit Agra, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and interact with senior officials.

“The six-day tour will provide an opportunity to the students in the age group of 12 to 18 to witness the rich heritage of the country,” said the Samba deputy commissioner.

Verma addressed the students and wished them a happy and comfortable tour.

He told the students the importance of such study tours which inculcate feelings of national integrity, besides giving them exposure of the country's heritage and culture.

Srinagar, May 13
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti today flayed the government’s decision to evict more than hundred nomad families from the Gole Gujral area of Jammu without formulating a plan for their rehabilitation.

In a statement issued here today, the Peoples Democratic Party president said the present dispensation has turned Jammu and Kashmir into a police state, where life and property of masses remained under constant threat from the government itself.

“The arbitrary manner in which the government has acted at Gole Gujral, burning down kullas (temporary settlements) of nomads and even razing permanent structures to the ground is highly condemnable,” the Peoples Democratic Party president said.

She added that the state could not escape from its liability to secure the life and property of its citizen, which is paramount in the democratic setup.

Reacting to the reports that the evicted families have now been forced to live in the open, Mehbooba said, “After all, the people who are being alleged to be encroachers are human beings and it is the duty of the state to ensure their lives are not put under danger.”

She said the government should have formulated a rehabilitation plan before taking such a harsh measure.

“Use of brutal force against the weakest section of our society is something which cannot be appreciated at all,” Mehbooba said.

The Peoples Democratic Party president demanded that the operation, launched by the Jammu Development Authority, be put on hold till an alternate place was identified for the rehabilitation of the evicted nomads.

Doda, May 13
The District Institute of Education and Training, Doda, organised a four-day district-level workshop on “Quick response and emergency handing of disaster management for school safety” for teachers. It was organised in collaboration with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Civil Defence at DIET Complex, Doda, Bhaderwah and Gandoh.

In the workshop, experts from SDRF, Civil Society members and DIET faculty members acted as resource person. Teachers from all educational zones of the district were sensitised and trained in quick response and emergency handling of disaster management for school safety.

Special stress was given on standard operating procedures in the school, particularly disasters arising out of fire, cloudburst, floods, earthquakes, snakebites, food poising, etc. A total of 595 teachers from all educational zones of the district participated in the workshop.

The programme was coordinated by Shahida Khan, SK Raina, MR Sharma and Ashok Kumar.

Kargil, May 13
Government Degree College in Kargil sets an example of how educational institutions ought not to be run. Established on a hillock in Kargil town, the college has just six classrooms for more than 1,200 students and it has been grappling with the problem of non-availability of sufficient laboratories for students from the science stream.

A single visit to the college was enough to gauge the alarming situation. Students were seen sitting in the open, and that too on construction material dumped on the premises, to pursue “higher education”.

“There are more than 1,200 students enrolled in the three-year degree programme in the college, which has insufficient classrooms to accommodate the present strength of the students. We have around 850 first-year students, and around 250 and 200 students in the second and third year,” said a senior professor of the college, who refused to be named.

He said there were 850 students in all courses last year and then too they were managing the classes under difficult conditions.

“The number of students has gone up this year and it will be difficult to manage normal class work due to non-availability of sufficient classrooms. We also don’t have adequate laboratories to impart practical knowledge to students. We have introduced geography and geology, which has compounded our problem as these subjects also require labs,” remarked another professor of the college.

The professor said there were only two laboratories, one each for physics and chemistry, which had the capacity of accommodating only 200 students (100 in each lab).

“We are also compelled to hold classes in the open due to non-availability of classrooms. Now, we have decided to clear storerooms so that we can hold classes or practicals there,” said the professor.

He said the college administration had requested the higher education department that more classrooms should be constructed but its plea was yet to be accepted.

Kaneez Fatima, a B.SC Part-II student of the college, said, “We have been facing severe shortage of classrooms, a facility which is a prerequisite for any educational institution. There is no proper lab facility for us. The poor condition of the college is a vindication of the region’s stance that Kargil has always been ignored by the state rulers.”

Fatima’s classmate Zahara Batool said students were being deprived of quality education. “How can students of this college compete with those who are pursuing their education from some good colleges of the state? The government is ruining our future,” she said.

Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone was unavailable for comments.

Katra, May 13
The police today organised an anti-drug addiction awareness camp in collaboration with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Katra, and Hotel Association, Katra.

Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Katra, Dr MK Bhanari, and SSP, Reasi, Vivak Gupta, were the guests of honour.

