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Police said that the accident resulted in the on spot death of the person.
The deceased identified as an auto rickshaw driver, Abdul Majeed Malik, s/0 of Ali Mohammad Malik hails from Bemina’s Hamdania Colony.
“Malik was crashed to death when he was filing his auto rickshaw with petrol at a local pump,” police said. “We have filed an FIR against the driver involved in the accident.”
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Ashiq Bukhari.
The top cop and counter-insurgency expert Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, who had retired from Jammu and Kashmir Police service as SSP in January 2014, is likely to join back as DIG of Police as the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has granted him induction into Indian Police Service (IPS) and ordered that his seniority be fixed between DIG Central Kashmir Ghulam Hassan Bhat and DIG CID Headquarters Syed Kifayat Haider.
Dismissing the objections of the retired SSP Amjad Pervez Mirza, High Court has declared Bukhari as SP on a substantive position from the day he had officiated as SP Budgam while holding the posting of Additional SP of Special Operations Group in Budgam district.
Following the pronouncement of judgment in a service writ petition, Home Department of Government of Jammu and Kashmir has approached Union Public Service Commission with the plea that Bukhari may be treated as inducted into IPS with the seniority granted to him by the court and his year of allotment of IPS may be fixed as 2000.
UPSC is understood to have taken up the matter in turn with the Union Department of Personnel & Training and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that regulates the IPS.
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The State cabinet is meeting on Wednesday in Jammu under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for a reshuffle in the civil and police administration.
One of the senior PDP Cabinet ministers wished anonymity said that the cabinet will meet on December 2. “Though it is a routine meeting but some transfers and postings in civil administration and police is likely to be ordered,” the minister said.
However, sources said that the general administration department has framed a list of officers who will be given their new postings.
KNS has also learnt that some “non-performing officers” will be attached to the GAD to remove the “hurdle in the smooth functioning of the governance”. “The list of the performing and non performing officers was prepared by GAD in consultation with the CM’s secretariat,” sources said.
Sources said the police department “at the highest level will also be touched as some of the key postings are without heads”.
They added that the list of “deadwood government servants” is also likely to be discussed in this cabinet meeting.
However, sources said that the agenda of the meeting was not circulated till late Monday evening.
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District Magistrate, Kupwara Monday convened a meeting of District Level coordination-cum- screening committee for granting ex-gratia relief in militancy related incidents in Kupwara district.
The District Magistrate sanctioned Rs 4 lakh for 4 death cases, Rs 2.5 lakh in favour of 5 injury cases, while as Rs 3 lakh were granted in favour of 7 cases of property damage, besides 35 cases were cleared under SRO 43, an official statement said this evening.
Officers of army, police and security agencies were also present in the meeting, it added.
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With a view to protect migrant birds in Wular lake, Nesbal Sar, Khudwam Sar and other water bodies, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Sumbal has informed all gun license holders of Sumbal, Hajin and Ajas Tehsils to deposit their guns with respective Police Stations within three days.
Otherwise, action under rules will be initiated against violators, an official statement.
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With the minimum temperature plunging to freezing level in the Kashmir valley, frequent power cuts have worsened the problems of the common masses.
KNS reported that the frequent power cuts, even in those areas which have metered connections and were assured round-the-clock supply in the past, are causing problems for the residents as night temperature has begun slipping to sub-zero levels.
Consumers, have been protesting against diminishing electricity supply for the past some weeks.
Consumers in the summer capital Srinagar Monday complained that, though their areas are metered but the prolonged cuts have mounted problems “The unscheduled power cuts of two to three hours have become a routine in our locality for the past one month and the situation turns grim during the evening hours when we expect uninterrupted supply,” said Habib-ullah of Bemina locality here.
A lengthy winter is beginning to set over Kashmir region as mercury is registering a considerable drop and nights are growing colder with each passing day. The minimum temperature in Srinagar during the past two nights had dropped to a low of minus 0.5 and minus 0.9°C, marking the season’s first nights when mercury plunged to freezing level in the city.
According to officials, the Power Development Department is able to deliver 1,200 MW in winter months against the demand for 1,600 MW to provide round-the-clock electricity supply.
The curtailment of power supply usually takes place in winter months every year as residents use heating appliances which increases the demand for electricity.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had earlier this week expressed concern over complaints of non-adherence of curtailment schedule and directed the officials to strengthen the transmission system to meet the requirement of power demand during peak hours.
The Chief Minister had directed the Power Development Department to “strictly implement the notified schedule” of load-shedding, which is an eight-hour power cut in non-metered areas and a three-hour cut in metered areas on daily basis. Almost 51 per cent of households in Kashmir division are metered, according to officials.
Jammu and Kashmir has an estimated hydel-power potential to generate 20,000 MW out of which projects of about 16,200 MW capacity have been identified, but the state currently has an installed capacity to generate mere 969.96 MW. The state produces only 18 per cent of the power it consumes annually and has a “huge gap” in revenue receipts and the incurred expenditure.
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District Magistrate, Jammu in exercise of the powers vested upon him under Section 144 CrPC has directed that no bovine animals such as Cow, Oxen, Bulls, Calves etc be transported from Jammu to other District, except with written permission from the District Magistrate or Additional District Magistrate Jammu, an official statement said Monday evening.
“This order shall come into force with an immediate effect and shall remain in force for a period of two months from the date of its issue or if the order is rescinded which ever be earlier,” the statement added.
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Thousands of inhabitants living in Drusooo village of Rafiabad Baramulla are facing acute water scarcity for last four month as the taps are running without water while the authorities are watching it as mute spectators.
Accusing the higher ups for ignoring their plights, the inhabitants demand redressal of the genuine grievances.
While speaking to KNS, the locals said, “in August this year, the officials visited the area and removed the pipes from the area by saying that the pipes are faulty and needs to get changed.”
The residents further said that from that day the water has become dream to them. “With such negligence of the authorities, we use to go to nearer Nallah to wash our clothes and get bathed as our taps are running dry since last four months and nobody pays heed to our difficulties,” they said.
They said that they are facing tough with such things and in this regard they approached several authorities but all has fallen into deaf ears as nothing has been done in this regard.
They later appealed to higher authorities to look into the matter and redress their grievance as soon as possible.
Admitting the facts that delay has occurred in redressing the genuine grievance, Muhammad Tayoub, AEE PHE, Sub-division Watergam said that they will redress the genuine grievance in two days. “We will deploy our workers to solve the problem at earliest,” Tayoub said.
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Omar Abdullah
National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah on Monday said the PDP-BJP Government’s policy of putting core political issues in J&K on the back-burner did not auger well for the prospects of peace and stability, both within the State and the entire South Asian region.
According to a statement issued to KNS, Omar Abdullah, while addressing public meetings at Khari and Banihal Town in Banihal Assembly Constituency today said the spate in incidents of intolerance and communal confrontation in the country had created a sense of despondency and restlessness that could have far-reaching, adverse implications for our coming generations.
“Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a prolonged period of political unrest and turmoil. A State like ours cannot be starved of political engagement and initiatives to bring the disgruntled and disillusioned elements into the fold of our democratic processes and systems. A continued failure of the PDP-BJP Government to articulate the need for political engagement with internal and external stakeholders threatens the fragile peace in J&K that has been earned after years of political persistence. A lot of core political issues have been side-lined by the PDP post its alliance with the BJP – and this risks further alienation and isolation in the State,” Omar Abdullah said.
