Srinagar: Army on Monday used IEDs and rockets to blast Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) building where a gunbattle is underway since early morning.
Witnesses said that flames and smoke were seen billowing from the EDI building following the sound of IED blasts.
Three militants are believed to have taken cover inside the building.
An army soldier and a cop have been injured in the gunfight so far.
Srinagar: Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir(DHSK) in collaboration with Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), in its continuous effort to reach out to cancer patients of the valley at their doorsteps,performed 5 cancer surgeries today at District Hospital Anantnag. This is for the first time that such advanced surgeries have been performed in South Kashmir. Since the inception of MoU between Department of Surgical Oncology, SKIMS and DHSK, number of advanced cancer surgeries have been performed across various peripheral hospitals of the directorate and in that context today District Hospital Anantnag took a lead.
The operative team included Dr. Altaf Gauhar Haji (HOD, Department of Surgical Oncology, SKIMS), Dr. Sheikh Zahoor, Dr. Ab Waheed, Dr. Ab Bari, Dr. Mudasir, Dr. Imtiyaz and Dr. Vishal. The team from SKIMS was assisted by Dr. Malik Azad, Dr. Altaf Wani, Dr. Firdous Ahmad, Dr. Salman Khurshid, Dr. Mohammad Shafi, Dr. Firdous, Dr. Nadeem Rashid, Mr. Akhter Hussain, Mr. Mukhtar Ah Shah, Mr. Mohd Maqbool, Mr. Ab Hye, Mr. Ghulam Rasool, Mr. Zubair Ahmad, Mr. Bilal Ahmad, Mr. Manzoor Ahmad and Mr. Irshad Ahmad. The logistic support was provided by the hospital administrator Dr. A Majid Mirab. The patients who were listed earlier were operated today for breast cancer, thyroid cancer, Parotid carcinoma and colorectal cancer.
Director Health Services, Kashmir congratulated the whole team and expressed his gratitude to Director SKIMS Prof. Dr. A G Ahangar and Department of Surgical Oncology, SKIMS. He stressed upon the significance of such pilot initiatives as by such advances cancer patients who are indicated for surgeries get treated at their doorsteps, without having to travel long distances and at the same time eliminates the burden of waiting for months together to get treated, keeping in view the heavy rush of the patients at tertiary hospitals.He reiterated the need to work in tandem with SKIMS and emphasized the significance of such initiatives, which will surely go a long way in promoting quality healthcare services to the patients in their respective districts.
Srinagar: Parents whose wards are enrolled in DPS Sangam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Monday alleged that school authorities are ‘blackmailing’ them, to mint money.
They alleged for class 9 students’ registration, school is charging exorbitant fee than the prescribed by Board of School Education.
“The school authorities are denying to forward registration of students of class 9th to the BOSE who fail to pay tuition of fee of past three months,” they alleged.
“How can we deposit the fee when the schools remained closed? We have not earned during these months,” they said.
They alleged that school authorities have turned an education institution as commercial hub, to loot the public.
“With such kind of happenings, the school administration is putting the career of students at stake,” they said.
They appealed concerned authorities to intervene in the matter and act under law.
Despite repeated attempts, DPS Principal didn’t receive the call to have comments over the matter.
Refuting allegations, School principle told KNS that School management will not take any measure that would cause any sort of injustice to students or their parents. (KNS)
Srinagar: Reiterating the partys commitment to strive for the socio-economic growth and development of the people of the state as envisioned by late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to expedite and augment the efforts for political stability and sustainable peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a meeting of top party functionaries, Ministers and Legislators of Central Kashmir here, the party General Secretary Mohammed Sartaj Madni said that PDP has a proven record of providing responsible government, addressing the governance deficit and reforming the financial structures keeping in view the global standards.
“PDP has a proven track record of creating an enabling environment for the promotion of businesses, commerce, tourism and creating avenues of meaningful and respectable employment opportunities for our educated youth,” he said.
He said while the state of Jammu and Kashmir is faced with many challenges, the government headed by Mehbooba Mufti is working on series of reformative measures to empower the people of the state as was done by late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.
Madni said the party believes that socio-economic up-liftment and empowerment of the people forms the very basis for any forward movement towards any political resolution.
“Financial and economic independence gets people out of the shackles of misery and agonies which have been forced upon people due to political short-sightedness,” he said.