A large number of civil society members attended the camp. Dr Varun Tripathia, director in charge, School of Philosophy, SMVDU, Dr Sourabh, assistant professor, SMVDU, and Dr Gurmeet Kour, registrar, Government Medical College, Jammu, were the main resource persons, who sensitised the participants about the programme.

Dr Sourabh urged people not to neglect drug users as they were a part and parcel of society.

He termed drug addiction as a social problem and sought the cooperation of civil society in resolving the same. In his address, the Reasi Deputy Commissioner stressed on the need to develop sports and recreational facilities for the youth.

Vivek Gupta, SSP, Reasi, lauded the role of the SMVDSB and the Hotel Association, Katra, for taking up the cause. 

Srinagar, May 13
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Governor NN Vohra here this evening. In an over hour-long meeting, Omar and Vohra discussed the conduct of the recently concluded parliamentary elections, the continuing attempts of infiltration across the Line of Control, matters relating to internal security management and certain issues relating to the University of Kashmir.

Jammu, May 13
After successfully completing the Lok Sabha elections, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has initiated process to ensure maximum participation of voters in the upcoming Assembly polls to be held by the end of this year.

This time the state has witnessed a record turnout in the Lok Sabha elections, but the CEO wants that maximum people should exercise their franchise in the Assembly elections.

“After counting of Lok Sabha votes, we will go for the booth-level analysis. A comprehensive awareness campaign will be initiated in those polling booths where turnout was not on expected lines,” Umang Narula, CEO, J&K, told The Tribune.

“It is our desire that maximum people should participate in the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

He said his department had already identified focused areas for the Assembly elections. He said the Election Department would make it sure that participation in Assembly polls should be encouraged as compared to the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

He said the experience of the Lok Sabha elections would be utilised in the Assembly polls to facilitate voters.

“First of all, we identified those areas, which usually witnessed low turnout. Women and city residents were the two areas, which usually avoided polling. Therefore, we had devised a comprehensive strategy to target them and our efforts yielded encouraging results,” he said and pointed out that this time maximum number of women came out to exercise their right to franchise and the same was the position in cities.

The Election Department has earned appreciation of voters this time for removing discrepancies in electoral rolls. “Booth-level officers were assigned the job to distribute voting slips to all voters at their homes. It was a sort of official invitation to participate in the democratic process,” he said.

Narula said heavy turnout was the result of the overwhelming participation of youth. He said in 2014, nearly 8.5 lakh new voters had been enrolled in the revised electoral rolls as the department had decided to enrol all eligible voters.

He said it was targeted to increase voter turnout up to minimum 10 per cent over the previous 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Jammu, May 13
Senior Congress leader and Member of Legislative Assembly from Inderwal Ghulam Mohammad Saroori has urged the administration to assess the damages in Doda and Kishtwar districts due to windstorm.

Saroori said the untimely rain and windstorm damaged properties at Bunjwah, Sarthal, Saroor, Bhalessa, Thathri, Chatroo, Srawan, Keshwan, Kandothe and Thakrie areas of the twin district.

The upper reaches of the twin districts, where fruit cultivation is the main source of livelihood, have been hit badly, resulting in great losses. Scores of houses and huts have been destroyed and washed away by heavy flood and torrential rains, he said.

The Congress leader expressed anguish over the loss of crops and urged the district administration of both Kishtwar and Doda to depute teams to visit all the affected families across the area.

He also demanded timely disbursement of compensation to all the affected families. — TNS

Pulwama, May 13
Standing crop along with apple and almond orchards in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district were damaged today due to hailstorm. The hailstorm left the farmer community in Pulwama in despair.

“Almond growers were already worried about the yield and hailstorm can further affect its output,” said Abdul Rehman Sofi, from Wahibugh, Pulwama.

The Horticulture Department had anticipated the effect of weather on the apple and almond production, which has further been aggravated by the hailstorm.

Patnitop, May 13
As work on the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel picks up pace, hoteliers and shopkeepers at Patnitop are worried about their livelihood. The tunnel will bypass the Patnitop tourist spot along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Patnitop has failed to attract tourists from Jammu and outside the state this year despite temperatures soaring. Even the weekends do not attract many tourists, leaving the hoteliers disappointed.

Speedy work on the 9.2-km Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, which will reduce travelling distance from 41km to 10km, has become a matter of worry for the hoteliers and shopkeepers at Patnitop.

The Leighton Welspun Contractors Pvt Ltd, which is constructing the country’s longest tunnel in the state, is expecting to complete the tunnel a year before the May 2016 deadline.

Sushil Sharma, a hotelier at Patnitop, said: “The number of tourists had already come down in the last few years, but after the completion of the tunnel, it may become difficult for the hoteliers to survive at Patnitop.”

