Jammu, November 4
For proper maintenance  of the buildings of all Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) in its Perspective Academic Planning (PAP) 2014-15 has asked all the vidyalayas to prepare an action plan for carrying out various important maintenance works during summer vacation. The action plan should be prepared before summer break.

The samiti has stressed for constituting a maintenance and repair (M&R) committee as per the guidelines given by the construction wing. The navodaya vidyalayas have been instructed to ensure that one official from the local PWD/ Irrigation Department should be included in the committee with the help of the chairman, Vidyalaya Management Committee (VMC).

“Before summer vacation starts, the M&R committee should meet and chalk out plans for various maintenance and repair activities that are required to be taken up during the vacation. It should also be ensured that unnecessarily teaching staff should not be retained in schools during summer vacation for carrying out maintenance and repair works,” a NVS statement said.

Sources said major thrust had been put on the repair of water supply system, electrical installation, sewerage, sanitary system, doors/window/ventilators, plaster/floor, etc in dormitories, school building, MP hall, dining/kitchen and staff quarters.

In connection with security and safety of students enrolled in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the samiti has asked all the heads of the vidyalayas to implement the 14-point programme, which was circulated in May and August, 2011.

As per this programme, every principal will submit a monthly report to the regional office concerned indicating compliance of these 14 points and shortcomings, if any.

Further, every assistant commissioner in charge of cluster will personally monitor proper implementation of these programmes during his visit to the vidyalayas and also through frequent personal interaction.

Sources added that the regional office would take an immediate follow-up action on any shortcomings in the implementation of the 14-point programme in any vidyalaya and submit a report to the headquarters.

Apart from convening monthly staff meeting, monthly M&R committee meeting has also become a regular feature in the PAP 2014-15.

Navodaya Vidyalayas has also been asked to ensure that the boundary wall/fencing should be checked and repaired wherever found damaged, besides locking arrangement of terrace doors of dormitory and school buildings.

Jammu, November 4
On the occasion of the 10th of Muharram, a procession was taken out by members of the Shia Muslim community in the New Plot area of Jammu city today.

The procession was taken out to remember the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of prophet Mohammad. Hundreds of Shias participated in the procession, marked by Noha recitation and black banners to protest against Yazid, who martyred Imam, 14 centuries ago.

These processions are taken out in the whole world by the Shia community to show the resistance against the evil forces. Different Shia organizations, including the Anjuman-e-Imamia Jammu, All Ladakh Muslim Student Association, Jammu, Anjuma-e-Haidery, New Plot, Anjuman-e-Hussaini, Bathindi, and Shia Federation, participated in the procession.

Jammu, November 4
Famous Gojri writer and poet Choudhary Nazir Fida was remembered at a gathering of Gujjar writers and intellectuals today.

The programme was organised by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, a frontal organisation of the community, to pay tributes to Nazir Fida, who died on October 9, 2014, at Rajouri after a brief illness. Fida was 71.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Javaid Rahi, secretary, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, stated that Fida’s unique style of writing would be remembered for all times to come. “His valuable contributions in the shape of poetry and prose enriched the Gojri language extensively. Fida will also be remembered for his perfect style in ghazal writing and poetry," Dr Rahi added.

Dr Rahi said Fida was not only a poet and a writer, but also an activist of the language. He had done a pioneer work in popularising tribal culture and language in the state.

Hailing from Maharajpura Sajj, a remote village located about 16 km away from Rajouri town, Fida dedicated his whole life to promotion of Gojri language.

Jammu, November 4
Sat Sharma, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Jammu (West) Assembly constituency, said today that the residents of some of the areas in his constituency were facing lots of problems and public was fed up with the false promises made by the Congress-NC coalition government in the last six years.

To gear up his election campaign, Sharma today tour Ward 35 of the Jammu (West) constituency and made people aware of the misdoings of the NC-Congress coalition government in the state. He listened to the grievances and problems of the people.

