Srinagar: Normal life activities resumed across the Kashmir valley as the two-day “relaxation” began today, five days after the first such “relaxation” during the past over four and a half months of the current unrest.All market places here and in other towns across the Valley opened since early morning while roadside vendors had also set up their vends and handcarts in the major market places. There was moderate to heavy rush of customers in the markets all over in major towns leading to an increase in the vehicular movement on the roads. There has been a gradual increase in the pedestrian and vehicular movement over the past few weeks, indicating an improvement in the overall situation in the Valley.With the “relaxation” in separatists’ protest calendar, the movement of public transport, including buses and taxis on the city routes and inter-district roads, has been on the increase. The authorities have also lifted ban on Internet services, which had been imposed since the ongoing trouble was triggered.While the attendance in government offices has been normal with an improvement in the situation, educational institutions have suffered heavily, affecting the academic session. However, the annual examinations of Class X and XII are underway and the higher classes are also going to hold exams by next month.Separatists Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have been jointly issuing weekly protest calendars since the trouble started following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8. The current unrest has completed 141 days during which at least 89 persons, including two policemen, have been killed and over 12,000 others injured in the clashes between the protesters and the police forces. (TNS)
Category: Union Territory
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Night temperature to dip in coming days
Jammu: Though Jammu is still experiencing a dry spell, night temperature is likely to dip during the next few days.The minimum temperature is likely to remain at 9°C while the maximum temperature will hover between 24-25°C next week.As per the weekly forecast released by the Agrometeorology Division of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture University (SKUAST-Jammu) though the weather will remain partially cloudy, the minimum temperature is likely to dip in coming days.The weather, especially the rainfall during the winters in the region, is dependent on the western disturbance but in the recent years it’s getting delayed thus aggravating the problems of farmers during the rabi season. According to weather department officials, strong western disturbance still eludes the region, which has resulted in non-formation of low pressure areas, resulting into the prolonged dry spell. (TNS)
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Jamia Masjid holds Friday prayers after 20 weeks
Srinagar: Friday congregational prayers were today allowed at the Jamia Masjid for the first time since unrest began in Kashmir in the aftermath of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani’s killing in an encounter with security forces in July. The Friday prayers were allowed at Jamia Masjid after 20 weeks.However, the attendance of devotees was thin as the people from adjoining localities only were not able to reach the grand mosque due to non-availability of public transport in view of the strike.The prayers were last offered at the mosque on July 8, the day Wani was killed, as the authorities apprehended law and order problems after the weekly prayers.No Eid prayers were offered at the grand mosque for the first time in nearly two centuries, as the last time it was closed was in 1821.However, with the improvement in the situation, the prayers were allowed today.Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who usually delivers sermon before the Friday prayers, was under house arrest and not allowed to visit the mosque.In the absence of Mirwaiz, Imam Moulana Ahmad Syed Naqshbandi delivered the Friday sermon and strongly condemned the dictatorial authorities for banning people from offering Friday prayers at the mosque.Immediately after the culmination of the prayers, a group of youth assembled outside and took out a march towards Rajouri Kadal but were intercepted by the security forces, leading to clashes, a police official said. (TNS)
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To compensate students’ loss, schools may cut short winter vacation
Srinagar: The state government is considering reducing the winter vacation in the Valley this year to compensate the losses faced by the students due to five-month-long unrest.Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Aijaz Ahmad Bhat said due to five months of loss in regular classes, the regular work of students would continue till December-end.“For now we will try to keep the schools open at least until the end of December for all classes or till the weather allows us. For students of IX to XII we may continue the classes in winter months to compensate the losses,” the official said.He said the department would ensure proper heating arrangements in the schools for the higher classes for whom the classes would be held during the winter months.“Things will also depend on the weather. So far, there is no decision on winter vacation,” he added.The schools in the Valley are shut since July 9 following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. The shutdowns called by separatists’ leaders for more than four months now have not exempted schools from closure. The students have not been able to attend their classes except for the two days last week when the Hurriyat group led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani gave two-day full relaxation in the protest calendar.With the improvement in the situation, the government as well as private schools have slowly started holding classes.The Private Schools Association Kashmir (PSAK) led by GN Var has also urged the government not to announce winter vacation without taking in confidence private schools and the parents.“We cannot have more holidays and I assure you proper heating arrangements in the private schools. We will continue the classes till weather allows us,” Var said.In normal situation, the schools in the Valley remain close for three months in winter from December 15 and open during the first week of March. However, this year in wake of the unrest the government is trying to find ways to compensate students’ loss. (TNS)
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IAS toppers fall in love, storm Internet