Expressing serious concern over the growing sense of communal polarization and intolerance in the country, Omar Abdullah said incidents like those that were witnessed in Dadri and Udhampur are blots on the social fabric of our country and will continue to haunt the nation’s collective conscience for years to come.
“Within J&K, tragic incidents like the murderous attack on a truck-driver in Udhampur by a frenzied, communal mob highlight the gravity of the situation we are confronted with. PDP acted as a political courier that carried the alien ideology of intolerance and communal polarization into Jammu and Kashmir at the behest of those who have always harboured a dream to fragment and polarize the State. There is no place for communalism in Jammu and Kashmir and our legacy of secularism, inclusiveness and tolerance will triumph over all sinister plans to sow disaffection between the three regions of the State and between people on the basis of their religions. National Conference will never allow such plans to succeed,” the NC Working President said.
“During 2014 Parliamentary and Assembly elections in the State, Mufti Sahab and Mehbooba Ji campaigned against the BJP in the State and sought elections to stop their political march into the State. Votes for sought for PDP to keep the BJP at bay. As soon as the election results were out, PDP leaders rushed to Nagpur and New Delhi to embrace top BJP and RSS leaders. Since the very incorporation of PDP, National Conference had highlighted their inherent political nexus with the BJP. Today, their political affiliation with the BJP and RSS is out in the open,” Omar said.
Omar Abdullah said the Chief Minister’s office and institution had been trivialized under Mufti Sahab and that the existing atmosphere of helplessness and political ineffectiveness in the State could create an aversion towards the general democratic system. “The Prime Minister, during his visit to Srinagar publicly ridiculed and insulted Mufti Sahab by telling him that he didn’t require his advice on the Kashmir Issue. The entire political discourse in the State has changed with BJP exerting complete and total control not only on the institutions of governance but also the political articulation of outstanding issues. The Prime Minister’s snub has rendered PDP and its leadership completely irrelevant in the larger political discourse and that doesn’t behove well for the State and its people. While PDP’s interests might be well served by remaining in power at all costs, the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir stand to be harmed by such dis-empowerment,” the National Conference Working President added.
He also blamed Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for “bartering unique identity of Jammu and Kashmir”, and willingly handing over the command of his government Nagpur.
“Apart from showcasing the infrastructure and developmental projects taken up during the previous NC-led Government, the present dispensation has absolutely nothing to talk about. The political aspirations of our people stand starved of articulation, their voices have been trampled and the State’s development has been brought to a grinding halt. Our youth are staring at an unprecedented situation of unemployment with the Government looking completely clueless. The PDP should change its election symbol to that of a Lock and Key now – as they have locked away their pre-election promises and thrown the key away with complete contempt and disrespect shown towards those who voted for their alleged ‘political agenda,” Omar further added.
Referring to the recently announced Central Package to the State, Omar Abdullah said the purely numerical substance would not benefit the people of the State on the ground. He reiterated packages alone would not help Jammu and Kashmir to emerge from the shadows of political uncertainty and unrest. “It is very important that the political dimensions of the Kashmir Issue are addressed. “Economic packages need to be supplemented with political initiatives and measures. I spoke about this in the presence of a visiting Prime Minister and also articulated this conviction in the Legislative Assembly. The State Government, on its own initiative took up political measures to address the perception of alienation and we worked very hard to create alternative routes for the return of misguided youth from across the border – a process that has been brought to a standstill by the present Government,” he said.
Omar expressed displeasure over the developmental inertia in the State especially the far-flung areas and lashed out at the PDP-BJP Government for neglecting the aspirations of the unemployed youth of the State and said perpetual delays in releasing timely wages to different categories of workers besides failure to provide financial assistance to categorized segments of the population had resulted in unimaginable miseries and an overall atmosphere of vulnerability and penury.
“This Government is leaving no stone unturned to wreak havoc with the Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme – a scheme that has been a tremendous success both in terms of providing an impetus to rural education but also as a scheme of job-creation. Those sermonizing about the need for examining the ReTs should first face the people and pass the test of getting public mandate after their brazen sell-out,” he said.
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After Kashmir’s shining star, Parvez Rasool, another young cricketer residing in far flung area of Kashmir Valley with his continues terrific performance in the national tournament at Rajkot Gujarat seems ready to shine the Valley with his talent.
Aaqib Nabi Dar, who hails from Sheeri Baramulla, currently playing under 19 national cricket tournament at Rajkot Gujarat has topped in the matches played in this tournament.
Aaqib who has been selected from Kashmir’s under 19 cricket team has scored 103 runs and got two wickets against Sourashtra cricket association on Monday.
A young cricketer, who is pursuing graduation at Baramulla has earlier scored several centuries in the tournaments played outside the state. “It is Aaqib’s fourth century since he is playing national tournaments. We are feeling proud of him,” family while talking to KNS said.
Aaqib with his brilliant performance was selected in Baramulla cricket Association in 2011. “He scored fifty in last match played at DGM College Jammu and got four wickets against Hyderabad team,” his family said.
Coming from a modest family, Aaqib is not a position to make necessary things available, which would help him to play better in the play field.
They said that the matches in the tournament are going on and said that they hope their son will show better performances in the upcoming matches to shine the Valley. “Our son is much talented and to score more and more in the upcoming matches is not even a big deal for him. His talent needs to get exposed so that he would get chance in International cricket as well,” family said.
Giving information about the young cricketer, family said that his journey of cricket starts from ‘galli’. “He has played several tournaments in the Valley where he has got various trophies including, man of the match, man of the series and catch of the match,” they said.
The family of Aaqib further wished him a good luck for the upcoming matches, scheduled to play in Gujarat.
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The preparations for holding much-awaited elections to Urban Local Bodies in Jammu and Kashmir have finally begun, with the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Monday formally having asked Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for putting in place these grass root level democratic institutions as early as possible.
KNS has learnt from the highly placed sources that the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Monday evening held a detailed meeting with the CEO Jammu and Kashmir, Shant Manu at his Jammu residence and discussed the preparations about holding the Municipal polls in the state. “During the meeting Mufti emphasized that the Government is committed to put these duly elected Urban Local Bodies in place as soon as possible so that State can receive huge grants under 14th Finance Commission awards and empower people to decide their developmental needs at the local level,” sources said while quoting CM.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Jammu and Kashmir, Shant Manu confirmed that the meeting regarding the Municipal polls was held in Jammu. “Yes I had a meeting with the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed regarding the holding of Municipal polls in the state. I can say that these elections are likely to be held in March,” he said.
He added that the elections will be in four phases and after the Municipal elections, the Panchayat polls will be held subsequently in the state in May.
CEO said that the office of Chief Electoral Officer has already started preparations for holding polls to Urban Local Bodies. “We have asked all the Deputy Commissioners to send the proposals for appointment of Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers for Municipal Corporation, Council and Committee falling in their districts for hearing claims and objections for preparation of electoral rolls of wards of Urban Local Bodies,” he added.
The State Cabinet had on April 6 given nod to holding of Urban Local Bodies elections and this decision was conveyed to the office of Chief Electoral Officer by the Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department vide letter http://ift.tt/1SrKu9K.
As per the detailed summary prepared by the Housing and Urban Development Department, there are 47 Municipal Council/Committees in Kashmir division and their number in Jammu division is 37. For capital cities, there are Municipal Corporations.