The BJP leader also stated that the basic requirements of the public were not being met in the area and most importantly the sanitation condition of Ward 35 was deteriorating day by day. He said the drinking water in the area was full of impurities, which led to diseases in the area. He said such things had already affected the health of many residents of the area and the department concerned of the state government should look into it seriously.

He appealed to the masses to vote for development in the upcoming Assembly polls and only the leadership of a statesman like Narendra Modi and his mantra of development could take out the state from the crisis which it was in.Lambasting the policies of the state government, he said in the past six years, the Congress-NC combine had done nothing, but exploited the public and encouraged practices like corruption. He said it was not just the corruption, but issues like unemployment and other major problems which were damaging the state internally. The BJP candidate stated that the problems which the people of the state were facing would be solved on the priority basis after the BJP came to power in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu, November 4
Army Public School (APS), Akhnoor, proved its supremacy by claiming both boys and girls’ title in the Inter-APS Hockey Tournament for Northern Command at KK Kakku Astro Turf Stadium, Jammu.

Army Public School, Udhampur, and APS, Nagrota, finished runners-up in the girls’ section and boys’ section, respectively. The tournament was organised by APS, Akhnoor, wherein five teams, namely APS, Udhampur, APS, Dhar Road, APS, Rakhmuthi, APS, Nagrota, and APS, Akhnoor, participated.

Col Baljit Singh was the chief guest. He appreciated the J&K State Sports Council for providing the stadium to host the event. He complimented all the teams for presenting good game with sportsman spirit.

Lt Col Sagar Singh and Principal, APS, Akhnoor, KCS Mehta, were also present on the occasion.

Jammu, November 4
The Congress has so far failed to release the list of its candidates and this delay has been causing a lot of confusion among ticket aspirants.

Although the party has released the list of 15 candidates for the first phase, there are reports of eruption of differences between Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saifuddin Soz and former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on some seats.

Sources said those candidates whose tickets had been cleared by the high command had been asked to start working in their respective areas, but there was still confusion on half a dozen seats.

The Congress leadership has opened communication with sitting BJP MLA from Basholi, Jagdish Raj Sapolia, who is likely to contest election on the Congress mandate. “It is almost certain that Sapolia will be our party candidate,” a senior Congress leader told The Tribune and admitted that there was differences between the two leaders on some seats. Sapolia had won the Basholi Assembly seat in 1987 as a Congress candidate.

Soz, however, denied any difference between him and Azad over distribution of tickets. “I and Azad sahib are on the same page as far as finalisation of candidates is concerned,” he said and added that candidates were finalised with consensus.

When asked about the delay in release of the lists, he said names of candidates would be disclosed any time and denied reports that differences between leaders were the cause of delay in the release of the list.

Meanwhile, Soz predicted that no party was going to get an absolute majority in the coming Assembly elections.

Jammu, November 4
The five-phased state Assembly elections are going to be a “big challenge” for the security forces, given the threats of militant strikes, attempts of cross-border intrusion and the poll boycott call by separatists.

SM Sahai, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Armed, J&K, who is also the Nodal Officer for the Assembly elections, admitted that security agencies had been facing multiple challenges such as attempts of infiltration on the borders, possibility of militant strikes, particularly in the Kashmir valley, and the poll boycott call given by the separatists.

“To ensure secure security environment for the public where they can freely exercise their right to franchise, we have started taking preventive measures and all necessary arrangements are being put in place,” the ADGP said.

The senior police officer said a high alert was being maintained across the state, particularly in the poll-bound constituencies, to defeat the nefarious designs of disruptive elements.

“There is a certain level of alertness which led to the situation that we saw yesterday. Whatever happened in Nowgam (where two youths were killed in the Army firing) was unfortunate but it also showed that there is an element of preparedness and attempt to gain control on the ground. This (incident) may be an over-reaction but it reflects that the security forces are on the ground,” the ADGP said.

Sahai said they had identified the “problem areas” in the Kashmir valley where the security forces had confronted challenges during the parliamentary elections in May this year.