Tina Dabi, Athar Aamir Khan plan to get engaged, undecided on wedding date
Srinagar: Young bureaucrats Tina Dabi and Athar Aamir Khan, IAS toppers from the 2015 batch, are storming the Internet after announcing on Facebook that they are “in a relationship”, which in all possibilities is heading towards a marriage.Dabi, topper of the 2015 IAS exam, and Khan, who stood second, made a public announcement of their relationship on Facebook and it has been liked by more than 10,000 followers and friends of the duo.Over the past month, the duo has shared their pictures together, hanging out and holidaying. In one picture shared on Facebook of Dabi, the duo is holidaying in Amsterdam, Netherlands.In another, Khan has settled his gaze at Dabi. “And then I can’t take my eyes off her,” Khan has written as the caption. The duo, according a report, is planning to get engaged, though have not decided on the wedding date yet.Their love blossomed in a sarkari set-up when the two met for a felicitation function on May 11. Khan from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district is the third Kashmiri to secure a place in the first three ranks in Civil Service Exams. Khan, 23, is an IIT graduate. Dabi from Delhi made history by becoming the first-ever Dalit girl tio top civilservices exam in her very first attempt.The couple is currently undergoing a foundation course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy for Administration in Mussoorie. (TNS)
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Will ask Modi to solve Kashmir crises, says kickboxing champion Tajamul Islam
Srinagar: The 8-year-old world Kickboxing champion, Tajamul Islam on Wednesday said she would meet Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and will urge him to address the pain and agony of Kashmiri people.
Talking to KNS correspondent here at Bandipora, Tajamul Islam said, “I will meet PM sir and will urge him to find a solution in normalizing the situation in Kashmir. Let us see how much PM loves me.”
Meanwhile, she said, “I am happy that my parents, coach and others are feeling proud of me. Several people prayed for my win and it’s because of their pray that I won the gold medal,” she said.
She said that she will continue to play and will secure her position again in future. “I will continue to play on national and international levels upto 18 years and thereafter will go to Olympics and will hopefully win there as well,” she said.
Meanwhile, Tajamul Islam’s coach, Fasil Ali said that she made him proud. “She achieved the goal what I was aspiring to achieve in my life. I am feeling proud to have a student like her,” Ali said.
He said that he hope that she would continue to win in the future as well.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Sajad Hussain while congratulating Tajamul Islam for winning the gold medal said that they will focus on this game and will flourish it in Kashmir.
Reports said that the district administration on Tuesday organized a felicitation ceremony at mini-secretariat for Tajamul who recently won gold medal in world kick-boxing championship held in Italy.
They said that Tajamul Islam was nominated as brand ambassador National Health Mission for district Bandipora. (KNS) -
Hold exams before year-end: Guv
Jammu: Governor NN Vohra today discussed with Education Minister Naeem Akhter and Vice-Chancellors the need to make the institutions of higher education, including universities, NIT and colleges, functional in the Kashmir Valley. The meeting was held at Raj Bhawan here.PK Tripathi, Principal Secretary to Governor; Dr Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir; Prof Nazeer Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-K; Prof Mehraj-ud-Din, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir; Dr Asgar Samoon, Commissioner /Secretary, Higher Education Department; and Prof Ajaz Hussain Mir, Dean, Faculty Welfare, NIT, Srinagar, also participated in the meeting.Expressing serious concern over the irreparable damage caused to the education sector due to the recent unrest in Kashmir, the Governor reiterated the importance of the steps be taken to compensate the loss of studies. He emphasised the need for holding pending examinations in colleges and universities before the year-end so as to ensure that the students do not lose an academic year.Akhter informed the Governor that the exams of Classes X and XII had commenced with more than 95 per cent Valley students appearing in these. He said the admission to new classes in all schools shall be completed by November 25 and extra classes would be held during the winter.The Commissioner, Higher Education, said the colleges had issued notices to students for attending classes from the next week. He also said the colleges had uploaded the instruction material for the uncovered portion of the syllabus on the website of Kashmir University as well as on that of some colleges.The Governor urged Akhter to review the infrastructural impediments for timely resolution.A Raj Bhawan spokesman recalled that the Governor had on August 31 and September 14 held meetings with Akhter which were attended by all Vice-Chancellors and others to discuss issues relating to reopening of schools, colleges and universities in the Valley. In the meetings of the University Council of the Kashmir University and SKUAST, Kashmir, which were held in October, the Governor had reiterated the need to work out an action plan for required steps to be taken to make up for the loss of working days and to fix the revised schedule of the delayed examinations at all levels.During the discussions, the Governor and the minister called upon the Vice-Chancellors to devote close attention on bringing about improvement in the quality of education at the college and university levels. The Governor noted that J&K would be left behind on all fronts if it failed to urgently focus on the voids in the entire educational system.The KU Vice-Chancellor said he had held a meeting of the principals of colleges in the Valley on November 19 wherein it had been decided to conduct exams. The college principals have been asked to ensure completion and submission of registration record of their students within five days to the registration section of the university.The SKUAST, Kashmir, VC said the counselling for filling up of 456 seats in respect of undergraduate degree programmes was held in two rounds on September 7-8 and on October 15. The VC of Central University of Kashmir said the semester examination for various undergraduate programmes had already commenced and completed by the middle of December.