The Municipal Corporation of Srinagar has 73 wards while as there are 71 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Jammu. There are three Municipal Councils each in Kashmir and Jammu divisions.
The 14th Finance Commission has recommended award of Rs 4769.37 Crore to the Jammu and Kashmir for the local Self Government for a period of five years from 2015-16. Of the total award, an amount of Rs 1305.64 Crore has been recommended for the Urban Local Bodies (Municipal Corporations, Councils and Committees). The amount would be released in two instalments-first in June and second in October every year and if the Government succeeds in holding elections in March it would be able to receive instalment of the next year.
It is pertinent to mention here that elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) were last held in the year 2005 and their five-year term expired in 2010. Thereafter, no attention was ever paid towards holding fresh elections to these grass root level democratic institutions in urban areas of the State.
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Central Reserve Police Force has submitted the list of its men with names and other details (Nominal Roll) before the Enquiry Committee probing the death of engineering student Gowhar Nazir who was killed in forces action on November 7 at HMT Srinagar.
Soon after the death, the government had ordered magisterial probe while Assistant Development Commissioner Nazir Ahmed Baba was appointed the Enquiry Officer.
The Enquiry Officer said that he has received ‘Nominal Roll’ from CRPF and the documents submitted by the CRPF will be thoroughly examined on December 1st and 4th. “CRPF has provided all the names of the constables and officers who were present on the spot when the unfortunate incident occurred. We have also recorded the statements of a good number of eyewitnesses so far and more witnesses are expected to approach the Commission,” Nazir Ahmed Baba told CNS.
“All the eyewitnesses recorded their statements without any pressure and for their convenience we had already shifted the venue from DC Office Tankipora to the Office of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (West), Shalteng Srinagar,” he said adding that the Commission will hopefully submit its report in the last week of December.
The Enquiry Officer revealed that Jammu and Kashmir Police have provided all the important documents related to the incident. “We have been taking care of all the aspects. The probe is going in the right direction. We have been thoroughly going into every detail and I appeal every stake holder to have faith in the Commission,” he said.
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Sultan Zain-ul-Aabideen popularly known as Budshah in Kashmir wouldn’t have thought in his wildest dreams that the grave yard in which he will be buried will go to dogs one day and the government will even not bother to construct a wall around it.
During the September 2014 floods destroyed the wall around Budshah tomb and since then no efforts have been made to construct the wall around the tomb.
A delegation from Zainakadal area in Old Srinagar city headed by one Abdul Ahad Bhat told CNS that the tomb of the Budshah is in shambles. “Irrigation and Flood Control Department were was mulling to construct the collapsed wall but Archaeological Department claimed it their baby and from past one year neither the Archaeological department bothered to construct the wall around the tomb nor it allowed Irrigation and Flood Control Department to do the same.”
Ghiyas-ud-Din Zain-ul-Abidin (1418-1470) was the eighth Sultan of Kashmir. He acquired a halo in popular imagination which still surrounds his name in spite of the lapse of nearly five hundred years. He was known by his subjects, and indeed still is, as Bud Shah (the Great King)
“We were expecting that the government will preserve and give a facelift to this 15th century monumental tomb but our hopes have dashed now. We are planning to pool in money to construct the wall around it ourselves,” the locals said.
Pertinently, the monumental Budshah tomb is protected by New Delhi based Archaeological Survey of India that recently shifted its office from Srinagar to Gandhinagar Jammu. The only official from ASI present in Kashmir Valley did not respond to repeated phone calls.
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Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai
Expressing deep concern and anguish over the continuous and illegal detention of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leaders Ayaz Akbar, Raja Mehraj-ud-din, Rayees Ahmad Mir, Abdul Gani Bhat and Mohammad Amin Parray, General Secretary Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu & Kashmir and deputy of Syed Ali Geelani, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Monday strongly condemned these detentions.
“The government has no justification in prolonging the detention of the pro-freedom leaders,” he said in a party statement.
Demanding release of all the political prisoners who are languishing in different Indian as well as state jails, Sehrai said, “despite using every oppressive measure, Indian government has badly failed in suppressing the just and Genuine voices of the Kashmiri people and will never succeed in their plans in future also.”
Sehrai also demanded immediate release of the pro-freedom leaders “who were detained about a month before on the occasion of ‘Million March’ program and who are still not being released from the preventive custody”.
He said, “the imprisonments, bullets, pellets and the banning of peaceful political activities of the pro-freedom people is not going to solve the issue otherwise this attitude will further complicate the problem and it will also add to the alienation of the Kashmiri people particularly the youths of our nation.”
“India has a vast experience of using extremely cruel and autocratic methods in Kashmir right from 1947 to suppress the freedom sentiments of its people. But the Indian rulers are witness to this fact that the Kashmiri nation has neither surrendered their just demand and nor has they shown any kind of weakness in their commitment towards the freedom struggle,” he added. “Kashmiri nation will continue to struggle till the goal of freedom from India is achieved.”
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Dean School of Languages, Prof Muhammad Aslam speaking on the occasion.
The department of English, Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Monday organised an orientation on Business English Certificate (BEC) programme and its examination conducted by the Cambridge University Press (CUP).
Dean School of Languages, Prof Muhammad Aslam, Registrar, Prof Muhammad Afzal Zargar, Director (DSW), Dr Fayaz A Nikka, faculty members of the university and students were also present on the occasion, a varsity statement said this evening.
In his welcome address, Prof Muhammad Aslam said the main objective of organizing the orientation was to sensitize the students about the BEC programme and its subsequent benefits for those seeking employment, particularly in business areas, after completing their degrees.
He said the University was already offering soft skill courses in various disciplines.
Ronal Michael, Zonal Manager, ELT& Exams, North India, said the BEC is a globally recognized qualification and the certificate can improve job prospects of an individual, give opportunity to learn practical workplace English skills. He said that many universities recognize BEC for business courses.
Dr C L N Prakash, Resource Person from CUP, in his detailed PowerPoint Presentation divulged about the need for taking up the BEC programme in the contemporary era. He said BEC is available at three levels: BEC preliminary, BEC Vantage and BEC higher. The level range from lower intermediate to advanced so that a candidate can choose a BEC test that matches his level of English language skills and professional needs.
An interaction session with the expert was also held during the programme. Sanjay Sharma, Sales Manager was also present on the occasion.
National Council for Promotion of Urdu Languages (NCPUL), Director, Prof Irtiza Kareem delivering lecture at CUK on Monday.
Meanwhile, the statement added that National Council for Promotion of Urdu Languages (NCPUL), Director, Prof Irtiza Kareem today delivered a guest lecture on “Teaching and Learning in Urdu” to the students of the Urdu department of the CUK.
Urdu Department Coordinator, Prof N A Malik and other faculty members were also present on the occasion.
In his address, Prof Irtiza Kareem, said that he’s proud to be a teacher first. He asked the students to learn the Urdu literature with dedication and devotion. He referred to poets including Aali Ahmad Suroor, Muhammad Hassan, Gopi Chand Narang, and Hamdi Kashmiri and highlighted their contribution in the field of Urdu literature.
Urdu Department Coordinator, Prof N A Malik, highlighted the contribution of Prof Irtiza Kareem in promoting Urdu across India.