“We have identified the problem areas in the Kashmir valley and will redesign security in all such areas to ensure that the people participate in the electoral process without any difficulty,” he said, adding that the whole concept of bringing in more security forces to the state was “not to disrupt the existing security grid” but to defeat the plans of the subversive elements who wanted to disrupt the electoral process.

Deliberating upon another major challenge of ensuring safe shifting of polling parties and voting machines after the polling from far-off places, Sahai said: “In the winter, the days are shorter and after the polling ends in the evening, shifting of polling staff and poll material to secure places will be a big challenge for us. We will not only have to fight possible militant strikes but also danger of stone throwers. The stone-throwing youth, mostly in the age group of 13 to 18, may take the opportunity of darkness and throw stones on anyone.

“Our efforts will be to ensure that the poll material reaches safely to right places, besides avoiding such incidents,” he said.

To a query about the poll boycott call given by the separatists, the ADGP found contradictions in the arguments of the separatists and said the people in the Kashmir valley were keen to participate in the poll process.

“The polling percentage in the past parliamentary and Assembly elections has been pretty good. There are pockets where the poll percentage in Kashmir has remained low but these areas are in minority as of date. In the majority of the areas, the polling percentage has remained satisfactory. The concept of boycott is centered around some visible areas,” Sahai said.

To another query on threat of cross-border firing during the electoral process, he said they had put in place a contingency plan for the border areas and, if required, the polling stations being set up in border villages would be relocated to safer places but in no circumstance will the border firing be allowed to disrupt the electoral process. 

Srinagar, November 4
With a day left for filing of nominations for the first phase of the Assembly elections, the ruling National Conference (NC) is yet to announce its candidates for the two Kargil seats.

While the party claims that it will contest from the Kargil and Zanskar Assembly seats, sources said the two-member group of the party which was in Kargil a few days ago had reportedly failed to reach a consensus over the names of the candidates.

The two seats of Kargil and Zanskar are represented by Qamar Ali Akhoon, former minister, and Feroz Khan, junior minister in the Omar Abdullah-led government, respectively.

“The National Conference is facing a serious division especially after its traditional supporter — Islamia School — nominated MLA Zanskar Feroz Khan as an Independent candidate from Kargil. It was a rebuff to the present MLA, Kargil, Qamar Ali Akhoon. Islamia School has also decided to support an Independent candidate from Zanskar,” a source said.

An NC leader said it was clear that they were confronted with a crisis in Kargil district.

However, NC spokesman Junaid Mattoo said the party would contest the two kargil seats.

“The party has already announced that it would contest all 87 seats. We will contest from both seats of Kargil,” Junaid said.

Jammu, November 4
Never look behind. This is the mantra of the Peoples Democratic Party, which came from nowhere in July 1999 soon after the Kargil war was over. It lived by this guideline during the past six years when it had to play the role of the main opposition in J&K against the National Conference-Congress government. The party bettered its record of 16 seats in 2002 to 21 in the 2008 Assembly elections, but fell short of the NC’s 28 seats.

As the main opposition party, it started with the right kind of noises. “Omar (Abdullah) is a new face and we will offer all cooperation to the new government,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had declared at the start of the new term. The party watched for a while, but when the Shopian episode occurred (which was initially termed as rape and murder of two women before it was concluded by the CBI that the two had drowned and died of boulders hitting their head), Mehbooba and her party workers were on the streets. That was the first confrontationist note that the PDP struck and then there was no looking back.

Mehbooba led from the front and picked holes in the functioning of the government, and the flashpoint came in the second session of the Assembly in Srinagar, when her colleague and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig alleged that Omar was involved in 2006-2007 sex scandal. Omar rushed to resign, which ultimately was not accepted because the CBI gave a clean chit to Omar.

Mufti Sayeed makes it a point to direct all party workers and other important visitors to meet “Mehboobaji” first. He has taken upon himself the role of getting seasoned politicians and dynamic youth into the party even as he makes it clear to them that she is the leader. Her backseat driving is deliberate and politically suave.