“Patnitop is not known countrywide. People travelling to Srinagar used to stay here for some time. After the completion of the tunnel, tourists will prefer to travel via the tunnel, as it will save their time and fuel,” Sharma said.

Locals said some small shopkeepers from villages, who had rented shops at Patnitop, had closed their establishments and shifted to their native places as lesser number of tourists were visiting the tourist spot.

Som Nath, 58, a shopkeeper at Patnitop, said: “I am here for the last 30 years. The numbers of tourists was growing till 2007, but now it is coming down and I fear that after the opening of the tunnel, only locals will come to Patnitop.”

“The Tourism Department and the Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Development Corporation should focus more on promoting Patnitop as a tourist destination and attract more tourists to it. Else hundreds of people will get unemployed due to this tunnel,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials of the Tourism Department said they had started organising cultural activities on the weekends at Patnitop to attract more tourists.

Pulwama, May 13
The Pulwama district administration has failed to implement the J&K Land Revenue Act, 1996, which prohibits the conversion of paddy or vegetable land and floating fields. The land conversion in the district has been going on unabated.

Hundreds of kanals are being converted for residential and commercial purposes.

Locals said many people first convert their land into an orchard and after sometime, start construction on it.

Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, Manzoor Ahmad Lone said he had not received any information regarding land conversion in the district. He said he would look into the matter. — OC

Srinagar, May 13
The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has taken a serious note of the alleged poor and negligent medical care system and mismanagement at the Kashmir’s lone tertiary-care hospital, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS).

The SHRC has also issued notices to the commissioner secretary to the government health department and the director, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar. There have been recent media reports which have been highlighting the plight of patients in the tertiary-care hospital.

“The reports make out a case of grave human rights violations in SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar. Poor and negligent medical care system and mismanagement at the administrative level remained a grave concern for the commission and it is the incumbent duty of the commission to look into all such alleged violations at the hands of the medical fraternity anywhere in J&K,” SHRC acting Chairman Rafiq Fida said in the order.

“Therefore, taking suo moto cognisance in the matter, the office is directed to register this note and the news reports which shall form a part of this order, as a complaint,” it said.

Media reports have been highlighting that infrastructure upgrade at the Kashmir’s lone tertiary-care hospital, SKIMS, Soura, has taken a big hit as crucial projects are getting delayed inordinately due to official apathy.

There has been also report about the “flawed” cancer treatment in the hospital. The SHRC has directed the HoD to appear before the commission and file correct statement of facts before it.

‘Negligent’ medical care The State Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the commissioner/secretary to the govt health department and the director, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar Media reports have been highlighting that infrastructure upgrade at SKIMS has taken a big hit as crucial projects are getting delayed inordinately due to official apathy There has also been report of ‘flawed’ cancer treatment at the hospital. The SHRC has directed the HoD to appear before the commission and file correct statement of facts before it

Srinagar, May 13
Aziz Hajini, president, Adbee Markaz Kamraz (AMK), called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today.

Hajini briefed the Governor about pursuits of the AMK in collection and publication of literary heritage of literary legends of Kashmir and about its efforts for promoting and preserving the Kashmiri language and culture.

The Governor appreciated the role of the Adbee Markaz Kamraz in highlighting the rich culture, traditions and literature of Kashmir and wished Hajini success in all future endeavours of the Adbee Markaz Kamraz.

Srinagar, May 13
As the results of BA, BSc and BCom (I) were declared by Kashmir University after much dilly-dallying, students gathered near the examination wing on the university campus and protested against the alleged discrepancies in the results and marking of exam papers. The students said the marks of the internal examinations were not incorporated in the final score which had altogether altered the merit list and led to undeserving students occupying the top slots.

“There was an unfair delay in the declaration of results. We have been waiting for the results for the past many months. And after all the hiccups, we were expecting accurate marking, but the university and various college authorities have disappointed us,” said Meher, a student.

The students said despite taking up the matter with the Controller of Examinations, the matter was yet to be addressed.

“The Controller asked us to go back to our colleges as re-evaluation was not possible. We have heard that the marks of internal exams which are conducted by our respective degree colleges were not even handed over to the university, examination wing. Hence, they have excluded the internal exam marks from the final score,” said Imaad, a BSc student.

Though Controller of Examinations Salam Bhat was not available for comment, an official in the examination wing said internal scores were never included in the final marks and this was not the first time that such rules were being followed.

Srinagar, May 13
Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Vice Chancellor Mehraj-ud-Din has said there is a need to revive the vision document of the university and the involvement of civil society and other stakeholders will also be considered.

