Vehicular traffic of Srinagar-Leh highway restored

KL News Network

Srinagar

Zojila Pass in this file pic.

The traffic on Srinagar-Leh highway was Friday restored after remaining suspended for over two days due to heavy snowfall, traffic officials said.

With the improvement in weather, traffic was allowed to move from Drass on the 434 kilometre highway, they said.

Around 2 feet snow had accumulated at Zojila pass after which the authorities closed the highway for vehicular traffic as a precautionary measure.

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In Jammu Rasheed seeks support for ‘plebiscite’

KL New Network

Srinagar

File Photo

On his first visit to Jammu after the J&K High Court ordered the government not to restrict his movement, incumbent Langate MLA Er Rasheed Thursday alleged that “communal forces” were trying to create religious and regional division in the state.

Addressing a presser, Rasheed said, “People of Jammu will have to understand that Kashmiris are not seeking any resolution of the dispute on religious grounds but everybody treats J&K a political dispute and wants plebiscite on both sides of the LoC, including Gilgit and Baltistan.”

He appealed the people of Jammu not to see everything through a “communal prism” and join hands with Kashmiris for a permanent resolution of Kashmir dispute so that sufferings of the state comes to an end and durable peace returns to the sub-continent.

Rasheed asked traders, employees’ union and civil society groups to extend support to the Valley against what he claimed “repression of the state.”

“I want to ask the people of Jammu, especially traders and employees, that when you have to get benefits you align with Kashmiri counterparts why don’t you extend support to people when they are facing repression at the hands of security forces and the government,” Rasheed said.

Rasheed accused BJP MLA from Nowshera Ravinder Raina of being involved in a series of attacks on him in the Jammu region. “Rather than booking Raina, the government had put restrictions on his movement in the Jammu region for disrupting communal harmony.”

“The Nowshera MLA had threatened me several times and labelled me a Pakistani agent. He should have been booked by the authorities but nothing was done. I am thankful to the High Court which has lifted the ban on my movement put by the PDP-BJP coalition government,” claimed Rasheed.

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Dooru Killing: The Police version

KL New Network

Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir Police Friday morning issued a statement about the Dooru shootout in which, a local, Sajad Ahmad Malik was killed on Thursday.

The statement is being produced verbatim for the interest of readers:

On 1.12.2016 at about 1720 hrs an accused person namely Sajad Malik @Bita Malik decamped with an AK rifle along with one magazine from Police Station Dooru.
After firing some shots near the market, and taking advantage of the darkness he managed to escape towards Zamalgam.

On way near Cherikari he fired towards an army patrol. The fire was retaliated.

In the exchange of fire Shabir Malik got killed. The deceased was a released militant and a history sheeter, who was already arrested in militancy cases in various Police Stations.

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Two days disaster preparedness and management workshop organized in Shopian

KL News Network

Sheikh Hilal

Police today organized a two days workshop on “Disaster Preparedness and Management” in Degree College Shopian. The objective of the programme was to create awareness about disaster mitigation and management and sensitize the need for disaster preparedness in educational institutions.

The seminar began with welcome address by DySp (DAR) Tariq Ahmed. The inaugural function was attended by Deputy Commissioner Shopian G M Dar, Prof. Showket Ali Bhat, Principal Degree College (Shopian), AdSp Ifroz Ahmad, SHO Shopian, officers of Fire and emergency services, doctors, social workers and a large number of students.

While speaking on the occasion SSP Shopian Tahir Saleem Khan, stressed upon the need for having a disaster management apparatus in the form of a proper structure, system. He also pointed out the need to develop a multi-pronged strategy depending upon the type, level and complexity of the disaster situations.

“Kashmir is prone to all kinds of disasters like fire, earthquake, and snowstorms, floods etc.,” said Khan, “So it is need of the hour that we should be prepared to deal with them.”

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Meanwhile NIT returns to classes, Raj Bhawan reveals

The security bandobast in and outside NIT Srinagar after cricket controversy. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)

KL News Network

JAMMU

Prof A R Dar, Director, National Institute of Technology Srinagar (NIT), has informed governor N N Vohra that class work was resumed with the commencement of classes for B Tech 1st Semester from November 28, 2016.

As per the NIT’s report Phd and M Tech classes are also proceeding smoothly; classes for B Tech 7th semester are scheduled to commence from December 15, 2016 and those for 3rd and 5^th semesters from January 1, 2017; students of 3rd and 5th semesters have in the meanwhile, been undergoing internship/practical training and students of 7th semester have been working on their final year project and seminars.

NIT has taken various steps and made arrangements for resumption of academic work, which include provision of adequate facilities for heating in the classrooms and hostels; adoption of on-line teaching with e-lectures uploaded on the website of the Institute. To compensate for the time lost due to the unrest it has been decided to cancel the winter vacation and to observe a 6 day instead of the usual 5 day week. All holidays have also been cancelled.

Mr. Baseer Ahmed Khan, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, who had been asked by the Governor to provide all required support for NIT to resume full academic functioning has taken a series of meetings and has informed the Governor that Chief Engineer EM&RE Kashmir shall make the required arrangements to provide uninterrupted power supply to NIT through a dedicated powerline.