The strategist in Mufti Sayeed and the doer in Mehbooba with a strong line of leaders and workers have placed the party at the centre stage of the J&K politics. At this juncture, no dispensation at the Centre can afford to ignore them. From the Vajpayee’s era to the present Modi government, the party has progressed and shown its presence and evoked curiosity in the areas and among communities where once it was dismissed as a pro-separatists party.

Throughout the past six years, the party has challenged the Omar Abdullah government at every step and it kept on reminding the people about how the Chief Minister and his government had institutionalised corruption, demolished institutions and, worst of all, alienated the people. It always rakes up the 2010 agitation and the killing of youth.

The single-minded agenda of the PDP was to bring out failures of the Omar Abdullah government. It was ruthless at times. Strategically, it laid extra stress on “good governance and the relief that the three-year rule of Mufti (2002 to 2005) brought to the people”. Many, many positives were counted: starting from freeing the areas of barricades and police check posts, discontinuing crackdowns in villages and dismantling POTA to bringing ceasefire on the borders (November 2003), starting the cross-LoC bus service ( Karavan- e-Aman in April 2005) and ushering in a hope for the youth. But real test is now.

PDP unleashed its double strategy —— taking the government to task at every step and connecting with the people at every moment across the state. Today, when the elections have come, the party is highlighting its future agenda – look forward and give greater responsibility to youth.

Jammu, November 4
Sensing an overwhelming “mood of the people for change”, Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti is exuding with confidence and is hopeful that the PDP will not only touch the magic figure of 44 in the Assembly elections but will go beyond the magic figure.

Mehbooba, exulting over the parliamentary poll victory, is optimistic that the PDP will cross the magic figure of 44 and go beyond it when the results will come out on December 23.

The J&K Assembly has 87 seats and 44 grants a simple majority. This figure has been eluding the parties since the 2002 Assembly polls.

Mehbooba said, “The mood of the people is the same as it was during the parliamentary elections early this year - they wanted a change and now too they want a change. They had rejected the National Conference-Congress alliance in Kashmir, and that time we had won on 41 Assembly segments. We won three Lok Sabha seats in the Valley.”

“During the Lok Sabha polls the PDP was pitted against giants like Farooq Abdullah and the NC and the Congress were in power, but still the people voted for change. We know now that the results will be the voters’ choice. So this time we are doubly sure that we will be able to bring in the change,” she added.

The BJP had won in Jammu and the NC and the Congress could not register their presence in more than nine or 10 Assembly segments in the state, she recalled.

“In Jammu, we did not perform well because there was acute polarisation. The people there wanted change at the Centre and voted for Modiji. However, now the people of Jammu also feel that in the state. They have to change the existing government and they see PDP as the only alternative,” she said while explaining the ground for her optimism. She, however, terms it as a “reality”. “I am saying what I see on the ground,” she added.

“We are confident that we will win the majority, but to say that the coalitions have been damaging the state is proverbial case of a bad workman who quarrels with his tools,” she said while commenting on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s comments that “coalitions have been damaging for Jammu and Kashmir.”

She also accused the NC of playing politics of opportunism. “Since 1947, they have played this politics. Now I am not surprised if they are holding talks with the BJP. Isn’t it the same NC that had threatened to throw those voting for BJP and Modi into sea? For staying in power, they can make any compromise,” she said.

Regarding the flood-affected areas and the victims, she underlined that there is a greater mood for change than in other areas and other sections of society. “The NC- Congress government has done nothing for the flood-hit. Will a packet of ‘dal’ or blanket save the people from harsh winter. Tents are of no use, where will they be sheltered and how are shopkeepers going to be compensated,” she asked.

When reminded that the NC and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had argued for the postponement of the polls, Mehbooba asked: “What had the government done till the time elections were announced. One and a half months have passed and their performance is zero. All NC did was talking, talking and talking.”

Way back in 2002, when the Peoples Democratic Party faced its first major electoral battle in the Assembly elections in three years after its inception in 1999, the election cry was, “Baat banegi na grenade se na goli se, baat banegi boli se,” (neither grenades nor bullets will deliver, instead talks will deliver). That held a promise to the militants that they should shun their path of violence and also to the Government of India that it should talk to the misguided youth. “Talks are the only way out,” they said.