The VC said efforts are afoot to seek opinions from different segments of the civil society, academicians, bureaucrats, administrators and other stakeholders.

He added that the university had also started direct introduction with educational institutions, including schools and colleges in neighbouring areas of Ganderbal where the university campus would be set up.

“We have started interacting with graduate and undergraduate boys and girls,” said Mehraj-ud-Din said.

He said the university would launch its future programmes in the light of the vision document and perspective plan approved through the process.

Dean, School of Languages, Muhammad Aslam said the genesis of this workshop was to invite ideas from the cross-section of society for the overall development of the university.

He said on the directions of the Vice Chancellor, a committee was formulated to involve the stakeholders, including the civil society. “Adopting a two-pronged approach, an appeal was made to the masses to help find out the ways and means to make the university an institution par excellence and also to invite noted personalities who could share their experiences and help chalk out a roadmap for the same,” he added.

Udhampur, May 13
A 10-year-old boy was crushed to death at MH chowk, Udhampur, here today. The police said the boy was crushed to death at MH chowk by a tipper bearing registration no, JK14C-4333. The deceased probably was a beggar from some other state, the police said.

The driver of the tipper has been arrested. A case has been registered. The body has been sent for the postmortem.

Samba, May 13
An inter-school shooting competition for boys and girls was organised by the District Youth Services and Sports Department at the Kehli Mandi Ground in Samba on Monday.

A total of 30 students from various schools participated in the competition.

District Youth Services and Sports officer Subhash Chander Bhardwaj presided over the function and distributed prizes among winners.

Pranav Sambyal clinched the top spot, while Sadhvik Sambyal stood second. Third position went to Anubhav.

“It is for the first time that a shooting competition has been organised in Samba district. The objective of the contest was to encourage individual talent and motivate them to take up the challenges of the competitive world,” Bhardwaj said.

He hoped that number of participants would increase in future and also mentioned that qualified students would be encouraged to participate at the national level.

Jammu, May 13
Vivek Gupta, a student of science stream at Dogra Higher Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, has secured the first position with 98 per cent marks (490/500), but it was girls who again proved their supremacy by securing maximum merit positions in the Class XII annual exams (summer zone) of the Jammu province, the result of which was declared by the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) here today.

Out of the total 80 merit positions secured by students in different streams - science, home science, commerce and arts - 61 positions have been secured by girls, while boys managed to secure 19 positions. In the science stream, out of the total of 38 merit positions, 23 were secured by girls, while boys secured 15 positions.

In the commerce stream, out of the total of 18 merit positions, boys managed to secure just one position, while girls claimed the remaining 17 positions.

Similarly, in the arts stream, out of the total 15 merit positions, 12 were secured by girls, while boys managed to secure just three.

The overall pass percentage stands at 52.80. As per the data available, a total of 35,190 students appeared in the exams, out of which 18,581 passed. A total of 18,958 male candidates appeared, out of which 9,074 passed, while 1,323 failed. A total of 8,561 candidates got reappear and the pass percentage is 47.86 per cent.

Similarly, 16,232 female candidates had appeared in the annual exams, out of which 9,507 passed, while 591 failed. 6,134 candidates got reappear and the pass percentage is 58.57 per cent. A total of 4,264 distinctions were secured by the students. There were 7,429 first divisions, 5,967 second divisions and 921 third divisions.

In the science stream, after top position holder Vivek Gupta, Akanksha Shama of Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary School, Jeevan Nagar, secured second position with 97.8 per cent marks. The third position has been jointly shared by Avleen Kapoor (Shiksha Niketan HSS) and Sidhant Dubey (Kotwal National Institute of Teaching, Talab Tillo) with 97.6 percent marks each.

The fourth position was also shared by two students, namely Sourav Sudan and Surbhi Sharma, by securing 97.4 percent marks. Piyushi Pawan, Ankita Gupta and Shilpa Sharma jointly secured the fifth position with 97.2 percent marks.

The sixth position (97 per cent marks) was also shared by three students, namely Archana Dhar, Arun Bazal and Jeevan Jyot Kour. The seventh position was jointly secured by Akshita Koul, Palvi Gotra and Sakshar Sharma with 96.8 per 
cent marks.

In the home science stream, Neha Sotra of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Mandi has secured the first position with 69.8 per cent marks (349/500). The second and third positions have been secured by Shweta Devi and Mubeen Paul with 66.4 and 61.4 percent marks respectively. A total of nine merit positions were secured in this stream.