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Currency ban has failed in its purpose: Omar Abdullah
Doda: Former Chief Minister and senior National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the main motive of the ban on high value currency notes to curb terror funding has not been fulfilled as two fresh Rs 2,000 notes have been seized from two militants who were gunned down today.Omar said, “The purpose to ban Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes was to stop terror funding. It has failed in it as two freshly minted Rs 2,000 notes were found on the two militants who were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Bandipora.”Addressing a huge gathering at Doda, Omar said, “After the government decision to scrap high value currency notes, I have not seen any rich person standing in a queue for money. Wherever I have gone, I have seen common people in distress standing in long queues for hours for their own money.”Omar was on a three-day tour of the Chenab region.
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College students want more time to prepare for exams
Srinagar: The students of undergraduate courses of the University of Kashmir (KU) are demanding more time for preparation as the authorities have scheduled the exams in the November-December.University officials said as the students had not been able to attend classes for the past four months, the university had uploaded e-tutorials on its website for all courses from where the students could study for exams.“There will be no relaxation given in the syllabus as the students have been provided with study material. They have time till the last week of December to prepare,” said a university official.For the winter zones of Kashmir, like Ladakh and Kargil, the university had already come up with the date sheet as the exams were scheduled to commence at the end of November, he said.The students in the Valley whose classwork have been affected for the past four months said it was difficult for them to prepare the full syllabus in such a short time.“Earlier the university notified that exams will be conducted in February and March but now the sudden decision to hold exams in December with full syllabus will be difficult for us. The university should give us some more time,” said a final-year student from Amar Singh College, Srinagar.The university Vice Chancellor, Khursheed Andrabi, held a meeting with all the heads of colleges on Saturday to decide about the holding of exams. The official said the decision to conduct exams in December instead of earlier notified dates in March was taken in the interest of the students so that their next academic year was not affected.“We have taken into consideration the larger interest of the students. The exams of postgraduate courses have also been notified,” said the Dean, Academic Affairs, University of Kashmir.The official from the varsity said the opening of classes regularly in the university would entirely depend on the situation and the relaxation provided by separatists.The university has also notified the date sheet for some postgraduate courses. (TNS)
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More security companies sent to South Kashmir
‘Security has been strengthened in view of increase in militant attacks’
Srinagar: The security forces have decided to intensify anti- militant operations in south Kashmir as reportedly three more companies have been sent to South Kashmir.
Sources told KNS that security forces had halted anti-militancy operations in Kashmir in view of the unrest. “Most of the militants are active in South Kashmir. Three more companies have been sent to South Kashmir to eliminate all militants there,” a top security official said. “Main role of these companies is to eliminate militants and will be assisted by other security forces operating there,” he added.
Official sources said that the anti-militancy operations in South Kashmir districts were “put on hold” in view of protests. “The anti-militancy operations were put on hold for the safety and security of civilians,” sources said.
A police official said security forces have been put on high alert in view of increase in militant attacks. “Security forces are is effectively dealing with law and order problems, protests and stone pelting effectively, without use of any lethal force, despite severe provocation and grievous injuries to security men,” he said.
“All CRPF Camps have been alerted and security has been strengthened and troops have been briefed to be ready to deal with any unforeseen law and order problem, without use of lethal weapons.”
Police have also launched a crackdown on people who disturb law and order in the Valley.
Fearing arrest scores of youth have left their homes to evade the arrest. A police official said the police was collecting the CCTV footages and details across the Valley from other sources to identify the people involved in destroying the public property. Police has also established helplines in the police control rooms of the respective districts for the general public who wish to inform regarding the “harassment by hooligans, stoppage and disruption of the traffic by miscreants, damage/arson of the traffic by miscreants, damage/arson to the public property or obstacles erected on roads/bylanes”. (KNS)