This slogan was chosen with a lot of political thinking – to mat the National Conference government in the state then headed by Farooq Abdullah who had vowed to end the militancy and militants and the NDA government at the Centre was for pro-active policy against the militants.

All that is a history now. The 2014 election slogan has changed to rebuilding Kashmir, reconciliation among regions and religions and partnership with the youth in carrying forward the agenda of the development of the state.

The self-rule document that it sold in the 2008 Assembly elections after having adopted a staunch pro-Kashmir and pro-Muslim stance in the aftermath of the Amarnath land row agitation is now a footnote.

Self-rule was an improvised version of the greater autonomy of the National Conference, reverting to the semi-sovereign status of the state not only on this side of the Line of Control, but on the both the sides of the dividing line. The blue print was borrowed from then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s four-point formula on solution of Kashmir: Irrelevant borders, demilitarisation from both sides of the LoC, self-governance to the five regions of the state on two sides of the border and overarching authority of India and Pakistan governing the whole state.

Today, it is talking of rebuilding Kashmir and reaching out to people across the regions and rebuilding friendly ties with Pakistan. — AJ

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed with senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig at a public meeting in Jammu. Tribune photograph

He is a veteran of veterans in Kashmir politics. Both a man of field and backroom politics, Mufti is seen by many as the “future Chief Minister” by virtue of the strength of his party and the buzz that is going on across Jammu and Kashmir at the moment. 

The NC is yet to rise from the sense of defeatism it got after the unparalleled defeat in the parliamentary elections in the Kashmir valley and drubbing that the Congress suffered at the hands of the BJP in Jammu and Ladakh regions. 

Wherever Mehbooba goes, she carries with her an aura. The PDP president has a connect with the people. Her trajectory to the politics, connect with the masses and her venturing into the forbidding political and geographical terrain of Kashmir is a story that she has scripted in a way which has no parallel. Today, she is the most visible face of her party, to the liking of many, but many others have reservations. However, that has stopped her march.

In 1996, when she contested the Assembly elections on an Indian National Congress ticket it was on the directions of her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The Congress was unable to get candidates for the party in the year when the militancy was at its peak. Mehbooba gave up her reluctance because she did not want to say “No” to her father. She won the elections and became a voice for the oppressed and surpassed all others in defending the human rights of the people.

July 1999: The PDP was born in a bungalow in Nowgam on the national highway in Srinagar.

August 1999: PDP vice-president Mehbooba Mufti contested the parliamentary elections from Srinagar against Omar Abdullah and lost.

September 1999: The PDP won two seats in the Assembly byelections.

October 2002: It won 16 seats in the Assembly elections and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed became the Chief Minister, heading the first-ever multi-party coalition.

2004: PDP left red-faced following the killing of four boys by the Army.

2005: Earthquake struck Kashmir. The government faced hostile times.

November 2, 2005: Mufti stepped down as CM and made way for Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.

March 2007: The PDP raised the issue of demilitarisation of J&K, repeal of AFSPA.

June 28, 2008: PDP withdrew support to the Azad govt accusing the CM of 
vote bank politics.

July 1: Azad resigned

July-September 2008: PDP was active in Amarnath land row agitation. 
December 2008: The PDP won 21 seats in Assembly polls.

July 2009: The PDP alleged that Omar was involved in the sex scandal of 2007. Omar resigned. The resignation was not accepted, as the CBI gave a clean chit to him.

2010: The PDP took to the streets to dislodge the Omar Abdullah government.

2014: The PDP won all three Lok Sabha seats.

Jammu, November 4
Close on the heels of a suicide attack on the Pakistani side of the Wagah border that claimed 61 lives and against the backdrop of ensuing Assembly polls in the state, the BSF has beefed up security along the 198-km-long international border from Kathua to Akhnoor. More paramilitary personnel have been deployed to thwart possible intrusion bids by armed Pakistani terrorists.