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One person died while another was injured in two separate road accidents in Leh and Budgam, police said Monday evening.
In Leh, a van bearing registration number JK10-8436 driven by Ghulam Mohammad resident of Phyang, Leh hit and injured a pedestrian Tashi Tundup resident of Shara, Leh at ‘Hall of Fame’ Leh.
The injured was shifted to SNM Hospital, Leh for treatment where doctors declared him brought dead.
In Budgam, a Maruti car bearing registration number JK01F-0117 driven by Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Sheikh resident of Warihama turned turtle at Warihama Magam, resulting in injuries to the driver.
The injured was shifted to hospital for treatment. Budgam police has registered a case in the regard.
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MLA Langate and AIP president Er Rasheed Monday said the continuous siege of Manigah and adjoining areas for the 18th consecutive day in Kupwara district has triggered great distress besides a crisis for the thousands of villagers.
“There seems to be no justification and logic for continuing the crackdown for 18th consecutive day, despite ongoing chilly cold weather,” Er Rasheed said in a statement. “Security forces have created lot of problems and inconvenience for the inhabitants of Humandar, Manzhar, Manigah, Kashmiri-Manigah, Hajinakah, Behaksabha, Halmathpora, Gonipora, bhatpora, joktiyal, Trumbnad and the innocent population has been left at the mercy of security forces.”
Rashid said passenger vehicles and even government employees are feeling scared from travelling the area which has resulted in miseries of the locals.
“The education of children has also been badly affected due to continuous siege,” he said. “It seems as if army wants to punish thousands of people for none of their fault, but just to fulfill their ego and anger after death of the commanding officer in the area.”
Nobody from any other village is being allowed to enter in the area and many families have been forced to migrate, he said. “Army should not be given a free hand to punish thousands of citizens in the name of fighting militants.”
Er Rasheed appealed civil and police administration to intervene and get the siege ended, without further delay so that the inhabitants of the area take a sigh of relief.
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Prime Minister of Pakistan-administrated Kashmir (PaK) Chaudhry Abdul Majeed has said that Kashmiris would never accept any formula designed to divide on Kashmir.
Radio Pakistan reported Majeed saying that the resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiris is imperative for durable peace in the region.
“Kashmiris are rendering unprecedented sacrifices for the liberation of their motherland from the Indian clutches and accession of whole state to Pakistan,” Majeed was quoted having said. “Kashmiris will never accept any formula designed to divide Kashmir.”
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A soldier deployed on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district has died after slipping into a gorge.
As per reports the incident happened on Sunday.
“Sepoy Surinder of Rajput Regiment died after he lost balance and fell into the gorge during patrolling duty near the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector in Kupwara,” reports said.
“He was rescued and taken to a hospital, but he died before reaching there.”
Hailing from Indore, Surinder had joined the army last year.
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In a brazen case of alleged police highhandedness, a driver from South Kashmir’s Islamabad was Monday thrashed by cops in the town.
The driver whose identity was not immediately known was rushed to the local hospital where his condition is said to be stable.
Meanwhile, the “police highhandedness” triggered a protest in the area which was shortly subsided.
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“It hasn’t been as bad as this in a long time,” she said at the opening session – ‘Kashmir Today: Towards an Indian Future?’ during the second day of Times LitFest. “The government doesn’t seem to be working, and little of the common minimum program has been implemented.”
The only time there has been any forward movement in Kashmir, she said, is when both Pakistan and the Kashmiris have been involved in negotiations.
“This was the case when General Musharraf was in office in Pakistan. There were civil society discussions between Indian and Kashmiris, through the back channel, and this put pressure on Gen. Musharraf,” said Kumar.
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Two persons including a BSF personnel were reportedly detained over their alleged links with Pakistan’s intelligence agency.
Kafaitullah Khan alias Master Raja (44) of JK’s Rajouri district and Border Security Force (BSF) head constable Abdul Rasheed were detained from Jammu on November 26.
While Khan is termed an ISI handler, Rasheed is said to be his key source. “They were running an espionage racket which was supported by Pakistan’s ISI,” reports quoting Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav said. “Both were arrested under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Official Secrets Act.”
Yadav said some secret documents related to “national security” were also seized from their possession. “Khan has contacts in India’s security agencies through which he was procuring secret information detrimental to the security of the country.”
Khan, a library assistant at a higher secondary school in Rajouri’s Manjakote, had visited Pakistan in 2013 where he came in contact with an ISI agent and in lieu of monetary benefit, Yadav said, he agreed to provide secret information about the defence forces.
“He later cultivated his sources in the army and the BSF and they started passing on information to Pakistani intelligence operatives. The information was passed through email, WhatsApp and Viber,” Yadav said.
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A Pakistani prisoner was allegedly tortured to death by jail authorities in Jammu and Kashmir before BSF sent his body to Pakistan for burial, reports said.
A native Kot Kalaal village of Pakistan’s Pasrur tehsil, Muhammad Ashraf (55), was reported dead Sunday. He had been languishing in a jail in Jammu and Kashmir for the last several years after being arrested for illegally crossing into Indian-administrated Kashmir.
“Ashraf was tortured to death by jail authorities before BSF yesterday handed over his body to the Punjab Rangers at Wahga for burial at his native place,” reports said.
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Unidentified gunmen mounted an audacious attack at a CRPF post in Kathua district of Jammu Monday morning.
Reports said that gunmen fired at CRPF post in Malhar area of Kathua injuring a CRPF personnel.
The injured paramilitary trooper was shifted to a hospital.
It was not immediately confirmed if it was a militant attack, although security forces have launched a massive search operation to nab the culprits.
Defending the Rs 80K package that Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in Srinagar, Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu explains how connectivity replaced the energy sector. In his first detailed interview, he explains the systems being evolved to implement the new projects and the changes being affected to help the state retain the most of the benefits the investment will trigger in next five years
Haseeb Drabu (HD): In the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Program (PMRP), the idea was quite different. That time, the state government took the initiative saying we are getting central flows in various forms and we want to push a developmental thrust. So we drafted a plan in the state government and sent a proposal in a booklet form for about Rs 6000 crores. It was discussed with PM’s Office and the Finance Minister in advance; a broad agreement was arrived at for the package.
It was not a comprehensive program. It was sort of a Post Conflict Reconstruction Program. When the PM came to announce it, I was there in the audience. Sanjay Baru was his advisor and I heard him saying that the package was for Rs 24000 crore. So I thought a mistake had been made. What the central government had actually done was that they had included Rs 18,000 crore viability gap funding for NHPC projects, which was a central sector spending, into the package and made up the total figure to Rs 24000 crore. So, I was dissatisfied on the account that there was no need to do that because Rs 6000 Crore was really a good, comprehensive program for fully building some of the infrastructure.
The current package is a vastly different kind of a package. It was designed differently. First of all, its origin was very contentious. The previous government had submitted a plan of Rs 44000 crore. For whatever it was, that became a certain benchmark.
Though, the fact remains that Rs 44000 crore plan was reassessed by World Bank and it came up with a figure of Rs 21000 crore . That report was further reassessed by NITI Aayog and it gave a number Rs 11000 crore only. Yet the number submitted was Rs 44000 Crore, so at the back of our mind was a package that would have a certain size.
Suppose we had got Rs 30000 crore or Rs 40000 crore, it would have been seen as a failure. I am talking to you honestly as how public perception moves.