Espousing the dream of late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for the development of Srinagar city, the senior party leader, Nizamuddin Bhat said that the Srinagar city being the epicenter of economic activities, upward social mobilization, and engine of cultural reinvigoration will get a focused attention by the incumbent government.
“Mufti Sahab would always term Srinagar as the heart of J&K and worked to give this historic city a new outlook. Endeavours of turning Srinagar into a smart city are afoot. By dovetailing craft, heritage and tourism this government is committed for generating livelihood projects for its people,” he added.
Bhat hoped that peace will soon return through various endeavours including the resolution of all issues and these dreams of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will hopefully become possible.
Besides others, Senior party leaders Gh Nabi Lone Hajura, Hon’ble Minister; Naeem Akhter Hon’ble Minister; Asiea Naqash Hon’ble Minister; Syed M Altaf Bukhari, Hon’ble MLA; Mohd Ashraf Mir, Hon’ble MLA; Noor Mohd Sheikh, Hon’ble MLA; Abid Hussain Ansari, Hon’ble MLA; Anjum Fazilli, Hon’ble MLA; Mohammad Khurshid Alam , Hon’ble MLC and District President Srinagar, Saifudin Bhat, Hon’ble MLC; Muntazir Mohiudin , District President Budgam; Bashir Ahmad Mir, District President Ganderbal; Qazi Mohammad Afzal , Waheed ur Rehman Parra, Youth President; Senior Leader; Dr Mohd Shafi Wani, Senior Leader, Ab Hameed Kosheen, Senior Leader; Er Nazir Yatoo, Senior Leader; Zone Presidents, Mudasir Amin Khan, Ali MOhd Wani, Showkat Ahmad Bhat, Ab Rehman, Mohd Jaffar Lone, Bashir Ahmad, Mohd Shafi Mir, Abul Hassan Bhat, Ab Hamid Dar, Mohd Ashraf Dar, Shakeel Ahmad and Zahoor Ahmad were also present in the meeting. (KNS)
Srinagar: A day after Board of School Education authorities said that it is ready to listen to the “genuine grievances and demands” of students, scores of students Monday submitted representations in BOSE, urging it defer planned exams till March 2017.
The students have cited various reasons in their representations, for seeking deferment of examinations for class 10 and class 12.
“It is not only passing of examinations that we are studying for. We want to attain education and knowledge, clear basic concepts of the particular topics, that will help us in higher classes to understand advanced chapters,” reads one of the representations, submitted by one of the student groups.
Another group of students told KNS that they also visited BOSE office today to submit a representation. “We didn’t find there anyone. We will visit it again tomorrow to submit it,” they said.
Students, in their representation have mentioned that “Concession is not solution as it would only reduce number of topics to be covered for examination. However, in contemporary world, the real power lies in having clear concept of basics. Therefore, students should be given more time, till March 2017, so that they would attain knowledge and will sit in examination in March without any hesitation.”
Another group of students have urged BOSE authorities to consider the fate of those students who are presently lodged in various police stations or detained under public safety act.
“You (BOSE authorities) are aware about the prevailing situation. You know that hundreds of school going children, including students of class 12 and class 10 have been maimed and blinded in forces action,” it reads.
“It is in the interest of students at large that you defer exams till March 2017 so that those injured students have time to recover from injuries and sit in exams while those in different jails could get bail from courts,” it adds.
BOSE chairman didn’t respond to the repeated calls to have comments on the matter.
However, one of the officials, wished not to be named, said he was unaware about submission of any representation by the students.
“If there is any such representation, the authorities would look into that,” he added. (KNS)
Srinagar: Newly appointed Chairman and CEO of J&K Bank Parvez Ahmed today said there was no comparison between J&K Bank and other private banks expanding their base in the valley.
He said this in reply to a question how he sees the competition between private banks coming to the valley and J&K Bank. He said, “Don’t compare oranges with apples,” he said.
“The J&K Bank has a monopolic character and has dominance across the state. No bank can compete with us when it comes to our work,” he said.
Parvez was addressing his first press conference as the J&K Bank top boss. He said the bank is passing one of the most worst and critical phases it has ever gone through, but hopes he has a team of capable people who know how to handle such situations. He said even if the bank continues to face different challenges in the form of increasing NPA, but it won’t stop recruitments.