The Pentagon, headquarters of the United States Department of Defence, today claimed in a 100-page report to the US Congress that Pakistan was using terror groups as proxies to counter the superior Indian military. “Though we don’t have a flag-lowering ceremony like the Wagah on the international border in the Jammu region, we have sounded a high alert in the wake of the ensuing Assembly polls in the state. Extra manpower has been deployed all along the border,” RK Sharma, IG, BSF Jammu Frontier, told The Tribune.

He said he personally along with his commanders had been moving along the sensitive border and taking stock of the security.

“A suicide attack like Wagah seems unlikely here in the Jammu region, but we are taking no chances. Our prime concern is to ensure zero infiltration of ultras from a rogue country and we are fully alert to the situation,” he said. The IG said the entire border had been fortified and made impregnable.

“As far as porous openings in the form of rivulets and rivers that flow into Pakistan are concerned, we have deployed adequate surveillance equipment and 24x7 vigil is on,”he added. He said, “With a rogue country like Pakistan where militants keep roaming on the other side of the border like mosquitoes, we cannot afford to lower our guard.”

Jammu, November 4
National Conference (NC) candidate for the Vijaypur Assembly constituency Surjeet Singh Slathia today launched a campaign in the border belt of his constituency.

He held a series of election meetings at Jakh Chandla, Salmeri, Gupwal, Pekhri and Nathwal villages. Speaking during the campaign, Slathia assured the people that the government was committed to providing basic amenities to the people of the area.

“The Omar Abdullah-led government has ensured equitable development of all regions of the state and the main attention has been given by the government to upgrade of basic facilities,” he said.

Slathia said the National Conferencewould continue to lead Jammu & Kashmir towards development and take initiatives to ensure that the youth of the area reached new frontiers in the field of self-employment.

He further said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was a young and dynamic leader and had taken decisions and initiatives to cater to the needs of the youth.

The National Conference candidate said the Omar-led government had brought an educational revolution in the state with the opening of a Central University in the Vijaypur constituency, colleges, upgrade of schools with modern equipment and science laboratories in the past six years.

The National Conference candidate said the government had made an elaborate policy to empower the youth of the state by eradicating red-tapism and bureaucratic hurdles which the earlier system had put in their way. 

Jammu, November 4
As campaign for Assembly elections is picking up in the Jammu province, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has started playing “Vajpayee card” to expand base in the Jammu province.

PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, while addressing a public meeting at the border town of Bishnah, said today that it was all due to the visionary policy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that peace was restored on the borders.

He said the present NDA government headed by Narendra Modi had to follow peace and re-conciliatory policies pursued by the former Prime Minister to restore sustainable and lasting peace in the region.

Mufti said it was the result of Vajpayee’s visionary policies that internal and external peace was restored in the region.

He claimed that during the tenure of the PDP, peace was restored in the state by winning hearts and minds of the people. “Since its formation, the PDP has been advocating for the peaceful resolution of all problems,” he said.

He told the gathering that during the tenure of the PDP-led regime in the state, atmosphere was created to take some bold initiatives like opening of some points at the Line of Control, end of repression, restoring dignity and honour of the people and release of political prisoners.

“It was all due to our sincere efforts that then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during his historical speech at Srinagar, had extended hand of friendship to Pakistan despite the fact that the tension was high on the border at that time due to the attack on Parliament,” he said. He said, “It was all due to the statesmanship of Vajpayee that peace was restored in this region.”

“Vajpayee’s speech was a turning point in the relations between India and Pakistan and credit for this goes to the PDP because successive regimes at the Centre were convinced with our policies,” he said.

Srinagar, November 4
Despite the ban on Muharram procession by the authorities, ‘Zuljinah’ processions were taken out in the old city and other Shia-dominated areas of the Valley.

A large ‘Zuljinah’ procession was taken out from Hawal to Zadibal that was marked by flagellation by Shiites to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, his family and companions during the 7th century battle of Karbala in the present-day Iraq.

