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SRINAGAR, MAY 10: As the prevailing sensitive situation hit badly educational institutions in Kashmir over the past two months, Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has decided that in case of shut down, the Schools would remain open on Gazette holidays as well as Sunday.

Pertinently the institutions have been closed for 32 days since from March this year. The educational institutions were supposed to reopen after winter vacations on March 5, but the government ordered closure of schools and colleges for almost a week, fearing student protests against the killings by government forces.

Sources told News Agency Press Trust of Kashmir that Directorate of School Education Kashmir has decided that in case of shut down, the Schools would remain open on Gazette holidays as well as Sunday.

Sources added that due to the present the present situation school remains closed most of days, now govt have decided to make a change which hits education system in Kashmir.

From last year, government’s move to close schools and colleges is contrary to the stand taken by it during the 2016 unrest triggered by the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 that year. (PTK)

Rawat said the forces haven’t been “so brutal” and asked the Kashmiri youth to look at Syria and Pakistan and see “how they are using tanks and air power in similar situations,” reported Indian Express.

The Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat, in a message to Kashmiri youth, has said that Azadi [freedom] is not possible as “we will always fight those who seek Azadi”, a media report said today.
Rawat said the forces haven’t been “so brutal” and asked the Kashmiri youth to look at Syria and Pakistan and see “how they are using tanks and air power in similar situations,” reported Indian Express.

Gen Rawat, according to the report, expressed concern over Kashmiri youth “picking up the gun” and said they were being misled to believe “this path will bring Azadi”.
“I want to tell Kashmiri youth that Azadi isn’t possible. It won’t happen. Don’t get carried away unnecessarily. Why are you picking up weapons? We will always fight those who seek Azadi, those who want to secede. (Azadi) is not going to happen, never,” he said.
On the number of militants being killed in the gunfights, he said: “These numbers don’t matter to me because I know this cycle will continue. There are fresh recruitments happening. I only want to stress that all this is futile, nothing is going to be achieved by them. You can’t fight the Army”.
Gen Rawat said that he is perturbed by the killings. “We don’t enjoy it. But if you want to fight us, then we will fight you with all our force. Kashmiris have to understand that the SFs (security forces) haven’t been so brutal — look at Syria and Pakistan. They use tanks and air power in similar situations. Our troops have been trying their level best to avoid any civilian casualty despite huge provocation,’’ he said.
“I don’t understand why people are coming out in huge numbers to disrupt our operations. Who is inciting them? If they want that the militants aren’t killed, they should go and tell them to come out without their weapons so that nobody is killed,’’ he said. “Let anyone of them say — mein le kay aata hun (I will bring him out). We will halt our operation.”
He said that the youth by pelting them with stones are “inciting security forces to become more aggressive.”
General Rawat said that he understands that “there isn’t a military solution to this issue”. “This is why we want politicians, political representatives to go into villages especially in South Kashmir to talk to people. But they are scared that they will be attacked,’’ he said. “It will happen once there is calm. And we are hopeful that people will soon realize that all this is futile and start thinking differently”.
The Army chief said he is “ready to suspend” military operations to avoid civilian casualties. “But who will guarantee that there won’t be fire at our men, at our vehicles? Who will guarantee that policemen, political workers, our men returning home on leave aren’t attacked, aren’t killed?’’ he asked.

Srinagar: In view of the prevailing situation the Srinagar administration has decided to shutdown all colleges in Srinagar on Thursday.
Official sources said that apprehending protest demonstrations by the students the government has decided to keep the colleges shut for Thursday. (KNS)

The authorities again ordered closure of higher secondary schools and colleges in most of the districts from April 2 and 7 for the same reason.

The unfavourable situation has badly hit the functioning of educational institutions in Kashmir over the past two months. The institutions remained closed for 32 days since March 5.
The educational institutions were supposed to reopen after winter vacations on March 5, but the government ordered closure of schools and colleges for almost a week, fearing student protests against the killings by government forces.

