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Srinagar: The Kashmir valley will see another day of rain showers tomorrow as per the Meteorological department forecast, and the weather will improve from Saturday.
MeT officials told KNS that weather will improve from June 24 (Saturday).
“Tomorrow, rain showers will occur intermittently in the valley,” a Met official told KNS.
The valley has been witnessing intermittent and moderate rainfall from Tuesday, with the temperature dipping across, giving reprieve to the people in Ramdhan. (KNS)

Srinagar, June 20: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said that doctors in Kashmir lack training in medical ethics.

Describing it as an essential component of patient care, President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement said that doctors are not taught medical ethics during their training.

Medical ethics are moral principles in the practice of medicine to which a physician has an obligation.

Kind words, compassion and empathy have an equal hand in cure as much as medical competence does.

But this need is often not met.

Patients leave hospitals dissatisfied as doctors do not spend time in talking, listening and more importantly hearing them.

They are increasedly irritated by the non-committal attitude and professional distance they encounter.

You might have healed their physical illness, but hurt in their feelings by the interpersonal treatment they receive.

A medical student only learns how to diagnose diseases, but never learns moral principles.

Any treatment can be undone in just a few moments by the physician’s wrong attitude.

Teachers have to be role models to shape the ethics of medical trainees, but students often observe them treating patients with shocking contempt.

Patients recover their health simply through their contentment with the goodness of a physician.

No matter how competent a doctor is he/she cannot be a good doctor unless he/she is a caring person.

While the subject of medical ethics is given prime importance in all medical schools of the world, but in Kashmir it is completely ignored.

As a result, there is deteriorating doctor-patient relationship and increasing conflicts between doctors and patients relatives.

Inclusion of formal ethics training in medical schools has been identified as an important step by which the need for ethical behavior can be reinforced and faith in medical profession can be revived.

AMID THE swirling unrest in the Kashmir Valley, thousands of sturdy pine trees speak for the passion and commitment of a 51-year-old man from Batamaloo in Srinagar to a cause that is far from the spotlight. Abdul Hamid Bhat’s mission is to plant trees across Kashmir, which has witnessed large-scale deforestation especially in the rural areas. Over the last nine years, says the automobile businessman, he has helped plant over one lakh trees, mostly pine, across the Valley with his own funds.

So much so, that in these parts they call him Rahim Greens, after his father Abdul Rahim who “owned a big chunk of land on the outskirts of Srinagar and always spoke about the importance of trees to the environment”.

“My passion towards trees started over a decade ago. I had an office at Barzulla where the state government had planted dozens of pine trees on the pavements and left them unattended. Initially, I used to take care of them. At the time, I used to distribute diaries and calendars to my clients and officials to promote my business. It was then that the idea struck that I should, instead, started distributing saplings. I realised that for the cost on one diary and a calendar, I could get six-seven saplings. Soon, others started encouraging me and some volunteered to help me distribute saplings,” says Bhat.

“Many people have also offered financial help, but I raise all the funds for plantation from my own business. I don’t believe in crowd-funding or taking money from the government or NGOs. Every year, I spent Rs 2-3 lakh on trees,’’ he says.

Such is his love for trees that outside his plush office at Rangreth Industrial Estate, Bhat has planted rows of pines that have changed the landscape of what is essentially a hub for manufacturing units. “I am planting trees of different varieties. I see this as a common man’s social responsibility,’’ he says.

Bhat then pulls out pictures of a large, green patch in Satheran village on the foothills of the Tosamaidan forest range in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. According to him, the deforestation here coincided with the start of militancy in 1989, when villagers felled thousands of pine and kail trees nearby and the adjacent forest.

Until a few years ago, says Bhat, many households in Satheran owned a horse and an axe and engaged in timber smuggling, which had become a lucrative trade. “After the government start tightening the noose, local volunteers and environmentalists sought my assistance. With the help of local villagers and local volunteers, I have planted more than 5,000 trees in this area. Now, all these saplings have turned into young trees,” he says.

Today, the children of those who were involved in timber smuggling in Satheran are part of Bhat’s plantation drive. “It gives me great satisfaction when I see former timber smugglers and their children helping us plant trees. Many have left smuggling and now earn their livelihood by doing other jobs,” he says.

Initially, Bhat says, he planted trees on a “small scale”. “The first massive exercise began in 2010, when I planted almost 20,000 trees in different parts of Kashmir. To reach far-off places, I took help from the National Service Scheme (NSS), local volunteers and students of different schools. Initially, I used to get pine trees from the Forest department for Rs 2 each and chinar free of cost, now the rates have touched Rs 15 and it takes another Rs 15 for transportation and other expenses for each sapling,’’ he says.