A group of mourners also gathered near Abiguzar, but were detained. The Shiites used to take out a grand procession from Abiguzar to Zadibal on Muharram 10 (Youm-e-Ashura), which was banned after the eruption of militancy.

Restrictions in many parts and a spontaneous shutdown, following yesterday’s killing of two civilians in Budgam district also dampened Youm-e-Ashura functions.

While Zuljinah procession is taken out on ‘Ashura’ only, ‘Alam’ and ‘Tazia’ processions are taken out regularly from the first day of Muharram month, which also marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year. Shias hold a series of religious functions and also take out processions, especially during the first 10 days of Muharram.

Traditionally on Muharram 8, Shiites in large numbers also used to march from Guru Bazar and proceed through the Lal Chowk area of the city before the grand procession culminated at Dalgate. However, this procession was also banned by the government post-militancy fearing law and order problems.

Shia bodies for long have been seeking the lifting of ban on the main Muharram 8 and 10 processions. ‘Zuljinah’ processions were also taken out at other Shia-dominated areas of the Valley.

Srinagar, November 4
Suspected militants fired a rifle grenade towards a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bunker in north Kashmir’s Sopore town on Tuesday morning. The grenade, however, did not explode and was defused later.

Police sources said a rifle grenade was fired towards a CRPF bunker in the main market in Sopore town, 45 km from here, around 10 am.

“The grenade missed the target and landed on the road. However, it did not explode,” the sources said.

The area was cordoned off immediately and the movement of traffic was stopped. Senior police and security officials rushed to the area.

“The bomb disposal squad later defused the grenade,” said a source.

Srinagar, November 4
With the Ashura processions concluding today, residents of the old city have started complaining of respiratory problems due to the use of pepper gas in the old city areas.

For past few days, the police have been cracking down on protesters participating in the annual Ashura processions across the city using pepper gas and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Residents say the aftereffects of pepper gas are “lethal”, especially those who already have respiratory problems.

“Long after the use of pepper gas, its effects continue to affect us and we feel breathless for hours together. Usual problems of coughing and choking also happen when the police fire pepper gas shells,” said Sana, a resident of the Khanyar area in downtown Srinagar.

Human rights activists in the Valley have also been campaigning against the use of pepper gas in the Valley.

Activists have demanded that the state government should stop the use of pepper gas by the police for crowd control.

However, the use of pepper gas continues unabated in Kashmir though in many parts of the world, its use has been banned.

So far, only the State Human Rights Commision has taken cognisance of the matter and issued notices to the police.

The move came after a comlaint was filed by a group of activists on the “fatal effects” of pepper gas, especially on the elderly, children and those suffering from pulmonary diseases.

Srinagar, November 4
After remaining suspended for nearly two months following the floods in September, the Passport Office in Srinagar will resume the online application process and other services from tomorrow.

To begin with, the passport authorities have okayed 150 appointments for walk-ins, which may be increased over the week, keeping in view the response.

Following the floods on September 7, the services at the Regional Passport Office in Srinagar were affected badly as the floodwaters from the Dal Lake had entered the office premises in the Boulevard Road area.

“We have decided to resume normal services from November 5, which were suspended due to the floods. In this regard, the service provider has issued 150 appointments for walk-ins at our office,” said Passport Officer, Srinagar, Javed Iqbal.

Iqbal said the online applications would be processed from Wednesday.

He said only those applications would be entertained which would be routed to the office after proper online registration through the website.

The Passport Officer further said the postal authorities had reported that around 400 passports, issued by his office, were damaged as they were not delivered to the applicants and were in the transit with the postal authorities.

“These applications will also get a waiver on application fees,” Iqbal said, adding that his office has got around 150 applications wherein the applicants have lost their passport in the recent floods.

He, however, said applicants who had lost their passport in the floods had to get proper registration done and appointment. The fee in these cases has, however, been waived off by the authorities.

From January till October-end, Iqbal said the Regional Passport Office had issued more than 45,000 passports and processed more than 47,000 applications.