Four civilians and two militants were killed by government forces in Pahnoo area of Shopian district on March 4 which triggered outrage in Kashmir, forcing the authorities to close down the schools to avoid protests by the students.

The authorities again ordered closure of higher secondary schools and colleges in most of the districts from April 2 and 7 for the same reason.
Class work was again suspended from April 17 to April 21 in higher secondary schools and colleges of Kashmir.
Amid the frequent closures, the government had started to prepare an academic calendar for schools with curtailment in holidays. However, there has been no official announcement so far.
From last year, the government’s move to close schools and colleges is contrary to the stand taken by it during the 2016 unrest triggered by the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 that year.
In 2016 when Kashmir was in the midst of mass uprising, the government was focused on keeping the educational institutions open. However, this year the government is issuing frequent orders for closure of the campuses to avoid student protests.
With more student protests, the government on April 22 this year ordered closure of private tuition centres also.
The government again closed schools and colleges on May 7 and May 8 following the killing of five militants and equal number of civilians on May 06 in Shopian.
During these two months, the Kashmir University postponed its exams 14 times.
The deferment in exams, according to an official in the KU, results in delayed declaration of results.
“Most of our exams are held at college level and when the authorities order closure of colleges we are not able to hold exams,” the official said.
“When it piles up, it causes delay in sessions, delayed results and completion of degrees.”
The official said class work would resume in the varsity from Wednesday and all the exams will be held as per schedule.

Srinagar, May 08: In view of the prevailing situation the state administration has decided to shutdown all the colleges and some Higher secondary schools of Kashmir Valley on Wednesday.
Official sources said that apprehending protest demonstrations by the students the government has decided to keep the colleges and some higher secondary schools shut for Wednesday. However the schools shall remain open. (KNS)

The class work will also remain suspended in all colleges and HSSs of Budgam and Anantnag district while as schools up to class 10th will remain functional, officials said.

The class work in higher colleges and higher secondary schools will remain suspended in various districts of Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said.
The decision has been taken as a ‘precautionary measure’ to avoid law and order situation in the Valley.

Officials said the class work will remain suspended in all the colleges of Srinagar district on Wednesday. In Ganderbal, class work will remain suspended in Government Degree College (GDC) Ganderbal and Boys/Girls higher secondary school Ganderbal as well.
“Rest of the educational institutions will remain functional,” deputy commissioner Ganderbal said.
The class work will also remain suspended in all colleges and HSSs of Budgam and Anantnag district while as schools up to class 10th will remain functional, officials said.
Also, class work will remain suspended in all higher secondary schools (HSS) of Bandipora district, high school Bagh, GDC Bandipora and Sumbal.
“Class work will remain suspended in Degree College Sopore and Pattan besides Boys higher secondary schools of Pattan and Palhallan,” deputy commissioner Baramulla said.
The class work will remain suspended in all the educational institutions of Pulwama and Shopian district, deputy commissioners said.

SRINAGAR: Amid tall claims of directorate of health services of better health care in territory hospitals and PHC’s, a patient at SHD Pattan was provided test report without any samples taken.

Sources told PTK that a patient namely Muzamil resident of Buran Pattan felt some pain in his hand and he was rushed to Sub District Hospital Pattan for checkup under Ticket No 132717 where doctor advised him to make some blood tests.

As per the receipts Muzamil has paid Rs 160 under receipt no 24328, but ironically a laboratory Assistant at the SDH have provided him test reports without taking blood samples.

Sources said that a doctor who treated Muzamil was to see patient with test reports within minutes after he suggested him blood examinations. Adding that after verifying the facts, the doctor came to know that laboratory Assistant has given blood test report without taking any blood sample from the patient.

Sources said that the doctor informed BMO Pattan Dr Masarat Iqbal who immediately issued suspension orders to the Lab Assistant. (PTK)

Says arrested militants involved in killing of three youths at Khanpora

Srinagar, May 7: Police on Monday claimed to have arrested four militants and seven OGWs in separate raids of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

A senior police officer told GNS that the militants and the OGWs were arrested during separate raids by the joint team of SOG Baramulla, 46RR, 53BN CRPF and 52RR of army at Drangbal, Old Town Baramulla, and Sopore.

