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  • Heavy snowfall paralyses life in Valley

    Highway closed, train service suspended, air traffic hit, KU, PSC postpones exams
    Srinagar:  Normal life across Kashmir Valley was badly affected due to heavy snowfall since overnight, leading to the closure of crucial Srinagar-Jammu highway, suspension of train services and the air traffic.
    Reports reaching Global News Service said that the Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir received fresh heavy snowfall. A thick blanket of snow covered Srinagar, as tourists staying in hotels and houseboats came out in open to enjoy the flakes of snow. Many tourists and locals were seen hurling snow on each other to express their joy. The snow led to deluging of almost all roads in Srinagar. The heavy snowfall also snapped electricity in many areas including Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of the state. When this report was filed, many areas were reeling in darkness.
    The snowfall also snapped mobile phone and internet connectivity of all but BSNL companies, the sources said.
    The heavy snowfall also prompted the authorities to close the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu highway for traffic as the snowfall has led to slippery road conditions at Digdool, Khooni Nallah, and Panthal, even as the officials of Beacon made hectic efforts to clear the highway. The closure of the highway left at least two hundred vehicles, including passenger vehicles and load carriers stranded on the highway.
    “We have suspended traffic on the highway due to heavy snowfall last night. We have been able to clear most of the stranded vehicles, however, over a dozen vehicles, including passenger buses were stopped at Ramban due to landslides triggered by incessant rains and snow. Efforts are on to clear them,” a senior traffic police official told GNS.
    The continuous snowfall and poor visibility also led to the cancellation of all inbound and outbound flights. The Banihal-Qazigund train service was also suspended due to bad weather conditions.
    A police spokesman in a statement issued to GNS said that despite heavy snow trains serve movement remained operational with minor delays in timings. S.P Railways Shri Mohammad Zaid said that so far three trains viz 7:10 am, 1:28pm and 5:05 pm left from Banihal. Similarly three trains from Baramulla to Budgam viz 8 am, 11:15am and 1:45 pm have reached destination.
    Srinagar, the capital city recorded 1 ft of fresh snowfall till evening, while Qazigund recorded 1 ft, Pahalgam 3 ft, Kokernag  3ft, Banihal 1.5 ft, and Jawahar Tunnel 2.5 ft of snow. The minimum temperate in Srinagar was recorded at  0.0 degree Celsius.
    Gulmarg valley, known as Asia’s Switzerland for its mighty slopes and landscape recorded 1 ft of snow as the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 0.6 degree Celsius. Pahalgam, another famous hill station in south Kashmir recorded minimum temperature of  0.1 degree Celsius.
    Meanwhile, the meteorological department has predicted more rains and snow across Jammu and Kashmir in the next 24 hours.
    “Light to moderate snow/rain would occur at many places in Jammu and Kashmir,” an official of the MeT department said.

    Meanwhile, Kashmir University in statement here said that it has postponed all exams including the PG-entrance examinations 2014 scheduled to be held on March, 11, 12 and 13 . Fresh dates for the postponed papers have already been notified and the rescheduled Date-Sheet is available on KU website www.kashmiruniversity.ac.in. However the venue of the examination centres shall remain unchanged. (GNS)

  • SMC Presses 75 Dewatering Stations into Service Commissioner Tours City

    Srinagar: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) today started a massive exercise to dewater key areas in Srinagar where incessant rains and snow for the past more than 24 hours submerged main roads. Around 75 dewatering stations were pressed into service by the SMC’s drainage division.
    SMC commissioner Dr G N Qasba toured the city today where he assessed the situation arising out of the long spell of rain/snow first hand. He expressed satisfaction over functioning of dewatering stations. “Despite power failure, we have been able to keep all the 75 stations fully operational,” said Qasba.

    The government has spared more diesel generators to ensure smooth functioning.

    The SMC called out more than 200 employees to cater to the needs of people and ensured dewatering is carried out round the clock and important areas are clear of water.

    The commissioner personally inspected the dewatering stations at Daresk Kadal, Court Road, Jawahar Nagar, Raj Bagh, Sonawar, Bishambar Nagar and Maisuma Shorekhan. “Our field staff has been working with full dedication and round the clock at these dewatering stations,” said the commissioner.

    He assured the staff that fuel should be no excuse to stop dewatering. “All pumps should function round the clock. Appropriate fuel will be ensured. We need to attend to the areas where there are serious complaints of water-logging or inundation,” said Qasba.

    The SMC has prioritized areas and cleared most important roads of rainwater to ensure hassle free movement of traffic and pedestrians.