In some villages, Bhat has distributed walnut trees to help the local economy. “Walnut trees are not only good for the environment but also generate good money once they mature,” he says.

According to Bhat, the consequences of deforestation in Kashmir have been disastrous.

“It was due to heavy deforestation in the upper reaches that the Kashmir had to face massive floods in 2014. Earlier, it used to take days for rain water to reach Srinagar, but after deforestation, the water fills our big rivers and water bodies within eight or nine hours. A good plantation in the upper reaches can save us from this natural disaster and environmental problems,’’ he says.

And so, between April and May every year, he is busy chalking out programmes with local schools and volunteers for his plantation drive. “My motto is to educate the new generation about the environment. I prefer plantation drives with students because for them, these trees become personal souvenirs,” says Bhat, a school dropout.

As for Bhat, the biggest joy is to find a sapling planted by him turn into a fully grown tree. “After planting trees, I return to those locations to see them. Now, I even see trees in my dreams,’’ he says.

Srinagar: Meral Kathwari, a 22-year-old Kashmiri girl, is taking the journey of her late father forward by expanding his carpet business and using technology to reach every corner of the globe.In the early 1980s, Meral’s father Tariq Kathwari started a carpet business in the Valley at Srinagar’s posh Polo View market when the situation was peaceful.“I was born in New Delhi and moved with my parents to the US when I was four, a move prompted by my severe asthma. There was less pollution in the US and I was getting better care and treatment living in Santa Fe, New Mexico,” says Meral, who is a communication professional. “Eventually, my dad moved back to Kashmir for business and my mom and I stayed in the US,” she adds.After high school in New York, when Meral’s health was better, she made visits to the Valley to spend time with her father and help him in his business. But after his death in 2014, things changed for Meral.After her father’s death, Meral started receiving messages from his many customers and suppliers around the world encouraging her to take the business ahead.“He had a unique eye and brought a lot of different design concepts to the Valley, which he picked up from his world travels,” says Meral, who considers Kashmir her roots and home.“I was torn between two careers, but I thought to myself, why can’t I fulfil both and use each to its advantage? That’s what I’ve been doing for the past two years,” says Meral, who spends her summers in the Valley when it is the peak season for business. The advantage for Meral unlike many was that her father’s business was already well established when he passed away.“His work and designs have been shown in museums and international art shows around the world. However, he didn’t have much of an online presence,” says Meral, who used her communications skills to develop an online website to drive sales and get more recognition from her father’s customers.Being a communication student, Meral uses social media and the Internet to expand the brand name and increase sales. “We get a lot of sales and clients through social media,” she adds.Meral says there is an incredible market for Kashmiri rugs overseas but its sells even more if the designs are modern and pleasing. “The design is usually what catches the attention of the international client first. I’ve continued to grow the brand and export to different countries around the world. I didn’t want to lose our workers,” she says.It has been difficult for Meral to carry on the business in Kashmir but she says it has been worth the efforts. “I was doing things which other kids of my age weren’t. If I’d get a break from school, I’d travel back to Kashmir, even if it was just for five days, to check up on everything. I would liaison with my workers from the US through WhatsApp or other online platforms,” says Meral, who has been using the Internet to check on the activities at her showroom.“Our carpets, kelims, and handmade chain stitch rugs are made in sustainable environment. My dad chose quality over any other aspect in his business and because of this, his rugs are able to weather a lifetime,” says Meral.Meral started the business when she was 20 and it is the dream of her father that she was to carry on.

Tribune News Service

Srinagar: The police have asked the security forces deployed in Srinagar to be on an alert and take “immediate preventive measures” after intelligence inputs suggested that militants are planning to carry out attacks in the city.Three senior police officers confirmed the alert had been issued. The alert, marked “top secret” and “urgent,” was issued by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir zone.However, it was leaked on social media sites, which a senior officer said could have happened by mistake. “It is a routine alert which is issued from time to time,” IGP, Kashmir, Muneer Khan, told The Tribune.However, the contents of the message suggested that police had a detailed intelligence input that an attack was imminent. The inputs had revealed that movement of militants was observed in downtown Srinagar — the densely populated old city.The alert came when there has been a spurt in incidents of violence in the Kashmir valley during the recent weeks. Just a few days ago, 14 persons, including eight policemen, three militants and three civilians, were killed in separate attacks.Though most of the militant activity has remained limited to south Kashmir, central Kashmir’s Budgam and Srinagar district are also registering a spillover effect. Srinagar, which the security agencies had once described as a zero-militancy district, has re-emerged on a militant map as four local youths have joined the militant ranks in recent months.Sources in the police said presence of some local militants had been traced in Srinagar in recent days and the latest alert may be linked to their activities.The inputs, according to the communique, revealed that militants planned to carry out grenade attack and indiscriminate firing on “security forces, camps, establishments and deployments”. The alert, issued on Saturday, also specified that the attack might take place in Srinagar’s Noorbagh, Nowhatta and Eidgah areas “within next two days.”It also asked security forces to take “immediate preventive measures” and develop the input to “track and neutralise these operatives.”