“During the investigations, it has been revealed that the militants were found involved in the attack on the three youths at Khanpora Baramulla resulted into the killing of the trio on the spot on April 30,” the officer said.

He identified the militants as Nasir Ahmad Mochi, Bilal Ahmad Najar, Aijaz Ahmad Gojri and Nadeem Kalia @ Ustad.

The officer identified the six out of seven OGWs Owais Rashid Bhat, Ozair Ahmad Bhat, Ameen Bhat, Muzamil Bashir, Sharif Bashir Bhat and Nayeem Abdulla.

“A pistol was recovered from the possession of the arrested militants while as an alto car Alto car (JK01J-0010) was seized,” the officer said.

On April 30, bullet-riddled bodies of Asghar Khan, Asif and Haseeb Khan of old Town Baramulla were recovered. Police later blamed LeT militant outfit for killing the trio.

On May 4, a Joint team of baramulla police and 46RR of army had busted a militant hideout and recovered the arms and ammunition which include two AK-47 rifles, Utensils and Blanket at Drangbal in outskirts of Baramulla. (GNS)

New Delhi : The AFSPA, which gives special powers to security forces operating in conflict zones, may be withdrawn from areas where security situation improves, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said today.
Rijiju also said the ongoing Naga peace talks between the NSCN-IM and the government’s interlocutor were being followed up with utmost sincerity and the outcome of the dialogue would be positive, but he refused to give any time-frame for signing the peace pact.

“Since the security scenario in the Northeast has improved in the last four years, AFSPA has been removed from many areas. We are hopeful that with further improvement, it may be lifted from the remaining few areas in the near future,” he told PTI.
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has been completely withdrawn from Meghalaya and partly from Arunachal Pradesh but it is in force in Nagaland, Assam and three districts in Arunachal Pradesh.
The controversial law, AFSPA, which empowers security forces to conduct operations, arrest anyone anywhere without prior notice, is also in force in Jammu and Kashmir. There have been demands in the Northeast as well as in Jammu and Kashmir that the AFSPA be withdrawn completely as the security forces often allegedly use it whenever there is complaints of human rights violation and use of extreme force.
Referring to the ongoing dialogue between the Issak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and the government interlocutor, the minister said the Narendra Modi government was the most sensitive toward the issues of the Nagas and the Northeast.
“The process of Naga talks are being followed up with utmost sincerity. So the outcome will be positive,” he said. Rijiju refused to say anything when asked about the possible dates for signing the final peace accord to bring lasting peace in the insurgency-hit Nagaland. A framework agreement was signed on August 3, 2015 by NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and the government’s interlocutor R N Ravi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The framework agreement had come after over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years, with the first breakthrough made in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed after decades of insurgency in Nagaland which started soon after India’s Independence in 1947.

Srinagar, May 6 (GNS): A teenage youth who was injured critically during intense clashes between government forces and protesters near encounter site at Badigam village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday, succumbed to injuries at SMHS hospital here.

Sources said that Asif Ahmad Mir (17) son of Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Rahomo village in neighbouring Pulwama district, sustained a critical bullet wound during the clashes near Badigam.

He was shifted to nearby hospital where from he was referred to SMHS Srinagar hospital in critical conditions where he succumbed later, they said.

A doctor confirmed the death and said that he had firearm injury on the head.

In the encounter, five militants including top Hizb commander Sadam Padder and KU assistant professor were killed.

The gunfight broke out in Badigam village early today after the joint team of Army, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

A policeman and a soldier of 44 RR were injured in the initial exchange of fire with the militants, reports said. The injured were shifted to 92 base military hospital in Badami Bagh Srinagar.

At least a dozen protesters have been injured during clashes near the encounter site. (GNS)