So our first goal was to do a package bigger than Rs 44000 crore and to be able to do it ourselves.
Our second goal was to ensure that it is in areas and projects that are executable over the next two to three years and where we have the capability to spend. Also, that it should have a component of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. So it was a much larger plan.
So when it was designed it was seen, right from the word go, as a comprehensive initiative not just driven by relief. We always thought that cash transfers do not help the overall economy.
So it was more seen as a plan for post flood infrastructure rebuilding. It was also designed keeping into consideration what I call the ‘catch up’ plan – the opportunity for rebuilding better what had been lost in the past twenty five years.
So while we were planning the package, we arrived somewhere at Rs 150000 crores. Then we looked at it from the financing level and the number got reduced to Rs 108000 crores. And then somewhere once we tied up, it opened up three funding processes: what can be funded within the budget – existing union budget; what can be funded additionally to existing budget and what can be view for the next budget. So, we looked at all these and roughly arrived at a figure of Rs 90,000 crore. Then it went back and forth for almost eight months. We had to coordinate with 27 ministries. And finally, we landed at a figure of Rs 80,000 crore.
This was agreed upon and remained so even a day or two days before the package was formally announced.
When the PM announced it, my discomfort came only on one account. A large amount of almost Rs 30,000 crore had been originally kept for power houses, because the whole idea was to build sustainability in the economy. When that didn’t happen the same way, I expressed a certain disappointment. I don’t understand why this was done and it still is a sort for mystery for me. Because, once we discuss a sign-off, then things are not changed unilaterally. But that is how I think the union bureaucracy works. They needed to probably make some changes at some stage. Though it had gone through various processes, various people in the PMO, Finance Ministry and others, yet that change had been made.
So my reservation really, in PMRP, was that adding up Rs 18000 crore to the original package of Rs 6000 crore was not the right thing to do. In today’s package, the size has been kept intact, but the composition has been changed from power to connectivity. Though, I have said that connectivity is a great thing but for a long time sustainable, fiscal and macro-economic development the funding for power component was required.
It doesn’t, however, mean that we can’t get that money; we will surely try and get that as well. But my unhappiness with this thing was purely compositional: that we had decided on power and the same was taken out.
KL: But money infusion helps economies. In PMRP you did many things like Baglihar..
HD: Absolutely, you see one of the things is that when normal funding came, it used to come under Non-Plan account. There was very little ‘projectisation’ of that. And, the money would get lost in the system.
The great idea about these packages – I call them developmental plans – is that every element is ‘projectised’. So, we know every project. For instance, we did ADB (Asian Development Bank) work; we brought only Rs 4000 crore from ADB yet the roads are known as ADB roads because the quality is very good.
Once you have projectised funding through these developmental plans over and above the state plan, it always works better, so the Rs 6000 crore made a huge impact on the state economy at that point of time.
And I see no reason why it should not happen again and that too on a much larger scale. These Rs 80000 crores would be transformative for state of J&K in terms of shifting the entire developmental paradigm to the next level.
KL: How will you manage the public criticism on the restoration and rehabilitation component of the package with reference to September 2014 floods?
HD: There are five elements in this package – Relief and Disaster Management are directly related to the flood.
Rest is all linked to rehabilitation through a different route. If you want to push Rs 80000 crore into the market as cash, it will destroy the economy of J&K. Let us not be under any such illusion.
For example, a doctor will tell you that if you put ten litres of glucose in to a human body at a time, the person will probably die. Similarly, if you put Rs 80000 crore cash and give it to people as transfer payment, this economy will suffer from huge imbalance. It will be unmanageable. You will not create any capacity yet you will have the purchasing power, you will have a completely bizarre kind of situation to handle. It will get in to what is called as hyper-inflation because if you don’t create capacities and yet give purchasing power then the economy will get distorted. One needs to understand that.
What this package will do is to open up lines of activity for business people. For instance, when we build a road or the AIIMS or any other projects, it will have a multiplier effect on incomes, wages, profits, salaries and the employment. This will balance the economy.
We have tried to do a judicious balance between transfer payments and developmental expenditure. I think we will have about Rs 12-13 thousand crore of transfer payments and the rest will be developmental expenditure. That is kind of absorption that will happen over the next three-five years.
KL: But don’t you regret non-inclusion of Tunnel projects on Mughal road or the Kishtwar – Islamabad road?
HD: We had worked extensively on power and not connectivity. What happened to package towards the end was that connectivity was substituted for power. So there was a transplant and what was transplanted was the Bharat Mala concept. Nevertheless, when we have that kind of money for connectivity, it simultaneously gives me enough room not to spend any kind of money on connectivity from State Plan. See, one of the values of this Rs 80000 crore package is that it gives me enough room to utilise my money elsewhere now. For the next five years, I don’t see the state government spending from its own budget much money on connectivity. We can then divert that to specific projects, Chatroo-Vailoo being one of the very critical projects. It is also important for us that we execute also our key projects for ourselves. We have a much larger interest in inter-regional connectivity and we will pursue that with a lot of vigour. So over the next two-three years, you shall see funding and execution of work on that particular tunnel.
KL: Prime Minister here said that his heart is with Kashmir but if overall allocations are analysed on regional basis then Kashmir is somewhere between Ladakh and Jammu regions.
HD: I think that is a miscalculation. I saw some figures mentioning Rs Rs 29000 Crores for Kashmir. We have been very careful about the regional balance. In this coalition, I find heightened sensitivity towards Jammu and Ladakh. And let me tell you that the first time I drafted the PMRP, the only question the then CM Mufti Sahab asked me was how much I had kept for Jammu. So this issue was always there. This time, since BJP is a large part of this government and they have really emerged from Jammu, it was consciously looked at what the balances would be.
And there are three parts of the story: One is Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir. Second is trans-regions but inter-state. So around 15-20,000 crore are not really for anybody particularly. Like Pakal Dul, Leh-Srinagar transmission line. But when you take them out and look at the other ones, my own recollection is: it is actually Rs 41000 crore for Kashmir and Rs 30000 crore for Jammu. Out of the Rs 41000, Rs 14000 crore is for Ladakh so it comes down to 31000 crore for Kashmir and Rs 30000 for Jammu. So there is no such imbalance in the allocations..
Per-capita wise it is also equitable. So I don’t see any imbalance. If at all, it comes through connectivity plans which are intra-state.
KL: You have got IIM and IIT in Jammu but only an AIIMS in Kashmir.
HD: There is a provision stated in the plan that IIM will be in Jammu with a campus in valley. We already have an NIT (National Institute of Engineering, Hazratbal) in Kashmir. And, we of course have an AIIMS.
We were not very keen, on having an IIM or an IIT because eventually it doesn’t benefit the state at all. The students and faculty comes from outside. We had sought reservation within IIMs, but IIMs doesn’t allow it so we were not very keen on it.
One can take up a case for IIM in Srinagar also but I will myself do something else. We could create our own Law University or a Medical University or even an Ethno-Musicology Institute for Kashmir because we have such a rich tradition of culture, music and arts; and we don’t have any such Institute in the state.
IIM doesn’t help locally much. IIM Ahmedabad is isolated in its own thinking. Such a great institution, but Ahmedabad has not benefitted from it.
KL: You are changing the budgeting process from this year. So how is this package linking and dictating the changes in the budget making from this year?