    The commissioner has directed the ward officers and other employees to stay alert and address the people’s problem arising because of rain/snow water. “They should ensure the SMC reaches to needs of all areas and ensure no area faces any major problem,” he said.

    Later, divisional commissioner Shailender Kumar took a review meeting attended by several senior officers, including deputy commissioner Farooq Shah. SMC commissioner apprised him about the dewatering exercise and the ground situation facing Srinagar. 

  • Fake currency racket busted in Kashmir: Police

    Srinagar: Police Tuesday said it arrested 12 members of a fake currency racket operating across Kashmir. 

    “Rs 8,85,000 fake currency has been recovered so far from them,” a spokesman said in a statement. 

    Police said it acted on a tip-off regarding the racket being operated in Srinagar. 

    “One Arshad Ahmed son of Ghulam Muhammad Kaloo of Nehru Park is one of the key operators,” the spokesman said. 

    “Acting on the tip off, police laid a Naka at Badyari Chowk. Arshad was intercepted at the naka and fake currency worth Rs 3,500 was recovered from him after his personal search.” 

    A case FIR No 29/2014 under section 489B, 489C RPC has been registered in Police Station Ram Munshi Bagh. 

    Police said during the questioning of the accused, it was revealed that he had also deposited some fake currency notes in Punjab National Bank, Boulevard Branch. 

    “He confessed to have deposited fake currency worth Rs. 60,000 at Cash Deposit Machine (CDM) of SBI Residency Road Srinagar,” the spokesman added. 

    “Further, it came to surface that the Masood Ul Haq son of Abdul Gani Peer a resident of Khawaja Bagh Baramulla is the main kingpin of the racket.” 

    Police said Masood has been arrested. “Moreover, 12 persons running the fake currency racket and also recovered Rs 8,25,000 fake currency from them.”

  • JK Bank Shares Touch Rs 1550 At BSE, NSE

    Srinagar: Private sector J&K Bank share price while recording an appreciation of 4.6% crossed Rs 1,550 mark on Tuesday. It touched all time high of Rs 1551 on BSE and Rs 1550 on NSE.
    With a remarkable surge of Rs.67.95, the Bank’s share price stood at Rs 1543.80 at BSE and Rs 1542.60 at NSE when the markets closed.
    The share saw a brisk trading of more than 1.80 lac shares during the day.
    Though overall behaviour of the market during the day was reasonably bullish, J&K Bank stocks have put up an outstanding performance, said a market analyst.
    “If you look at weekly charts, the bank’s trading patterns have shown great resilience and are highly positive. This speaks about the market’s confidence in the bank”, he added.
    Notably, Portfolio Manager, PN Vijay, had recently told media that “I have been trying to do some value mining in the public sector bank space which has been hit hard due to fears of bad performing loans. Jammu and Kashmir Bank is not normally on investors’ radar but it is an excellent bank with an excellent balance sheet and growth.

    Some more renowned portfolio managers have been advising investors to look at J&K Bank as a stock to add up to their portfolio. “On the whole, the balance sheet (of the bank) is very healthy by any standards and I would say it is far better than most of the private sector banks”, they said.

  • Mutton dealer held for selling ‘dead’ animals

    Anantnag: Municipal Committee Anantnag (MCA) caught red-handed a mutton dealer for selling meat of dead animals.
    Police sources said that MCA had received information that a mutton wholesale dealer from Shirpora Anantnag instead of dumping the carcasses of dead animals, slaughters them and supplies the meat to retailers.
    Reports said that MCA team soon after receiving the information, raided the mutton dealer’s house at Shirpora, Janglat Mandi and caught him red handed slaughtering dead sheep. MCA team also found scores of dead sheep inside the truck (HR381618) that was parked outside his house.
    MCA team seized the truck and handed over the accused to police. A police official while confirming the arrest of the accused said that they are waiting for the report of MCA and CAPD department. (CNS)

  • Geelani’s health deteriorates again, to be flown to New Delhi

    Srinagar: With fresh snowfall and intense cold having gripped valley, the condition of ailing octogenarian separatist leader has once again deteriorated. This was stated by Hurriyat (G) spokesperson Tuesday.
    “Geelani Sahab has once again complained of pain and ache in his whole body and he is feeling very uneasy,” Ayaz Akbar said.
    The spokesman said that Geelani felt uneasiness during the night.
    He said that though Geelani is a patient of ‘Chronic Bronchitis’ and the unexpected change in weather condition have become a concern for his health and due to this extreme cold, his aliments have increased.
    The central leadership of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Tuesday morning held an important meeting at Hyderpora Headquarters and after the thorough discussion it was decided that Geelani will be flown to New Delhi for further treatment and the medical investigations which were advised by the doctors will also be conducted there and if need arises, he may also be admitted there.
    “After weather improves, he will be taken to New-Delhi for further treatment and for some important medical investigations,” he said.
    Hurriyat has appealed people to held special prayers for the speedy recovery of separatist leader.