In the commerce stream, Nitika Kapoor of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Mandi, secured the first position with 97.2 per cent marks (486/500). The second position has been jointly shared by Diksha Mahajan and Diksha Vij with 97 per cent marks. Saloni Verma of Oriental Academy secured the third position with 96.2 percent marks.

In the arts stream, Arashdeep Kour of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Mandi, secured the first position with 92.4 per cent marks (462/500). The second position has been jointly shared by Ishtaq Ahmed Sheikh, Maria Mullick and Purvi Sharma with 92.2 per cent marks.

The third position has been secured by Muskaan Bakshi of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Rehari, with 92 per cent marks.

Jammu, May 13
It was celebration time at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Mubarak Mandi, as the result of Class XII annual examination-2014 of the Jammu province was declared by the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE).

Students of the school have managed to secure as many as 18 positions, including the first position in three streams - commerce, arts and home science.

Pertinently, the school has bettered its previous record of 12 positions, which it had secured in the previous session.

The declaration of result sparked wild celebration on the school premises. Junior students celebrated the success of their seniors by dancing. Such is the festive mood that even the staff members of the school could not resist themselves and joined the students.

Nitika Kapoor secured the first position in the commerce stream with 92.7 per cent marks. She secured 486 marks out of 500. In the home science stream, Neha Sotra emerged topper with 69.8 per cent marks, while in the art stream, Arashdeep Kour secured the first position with 92.4 per cent marks.

Shashi Prabha Thapa, principal of the school, expressed satisfaction over the performance of the students. “My heartiest congratulations to the staff members of the school, who have done tremendously well to prepare the students. I also expressed my gratitude towards the parents of the students, who have reposed faith in the quality education of this prestigious institution,” the principal said.

However, it was a special moment for twin sisters, namely Maria and Shahnaz, who have both excelled in the examination by securing distinctions in the art stream with geography as an additional subject.

“Yes, I was pretty sure of securing high marks because I have put in a lot of hard work for it,” an elated Shahnaz said.

“I want to earn a name in the field of geography and for that I will opt this subject in higher education too,” she added. Maria, on the other hand, said she aimed to join Civil Services.

Jamm, May 13
International Nursing Day was celebrated on the 194th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale - the lady with the lamp - who is considered as the founder of modern nursing.

In this connection, an impressive function was jointly organised by the Nursing Association, Jammu, and Medical Employees Association at the SMGS Hospital, Jammu.

The celebrations started with the lighting of a lamp and cake-cutting ceremony, which were followed by felicitation of good workers.

Dr Dara Singh, Medical Superintendent, was the chief guest, while Mehmooda Bano, matron, was the guest of honour.

The function was attended by Dr Rekha Harish, Dr Indu Koul, Dr Sunil Kotwal, Dr Dev Raj Dogra, Pardeep Kumar (provincial president of the Medical Employees Association), Pawan Jeet Kour (president of te J&K Nursing Association), Sureshta Jamwal, Gulshan Sharma, Nirmal Sethi, Sonia Shabnam and nursing staff.

A similar function was organised on International Nurses Day by the All Nurses Association of Government Medical College (GMC) and Associated Hospitals, Jammu, at the GMC Jammu.

Dr Sunanda Raina, acting principal of the GMC, was the chief guest at the function, which was attended by doctors and paramedical staff of the GMC and associated hospitals.

Dr Sunanda Raina lauded the services of nurses in hospitals and encouraged them to do their work with more zeal and zest in the interest of hospital administration and better patient care.

President of the All Nurses Association Madhu Khajuria threw light on the importance and relevance of the day.

Various cultural items were presented to mark the occasion. A vote of thanks was presented by Darshana Devi, while Neelam Sharma compered the programme.

Jammu, May 13
A deputation of the J&K United School Teachers Association (USTA), led by its provincial president, Hari Singh, met Director, School Education (DSE), Jammu, Tushkar Kanti in his office chamber.

The deputation apprised the DSE of various problems being faced by the teaching community. It also put forth various demands. These included release of pending salary of the past six months to teachers working under the SSA, transparent transfer policy, adjustment of repatriated masters, transfer of masters and lecturers who have completed their tenure in far-flung areas and leave encashment at retirement for schoolteachers by protecting unused half pay leaves.

The deputation also demanded enhancement of wages of ReT teachers from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000, transfer policy for regular ReT teachers, meeting of the DPC of teachers to masters, masters to headmasters and postgraduate teachers and masters to lecturers after every six months, immediate meeting of the DPC of Class IV and other non-teaching employees in the Education Department and release of selection grade for trained undergraduate teachers working in the pay scale of 4,000-6,000 before April 1, 2005.

The Director assured the members of the deputation that their demands would be fulfilled soon.