HD: I don’t think it is dictating any change, it would be additional resource. I was thinking up opening three budget lines to ensure better monitoring.
The change in the budget draws from 14th Finance Commission award. Even today I know how much I will get from central government then why should I wait for union budget to be announced and do my budget in March. The principle feature is when we do a budget in February / March, our works start somewhere in June. District Development Board (DDB) meetings happen in June. So my idea is we should have DDB meetings in December itself. By January we get a fix on what they want. Otherwise we do our budget and then they do their own plans and it doesn’t really gel.
The idea is to streamline the process and link it together to make it more inclusive at the monitoring level. So we will do a budget in January hopefully. We will pass it by February, by March I would allocate 50% of money to all the departments. Let them spend full month of March to do tendering and all that. So from the first of April, they can start the new works immediately. For instance, recently, the CM decided that the process of acquisition of land for roads could be taken up in winters. Winter doesn’t hamper that process and you have three months.
So, to be in-preparedness of April 1, we want to extend the working season right across for the year. Therefore if we start by early April, you will see a lot of spending through the year. This will improve spending capability as well decrease project completion timelines.
I also want to bring an innovation in our tendering processes and I am ready to fight a long and hard battle on this one. We can’t always be driven by price tenders where the lowest bidder wins the bid. So I want to introduce this concept of a ‘Five Criteria tender’. You may like to give weightage to all the criteria. The pricing may get a relatively higher weightage but we will also assess the credibility of the contractor, his track record, his balance sheet etc. We want to introduce a pre-qualification bid system so that we don’t get people who can’t have a balance sheet to take a project. In nutshell, we want to revolutionise and change the whole process of tendering as to how government allocates work. It can’t be based singularly on price. We have moved far ahead now in terms of understanding that good quality expenditure is better than low quality expenditure. Everybody accepts that. So when you make the tender on the lowest price, it automatically means quality is not the premium. We want to transform that.
If you do have an early budget, the systems will improve and will later on become routine. But in the first initial one or two years, we shall face certain problems as well as the system is being redesigned. But we have very cooperative ministers with whom I discussed this idea and they have said that this is a great idea and we should follow it.
KL: You always had money, you always had projects but you never had local people actually involved in implementing them.
HD: I have been saying this for a long time that we need to build the capacities and we should try and do investments locally. What is the problem? The basic problem which you are referring to is about the missing multiplier. That once you invest, the money goes out. I think there is need for a lot of soul searching in the private sector.
First of all we need to be cooperative as well as competitive to look at the consortiums. We must build local consortiums because we don’t have the size yet. We must have that mindset to be participative in the whole process. So, I would actually look at local consortiums handling large projects. For that there has to be some transformation in the private sector. You need to understand that in the current package, the major chunk, around Rs 45000 crore is under control of state government while Rs 35000 crore is under central government. That means the Rs 45000 crore will designed, structured, and tendered by the state government. Last time, central sector failed. So this time, we are ensuring there is a monitoring mechanism that will not fail.
So if we have Rs 45000 crore to spend that itself builds the capacities. Once we start tendering, we may come across a small firm with a good balance sheet. The firm may not probably be competitive with a national player but once we design the tendering process, it will be done in such a manner that the regional players’ strengths are reflected. Second is we should also try and see, as a responsibility for the development of the private sector, that they don’t become sub-contractors of national contractors. It is better for them to be consortium partners than be sub-contractors both in evolutionary sense and also in a local situational sense. So they should resist this temptation of becoming a sub-contractor for L&T at half the price. L&T builds at X and they build at X-10. Regulatory-wise I can’t do it but it is for them to be able to resist that and instead of doing that they should form a consortium and compete with the L&Ts of the world.
KL: When you signed the ‘Agenda of Alliance’, there is clearly mentioned that you will be getting two power projects from NHPC back. And prior to the Prime Minister’s visit, it was in air that it is going to happen. Even I believe you were very optimistic about it. Then what went wrong?
HD: There was one element in power which I really regret not being part of the final package. It was the Rs 5000 crore we had kept as an element approved by government of India till two days before the announcement for buy-back of equity of NHPC power projects. That was one element that I wanted. It went through power ministry, the finance ministry, the PMO, which means there is a recognition of it. What we had worked in ‘Agenda of Alliance’, if you remember the words, was: ‘to work-out modalities for transfer’. This was the modality I was looking at.
Now, while you look at the face value, you have to also look at the other side of the picture. To be very fair and honest, we are telling Government of India, you give us Rs 5000 crore and we will be buying your equity out of it. This is the fact. It also implies as to how can we get money to buy government of India’s equity. I think eventually it will happen with slight modification and we will also contribute to it but the fact is that Rs 5000 crore was kept in the package and it was approved at various levels till it finally got thrown out. It will happen, may be not in this year but in a couple of years it should happen. I am very positive about that. It will be a game changer.
KL: They gave you equity of Rs 4000 plus crore for Pakal Dul of which they actually own 49%. What they give you then?
HD: This is our share of the equity and we will use some of it to fund some other power project. So there is some elbow room. One good thing about this package is it gives lot of elbow room to state government. For that we are very grateful to government of India and power ministry. We will use that equity. Earlier package gave us the viability gap funding. This project has given us clean upfront equity. So if you take Rs 50oo crore plus Rs 2000 crore of housing plus about Rs 1000 crore for traders plus Rs 3000 crore for migrants, this is cash. PMRP had zero cash. It sets off at different level and gives lot of elbow room for management of fiscal economy.
KL: You have been interacting with biggies in business within and outside India. What you intend to do?
HD: We are looking at attracting foreign investment into J&K. Every investment comes with embodied advantages: technology, work process, systems and processes. It is not just about money, it is what it brings along with it. So I think that is one part that we are looking at Dubai and others. We are looking at a change; let us say in construction industry in J&K, and we are hoping that they will be foreign investors, do public-private participation, raise the level of our things here.
Nationally we are hoping that we will have some national investment, private sector investment in what we think is a low-hanging fruit. Can we set-up 5-7 call centres which will probably absorb 5000-7000 people? So the idea is for the national investors and national corporates to come to J&K to provide some job opportunity with minimal capital. I have seen for last some years that national business is not really very keen in coming to Kashmir with heavy investments. But if we are able to provide them some solutions for service centers, call centers, then probably they may invest some amount of money and generate jobs.
So these are different things: one, a foreign investor who has more and direct investments and second national investor which is more employment oriented. That are the two paths we are following.
[Transcription: Riyaz Ul Khaliq]
With a small portion of the Tattoo Ground retrieved from army for a public park, the government’s struggle spanning decades has barely started bearing fruit. But is there a possibility of the vast swathes of land around Batamaloo ever being demilitarized to help city breathe, asks Mohammad Raafi
Then, Bangroo says, transport was scarce to the extent that even visiting Mughal Gardens would be difficult. “So people from around the surrounding localities including the down town would converge to spend evenings in this ground,” Bangroo said. “Eids would be different as people from far off places would assemble, spend long hours gossiping, playing football.”
The ground then, had many names. It was Tattoo Ground because Dogra army’s donkeys and mules would remain in this ground even for grazing. Besides, it was known as Chandmari, as soldiers would use it as a firing range. Then, Batamaloo was Srinagar’s peripheral village.