  • Youth For Peace And Development ” prays for Syed Ali Shah Geelani Speedy Recovery

    Srinagar: Chairman Rasik Bhat has Expressed its concern on Deteriorating health of Octogenarian Resistance leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and prayed for his Speedy Recovery.
    Organizer Aatif Khan from New-Delhi said: “News Regarding Geelani Sahib’s deteriorating health has caused us a worry.” “Now, we have came to know that his health condition is improving, So we hope he would get well soon to lead the Freedom Movement,” the Organizer added.
    The Statement further said: “People in New -Delhi admire him for his vision and strong Determination. Geelani Sahib symbolizes Kashmir’s freedom movement, however, he has earned respect outside Kashmir also, for which Kashmirs should feel proud.”


  • Government seeks selective ban on net-based services

    Opposes launch of MNP in Jammu & Kashmir 
    New Delhi: India’s security establishment has sought tighter controls on mobile communication in Jammu & Kashmir as part of counter terrorism measures, seeking selective banning of internet-based services on mobile phones and opposing implementation of national mobile number portability in the state.
    According to an internal DoT, the defence ministry has said that militant groups are exploiting the proliferation of internet-based communication , including voice over internet protocol ( VoIP) that allow voice calls to be made over internet networks, and other mobile-based web applications, to communicate among themselves.
    “With militants now increasingly using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) through GPRS connections on mobiles, it is recommended that a case be taken up with the ministry of home affairs and National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) for the interception and selective banning of GPRS services in select militant hot spots within the legal ambit,” the ministry said in an internal communication to the telecom department (DoT).
    Carriers offer GPRS connections to consumers for using internet on mobile phones. It added that though security forces operating have the ability to monitor and intercept communication of the militant groups in affected areas, DoT must implement and deny certain services in those regions which will help counter the militants’ designs.
    The ministry has asked DoT to expedite the process of mobile phone companies acquiring capabilities to track location of calls, which will help in getting real-time intelligence, critical for improving national security . DoT had mandated mobile phone companies to set up location-based services with tracking accuracy of 50 meters nearly two years ago, but mobile phone companies have said that the government should bear the cost – estimated at over $1 billion (about Rs 6,200 crore) – to implement this technology.
    The ministry has also asked the department to share details of audits of bulk-SIMs sold by mobile phone companies with the Indian Army and law enforcement agencies in J&K. It has further sought that the government should not implement national mobile number portability (MNP) in the state.
    National MNP, or full MNP, allows a subscriber to move from one circle to another circle and change the service provider without changing the mobile number. While currently MNP is allowed within a circle, national MNP has still not been implemented.
    “There is considerable spillage of Pakistan mobile signals across the Line of Control into India in J&K (almost up to 20 Kms). This is being utilised by terrorist/insurgents to conduct their operations in the state by circumventing the existing security procedures,” the defence ministry has said.
    It has further asked DoT to take this matter with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and resolve it according to policy guidelines issued by International Telecom Union, a United Nations agency that coordinates telecommunication operations and services worldwide

  • Sikh organisation prays for Geelani’s speedy recovery

    “We hope he would get well soon to lead the freedom movement”
    Srinagar: Dal Khalsa has expressed its concern on deteriorating health of octogenarian resistance leader Syed Ali Geelani and prayed for his speedy recovery.
     Party’s spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh from Amritsar said: “News regarding Geelani Sahib’s deteriorating health has caused us a worry.”
     “Now, we have came to know that his health condition is improving, so we hope he would get well soon to lead the freedom movement,” the spokesperson added.
     The statement further said: “People in Punjab admire him for his vision and strong determination. Geelani Sahib symbolizes Kashmir’s freedom movement, however, he has earned respect outside Kashmir also, for which Kashmiris should feel proud.”

  • All Schools To Remain Closed Today, Tommorow

    Srinagar: All schools in Kashmir including primary, middle, high and higher secondary–shall remain closed on March 11, 12 (Tuesday, Wednesday) in view of inclement weather, official sources told Greater Kashmir.
    Earlier the schools up to middle level were closed for Monday and Tuesday. However, the official sources today said all schools shall remain closed now for Tuesday and Wednesday.