The Raj Bhavan spokesperson recalled the Governor’s continued concern over the irreparable damage suffered by students at all levels due to the recent unrest in the Kashmir Division. He has been stressing on the crucial importance of the required steps being taken most expeditiously to compensate the loss of studies and for the pending examinations in colleges and Universities. In this context, in the past weeks Governor had taken several meetings with the Minister for Education, the Vice- Chancellors of the Kashmir based Private, State and Central Universities and NIT.

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Frustrated parent of a DPS boy pens a painful note

Delhi Public School Athwajan

SRINAGAR

“My son is a student of Delhi Public School (DPS), Athwajan, Srinagar, fortunately, that has become an unfortunate eventuality of my life as a parent. This is because DPS seems to care little for the safety and sanity of its students and more about its own concealed agendas. I say so because:

One, I was in a state of disarray yesterday after an SMS from the school announced that the school would start regular class work from December 3. It sounded confusing in the backdrop of the verbally transmitted message by DPS teachers and coordinators that the final term exam would be a “home exam” – an exam to be conducted at home with the parent as the invigilator.

We were asked to collect question papers on December 1, and submit the same from December 10 to December 24.

Got it! No.

Well when students are attending to their final exams at home, how would they be able to attend school and vice versa. I guess DPS has its own reference text to LOGIC.

Students could go insane!

And, ha!, when the school coordinators are asked what the kids are supposed to do in the school since they are attending to their “home exam” which may well take up to December 24, to complete, they tell us that some “entertainment” has been organized for them. Entertainment. Exams. Enquiry!!! I could have the laugh of my life.

Two (as in more important than one), the school was shut for more than four months. It was not advisable (read possible) for buses carrying students to shuttle under the imminent threat of attacks (you know the nature). Then, the school itself faced a threat (well a “good” number of schools have gone up in flames). That was sensible.

Now the school announces that REGULAR CLASSWORK WILL START FROM DECEMBER 3, and everyone here knows that the situation is volatile enough even though it might have gone “subterranean” due to “extreme measures” taken by the state administration thus thrusting volatility underground which can explode anytime of the day. The buses and the school is vulnerable and that means our children are face to face with a life threat. Now what kind of parent would put his or her child into a life threatening situation? The school does not care about this and merrily announces “regular school work”.

I was figuring that only our children have grown sloppy staying home all the time owing to the turmoil. But now I am convinced that DPS administration has also gone berserk under the circumstances.”

(The piece was written by a parent who says he is frustrated with the way his kids are being handled by their school at his cost. The parent wishes to stay anonymous.)

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J&K Bank committed to business, CEO Parvez tells trade

File pic: Parvez Ahmed, J&K Bank Chairman and CEO

KL News Network

SRINAGAR

Since the bank’s growth is intertwined with the growth of the state economy, we stand committed to all-round development of economy, J&K Bank CEO and Chairman Parvez Ahmad told trade delegations on Thursday.

“We remain committed to promote and support every sector as per its requirements and meet all your genuine expectations as the premiere financial institution of the state,” bank’s spokesman quote Ahmad saying.  Delegations from various trade bodies had called on him at corporate headquarters.

The delegations included Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) led by its President Bashir Ahmed Rather, Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers & Dealers Union headed by its Chairman Bashir Ahmad Basheer, Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association led by its Chairman Ghulam Rasool Siah and J&K Entrepreneurs Development Association led by its president Shakeel Ahmad Magray.

“For now, we are here only as custodians of trust and loyalties that you have placed in this institution but you are its permanent stakeholders. And in order to keep this institution healthy and vibrant, we shall always welcome your criticism as well as appreciation,” Ahmad told while welcoming the delegation. “Customer service remains our top priority and there will be no compromise on this.”

Besides appreciating the role of J&K Bank in the growth and development of the state all the delegations raised various issues which were promptly responded to by the Chairman and his senior management team.

Regarding the common concern of deferment in loan repayments, raised during all the meetings, Chairman informed the delegations that the bank has already proposed the re-structuring of loan accounts to Reserve Bank of India and is awaiting response from them.

However, he expressed hope that the RBI shall consider the proposal favourably as the state government has already strongly recommended the case to the RBI for favourable consideration. Responding to one of the issues related to horticulture and agriculture, he said,

“Horticulture/agriculture contributes around 25 pc to our state GDP and we will definitely work to expand our financial foot-print in the much needed infra-structure in this sector which includes grading parks, Agri-clinics, testing labs and CA Stores.”

While responding to the query of staff shortage at various business units of the bank, the chairman assured that the recruitment list that is expected to come out very soon shall address to the issue.

Interacting with the delegation of entrepreneurs, Chairman assured that the bank shall provide them all the support required for their encouragement and sustainability.

On the occasion, he directed the concerned heads to close gaps, if any, in the implementation of schemes related to the budding entrepreneurs down the line.

He also directed the concerned to dedicate an email for grievances faced by the start-ups for their speedy disposal.

During these meetings the members of all the delegations made several valuable suggestions, which were duly taken note of for further consideration by the concerned heads of the departments on the occasion.

The delegation of houseboat owners association was informed that the NOCs for all their adjusted accounts shall be issued after a fortnight.

Earlier all the delegations congratulated Parvez Ahmed for assuming the highest chair in the bank and assured him of complete support and cooperation on all issues of mutual and collective interests.

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