Bangroo remembers being part of various football matches in the ground. However, he specially mentions Dussehracelebrations that this ground would host. Almost a week ahead of the celebrations, Bangroo says effigies of Ravana,Kumbakarna and caricature of Lanka were prepared with Bamboo sticks and stuffed with crackers. “At 4 PM, the jawans of the state forces would line up to receive Maharaja Hari Singh who would come on a horse, would take the salute and then sit in a specially decorated Shamianawith his cabinet and officials,” Bangroo said. “In the evening Maharaja would host the prominent gentry, his ministers and officials and present a souvenir coin to each of them.”
This ground and many other open spaces were quickly occupied by the Indian army soon after it took control in October 1947. As the city expanded, the government felt the requirement of creating more space for the civilian population.
The first effort was made in 1982 when the army vacated around 21 acres (168 kanals) of the Grounds to pave way for setting up of General Bus Stand Batamaloo. The process was set by Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq and later followed by Mir Qasim and Sheikh Abdullah.
In 1988, well before the onset of militancy, the Army had positively responded to the state government request of evicting the place. Then, it was agreed that army would vacate if it gets adequate land in return. This led the state government identify two major karewas’ located in Shariefabad, near Zainakote and Hanjik,Damodar (near the airport). After the army took the possession of the ‘alternatives’, a new situation emerged.
State government and the Defence Ministry agreed in February 1990 on exchange: for 139 acres (1112 kanals) of Tattoo Ground, they got 212 acres (1696 kanals)at Sharifabad and Hanjik. Even President of India gave his accent. Then the preconditions came from Delhi: get us possession first and then state government will have to pay for the assets army leaves in the Grounds!
By then, the ‘war’ had overtaken both the parties. For the army, it would become easier to manage Batamaloo from Tattoo Grounds which, apart from the housing installations of the army would house ‘transit’ detention and interrogation centre. Utility of Damoderkarewa is already part of the folklore. By 1992, the status of the ‘exchange’ was that of the 1622 kanals that army was in possession of at Shariefabad and Hanjikkarewas, 1073 kanals had actually been transferred to the Defence Ministry formally and the balance 548 kanals was in unauthorized occupation of the Rashtriya Rifles. Angry sections within state bureaucracy had suggested claiming Rs 65 crorerent for the occupation of new land stretches.
The issue was taken up again by DrFarooq Abdullah government after the Kargil war. Fearing the issue might become part of the raging human rights and dispossession debate, which was taking shape then, it was talked about calmly.
Initially, army started saying it never got an alterative to Tattoo Grounds. When the babus’ in civil secretariat started dusting the heaps in their vaults, army changed its stand pinpointing that the ‘alternative’ land was 212 acres less that the area it holds in Tattoo Grounds. It was only proved conclusively in December 2009 by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir that army, in fact, had taken possession of more land in exchange of Tatoo Grounds.
Claims and counterclaims led to revelations about the militarized sizes. Army posses a total of 118 acres (944 kanals) of which 93.20 acres (745.6 kanals) are on left side of Srinagar-Baramulla highway from the Bus Stand to Beminacrossing and remaining 24.14 acres (193.12 kanals) are on left side of the same highway from the rear of Chattabal up to Qamarwarioutskirts. This is the diary form of army.
With the army holding the old garrison and converting the new landed estate into a huge battle infrastructure, the state failed to make a change. Then the “wise men” in the civil secretariat came with a new idea. A high level committee constituted in February 2014 recommended that part of land that army illegally occupies in Gulmarg should be bartered with Tattoo Grounds!
The recommendation was rooted in an earlier exercise by the state tourism ministry suggesting that army was in possession of 305.64 acres in Gulmarg and Botapathri. Of this possession of 130 acres was perfectly legal and balance 175.64 acres blatantly illegal. They had suggested formalizing the illegal occupation to retrieve Tattoo Grounds.
It was in this backdrop that Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed drove to Tattoo Grounds announcing that army has evicted from 17 acres which are being converted into a public park.The government got positive commentary for doing the ‘eviction’, albeit small, quietly without any noise, as was associated with demolition of sand-bagged bunkers earlier.
Secretary Tourism Farooq Ahmad Shah in fact detailed the blueprint of what will be all about in coming days.“It will have a multi-cuisine restaurant, state of the art amusement park, swimming pool, coffee shops, library and hi-tech parking facilities,” Shah said.
It remains to be seen what the state government will eventually do. Will the army get its illegal occupation in Gulmarg formalized or is it eyeing any other spot?
Unable to make anything out of the debate surrounding the Grounds, Taja Begum, a nonagenarian from Downtown, only remembers the days when death would visit even on life-giving days. She has been witness to those events when thousands would throng the Khar Maedan to celebrate the birthdays of Dogra autocrats, which used to be official functions.
“Every year they (Dogras) would celebrate birthday of Gulab Singh, Ranjit Singh and Partap Singh,” Begum remembers. “Lot of people would come as they (Dogras) would distribute rice and clothes on these days to the people. They would call it Ankoot.” The Begum who has witnessed these “celebrations” remembers the casualties taking place. “There would be huge rush for the rice and the clothes and many people would die in the process.”
The Begum does not know that the Grounds might have changed its use but death and life continues to surround it, even today.
An examiner’s wrong evaluation pushed an engineering aspirant to suicide. A re-evaluation posthumously identified the mistake. Syed Asma reports about how peer pressures, systemic failure and parental attitude kicks students to a cut-throat competition, opening doors for their hara-kiri
Depressed, Mohammad Adnan Hilal did not return home. His family rang up every single friend of his, but nobody had any idea about his whereabouts. He was last seen on the footbridge, near Rajbagh, the family inferred. They reported to the police and five days later a corpse was fished out in Safakadal. It was Adnan’s.
His family was shocked. Putting up in Nowgam, basically from Dalgate, Adnan was a beloved son, the oldest, in the family
Schooled at Burn Hall, Adnan secured distinction in his matriculation and aspired to be an engineer. He did not want to waste time in attending higher secondary school, so he decided to join Kashmir Government Polytechnic (KGP), Gogji Bagh and later continue as a lateral entry in an engineering college.
In the very first semester, his dream of becoming an engineer seemed shattering to him.
Days after laying him to rest, Adnan’s father, Hilal Ahmed Gilkar, came to know about the reasons of his [Adnan’s] suicide, and filed for re-evaluation of Adnan’s physics paper. The outcome was shocking. Instead of 28 marks he had secured 48 marks and was topping the semester!
An above average student whose friendly attitude with admired by his classmates, Adnan’s low score was surprising for one and all. “We could never imagine that Adnan will ever score that low and will have to re-appear,” one of his classmates said. Her tears aren’t stopping, though she tried hard. “His result was shocking to us and would have been painful for him [Adnan].”
The “cruel” evaluation process has left Adnan’s parents and fellow students in distress and has compelled them to feel it is not a case of suicide but a “murder”.
In a rare but significant development, the Minister for Information Technology, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports, Imran Raza Ansari, gave surprising details. He identified the evaluator as Mushtaq Ahmad Tiploo, a lecturer at Government Higher Secondary School, Jawahar Nagar. He said Tiploo is declared “deadwood” and would compulsorily retire from his service.
Government’s candid admission in Adnan’s case was received overwhelmingly. But Gilkar asks:“how a regular physics lecture is allowed to check ‘technical’papers of any engineering subject?”