“We will continue employing people. We are the second largest employer in the state after the government. We will continue providing job opportunities to the qualified youth,” said Ahmed.
He also revealed that they are seriously thinking over the inception of Islamic Banking, but for that they just need the nod from RBI.
Ahmed admitted that there have been complaints coming about the “not good behavior of bank employees”, but added that in the days to come there will be visible changes on the ground even if for that they have to train their employees about how to deal with the customers. “If customers face such problems, they should immediately reach to us,” he said. (PTK)
Beijing: In a veiled reference to India’s efforts to declare Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist, China on Monday said political gains should not be pursued in the name of counter terrorism.
China also suggested that India was displaying “double standards”.
“There should be no double standards on counter-terrorism. Nor should one pursue own political gains in the name of counter-terrorism,” China’s Vice Foreign Minister Li Baoding said here without naming India and Pakistan.
He was speaking at an interaction with reporters ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to India for the 8th BRICS summit in Goa.
Last week, China again decided to extend “technical hold” to declare Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar – accused of plotting the Mumbai and Pathankot air base terror attacks – as a terrorist.
Beijing earlier too scuttled India’s bid at the United Nations.
On Azhar, China says India and Pakistan should have talks on the evidence which New Delhi which claims to have about his role in plotting the killings in India.
On the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Li said Beijing was ready to discuss New Delhi’s entry into the 48-member bloc.
However, he reiterated China’s role alone was not decisive in admitting India into the elite grouping which regulates global nuclear trade.
“These rules are not to be decided by China alone. On the issue, China and India have maintained good communication and we are ready to continue consultations with India to build consensus and we also hope India can go to other members of the NSG as well,” he said.
In June, China opposed India’s bid to enter the NSG in its plenary in Seoul, saying India was not signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. IANS
Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday hit out at militants for targeting the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), saying the ultras don’t want young Kashmiri boys and girls to stand on their feet.
“All the EDI ever did was to train young Kashmiri boys and girls to stand on their own feet and not seek government jobs. Militants don’t like that!” Omar tweeted.
The militants on Monday attacked the EDI building in Pampore for the second time this year with the first attack taking place in February.
“No wonder for the 2nd time this year they have attacked the institute.They want young Kashmiris to be subservient and bitter not self-reliant,” Omar added.
Two to three militants are believed to have entered into the building of Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) in the wee hours.
Militants had targeted the EDI building in February this year as well.Two soldiers, including an officer, a civilian employee of the Institute and three militants were killed in that operation that lasted 48 hours. PTI
Srinagar: Authorities today clamped curfew in 11 police station areas of Srinagar as a precautionary measure in view of the eighth day of Muhurram, even as complete shutdown is being observed across the Kashmir valley.
A police official said the police station areas in which the curbs on the movement of people have been imposed are Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal, Maharaj Gunj, Maisuma, Ram Munshi Bagh, Kralkhud, Shaheed Gunj, Karan Nagar and Batamaloo.
The traditional Muharram procession used to pass through these areas, but has been banned since eruption of militancy in 1990.
Meanwhile, normal life remained affected for the 94th consecutive day in the rest of the Valley following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with forces on July 8.
The unrest, which has claimed 94 lives and left thousands of others injured, is in its fourth month as shops, business establishments, petrol pumps and educational institutions remained closed, while public transport continued to be off the roads. PTI
Srinagar: A group of two or three Militants is firing at security forces from inside a government institute in Pampore, 15 km from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. An army soldier is reported injured. Parts of the building suffered damages in a fire.
The information being shared here is delayed so as not to jeopardize the security forces fighting the Militants.
The Militants entered the building, which was also targeted in a major attack in February, at 6:30 am. The seven-storey building has more than 50 rooms.
Sources said that Militants who broke into the institute in the morning approached the campus on the outskirts of Srinagar through boats on the River Jhelum, which flows in Pakistan. The Militants then set sections of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) hostel building on fire to lure security forces. When they arrived, a major gunbattle broke out. Explosions were heard since the morning.
“We are confident of neutralising the Militants as soon as possible,” an army officer supervising the operation said.
Intel agencies have been warning of terror attacks in retaliate on for the surgical strikes conducted by India across the Line of Control two weeks ago. Soldiers raided staging areas in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir where Militants were waiting to cross the border and attack major cities, the army has said.