Adnan is not the only one who bore the brunt of a poor system and State Technical Board is not the only case. Almost all academic institutions are lenient in evaluations that have taken toll on the students for years now.
Shazia shares a similar tale. The only difference is that her parents reached the spot on time and prevented her death.
This 19-years-old, presently pursuing her graduation in a city degree college is a commerce student. Schooled in one of city’s top notch institutions, her life took an ugly turn after her twelfth class results were out.
It was winters and she in excitement called her father, “papa come home early, my results would be declared today. I want to celebrate with you.” Shazia was an above average student and used to secure one of the top five positions in her school.
But when the result was out on the JKBOSE website, her result sheet displayed that she is implicated in an unfair means.
The moment she saw it, in shock she fell on the ground unconscious. What followed is giving her parents sleepless nights.Though her parents assert that they do not pressurize her to score more but still, Shazia’s sensitive nature has dragged her into depression. She presently is on medication and regular consultation of psychiatrists.
Interestingly, the Board authorities had lodged an unfair means case against Shazia in a subject she didn’t appear and on a date she had already finished her examination.
Seeing his daughter’s condition, Mushtaq, Shazia’s father, lodged a complaint and BOSE put his case before the Unfair Means Committee. The Committee’s order signed by Assistant Secretary, UFM, KD, reads:
“The student is ‘Let off’ against S. No. 24 [charges of using unfair means].”
That is it!
No apologies and no regrets.
A new certificate was issued in her name where she had secured distinction – 383 marks of 500.
Though Shazia seems to have resumed her normal life and is pursuing graduation but two years on, she has been taking anti-depressants.
Since then, her parents say, she is suffering from a weird phobia of examinations and results. And now is reluctant to go for further studies.
By the time government takes a serious look into valley’s education system, psychiatrists and psychologists advice the parents to rethink about their roles.
Shaista, a Mental Health Counsellor says that parents should take some time each day and talk to their children, as friends and companions! It is a necessity, she asserts.
At Mariam Wellness Centre, Shaista works in collaboration with Help Foundation. Everyday, she counsels a number of boys and girls who, many times, have restored to extreme self-inflicting measures.
Shaista found a common story. Every morning, kids and their parents leave for the school and offices, respectively. After a tiring day, they come back. The kid is busy watching television or with smart mobile phone and so are the parents.
When do they talk to each other?
“The unnecessary busy schedules and little interaction among family members is leading to depression and suicides,” Shaista insists.
Though they say the rate of committing suicides is not alarming yet. Only 2.1% of the population resort to extreme conditions but the cases of depression are increasing at a significant rate.
Minister Imran Raza Ansari (L) in a press conference while disclosing the name of the evaluator.
The pscho-analysts assert that parents need to induce “a factor of patience” in their children. Over the years, practices and patterns of nurturing a child have changed and thus some negative trends in the society are vivid.
Parents should restrain from inducing and encouraging ego of a child, so that they develop a capacity to accept the failures and loss in life.
“Failures are a part of the life but parents, now-a-days, raise a child in such a way that they cannot accept disappointments and failures,” adds Shaisata. “They [parents] provide them with whatever they ask for, even moons and stars but make them accountable wrongly.” The reason a young boy commits suicides for scoring low is that he can’t see his failure. It hits his ego!
Another major reason seen for rise in number of suicides and depression cases is the parental pressure – a pressure to score high.
Dr Nazir Chaudhary, the Medical Superintendent SMHS hospital says most of the cases of young boys and girls reach to them around the times when results are out. “The reasons are obvious…it is the societal and parental pressure to perform better.”
One such case is of Abid. He studies in a private school and never scored below 98% till his eighth standard. His parents, he says, were never happy with him.
“My teachers always praised me for my intelligence but I never got any appreciation from my parents, instead whenever I got my report card I had to skip my dinner.”
His parents would stop talking to him, he says, or even beat him. What changed him and made him disinterested in studies was the day he scored 99%.
“That day I was really happy, he says in excitement, “I thought papa will appreciate but he didn’t. He threw my report card and asked why is it 99 and not 100%?”
Since then he did not attend his classes regularly and does not show much interest in academics. “I would be bashed if I score 70% and would meet a similar treatment if I score 99%. What is the fun?” says Abid.
From past few years he has been complaining of severe headaches and doctors say it is all because of the stress.
Though Abid was good at studies but every child is not.
Parents need to know every child cannot be a topper! The psychologists say that parents and teachers need to know the capacities of an individual child.
There is a percentage of students in every class who are slow learners, they should not be placed in the competition of above average students.
“Each parent needs his ward to be on the top and score 90% which is not possible,” says Shaista, “The parent’s expectation is taking a toll on their ward’s health which they need to notice.”
(Some names in the story have been changed)
KATRA
POONCH
Cell phone is doing wonders. The latest was from a police station where a fat cop was seen literally sitting in the lap of his female subordinate. After the photo leaked to the media, police acted quite fast and placed the services of the cop under suspension. Soon after came another photograph from Kupwara in which cops were helping students in copying during examinations. Within hours, they were suspended. Cell phone is pushing government to do what it ordinarily should have done on its own.
BIJBEHARA
ANTARCTICA
DODA
ISLAMABAD
Shabir Shah
After having been confined to his office-cum-residence, Hurriyat patriarch, Syed Ali Geelani, this week affected some major organizational in the Hurriyat amalgam he heads. In PDP’s ‘Battle of Ideas’ era, Hurriyat Conference has been facing continuous crackdown and the major one when PM Narendra Modi was set to land in Srinagar. However, it did not hamper revamping of the Hurriyat (g) which got shot in the arm when Hurriyat (m) breakaway group joined it. Led by ‘prisoner of conscience’, Shabir Shah, the dispelled members formed another amalgam of Hurriyat Conference before joining Geelani.
As Shabir Shah led Hurriyat (JK) could not last long, Hurriyat (g) framed ‘Misaaq-i-Hurriyat’ for those who want to join it. Shabir Shah made initiative and Geelani announced it in press conference that Shah, Nayeem Khan, Aga Syed Hassan joined him. The trio had left Geelani when All Parties Hurriyat Conference faced division in 2002 over the allegations of some Hurriyat leaders supporting, purportedly, some unionist assembly election candidates.
The swinging of leaders between Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar groups continued and it had many back end pushes as well. There was a time when Pakistan to affected changes. Sensing tilt towards Hyderpora, people made beeline to Geelani.
This time, the joining of new leaders saw some major developments with Geelani announcing Shabir Shah as new Secretary General of the Hurriyat amalgam while incarcerated Masarat Alam Bhat and Gh Nabi Sumjhi will assist him.
While decision was being made public, Shah and Nayeem Khan remain to be under detention.
Born in a middle class business family of South Kashmir’s Kadipora town in district Islamabad on June 14, 1953, Shah’s political career began in 1968 at 14. His father Ghulam Mohammad Shah, who was a Block Development Officer died in police custody in 1989 after being repeatedly harassed by agencies following Shabir Shah’s political affiliations.
Rise of Shah in Geelani group comes when he already faced heat after former Indian spy agent, A S Dulat, revealed in his book how he ‘managed’ Shah at peak of Kashmir armed movement in 1990s with packs of grapes and oranges. Amnesty International called Shah ‘prisoner of conscience’ for having been behind bars for over twenty years..
Shabir Shah