Srinagar: Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani on Sunday termed the alleged “terror threat” to the upcoming Amarnath Yatra as a “calculated move aimed at maligning and discrediting the political struggle of Kashmiris.”

“I denounce misinformation campaign carried out by biased Indian media. People in Kashmir while continuing with the age-old tradition of providing best hospitality to pilgrims have always been friendly and generous to visitors and particularly to Amarnath pilgrims,” Geelani said in a statement.

Elaborating, he said that Amarnath yatra is being conducted for decades and the people here have treated the pilgrims with unique hospitality and received them as their guests.

“However, adverse propaganda has been launched by Indian media wherein they are propagating that Amarnath yatris are facing threat from people of the state. Terror threat to the upcoming Amarnath yatra is a blatant lie aimed at maligning the Kashmir movement,” he said.

“Kashmiris are not against any religion or its followers. They are pursuing a legitimate struggle for their fundamental rights. People for the past seven decades are demanding right to self-determination to decide their political destiny,” he said.

“Fanatical forces are desperate to give bad name to freedom movement and as such are relying on negative propaganda and following their fanatical dogma,” Geelani said.

Blaming “sectarian forces” for “communalizing the situation,” Geelani said: “It is a deceit and a well-planned ploy to carry out their mysterious agenda against people in the state.”

Strongly ridiculing “Indian media,” the APHC (G) chairman said: “India is trying to mislead its people and international community by negative and baseless propaganda.”

“Indian media is working on the directions of the ‘Zafrani’ Brigade and their fanatical sponsors. These fanatical forces are relying on lame excuse and preparing ground for communal tension against Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir and as such are rhetorical about so-called threat warnings against Amarnath pilgrims,” he said.

“People should make Amarnath pilgrims aware about the reality of the freedom struggle of Jammu and Kashmir while continuing with the age-old tradition of providing best hospitality to pilgrims.  Agencies, saffron brigade and India’s biased media are providing misinformation round-the-clock about so-called threat situations in Kashmir and our freedom struggle,” he said.

“Now they have launched a misinformation campaign saying that people in state have ill-intentions against pilgrimage and Yatris,” he said.

Referring to people’s uprisings in 2008, 2010 and 2016, he said “Even in those gloomy circumstances, people despite restrictions and curfew received these Yatris with open arms and provided shelter and food.”

“It is our age-old tradition and in future we will follow this tradition with same spirit and receive these Yatris as our revered guests,” he said.

Kashmir is a political issue, Geelani said, and stressed upon visitors to feel the pain and see the issue through the prism of humanity.  “The issue has nothing to do with extremism or fanaticism. There is no threat to Yatris. I urge them to present the real picture of our struggle before Indian people and aware them about the historical background of this dispute,” Geelani said.

Srinagar: The escalation in militant attacks on Jammu and Kashmir police personnel is because of the “frustration” of the militants, Director General of Police S P Vaid said here today, asserting that necessary measures would be taken to prevent them from carrying such acts. 

“We will take necessary measures. This is the frustration of the militants. Whether a militant is killed or a civilian or a cop, it is the Kashmiri who dies. The bloodshed will not take us anywhere, it is only the murder of humanity,” the DGP told reporters here.

He said the militants were targeting the local police as it was fighting them with eagerness. 

“The local police works on the anti-militancy front with eagerness, that is why they (militants) are targeting them (police). But I am sure that we will control this soon,” the DGP said. 

Earlier, Vaid led civil, police and security forces’ officers and jawans at DPL Srinagar in laying floral wreaths on the mortal remains of the constable Shazad Dilawar Sofi, resident of Ashtengoo village of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, who was killed in firing by suspected miitants on high security Airport Road in Hyderpora quarter of the city Thursday night. 

The DGP termed the constable’s killing as “murder of humanity and Kashmiriyat”. 

“This is the murder of humanity and Kashmiriyat, for which our neighbouring country is using our people for its geo-political purposes,” Vaid said. 

He said the cop and a youth killed allegedly in security forces’ firing in Rangreth area of city were related to each other. 

“They are cousins, belonging to the same family and the same village. That is why I am saying that the people here are being used as pawns,” the DGP said. 

Asked about militants warning of attacks on policemen, the top cop said, “We will face that (challenge)”

Srinagar: Bodies of the three Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, including its top commander Junaid Matoo, who were killed in an encounter with the police and security forces in Arwani area of Kulgam, have been recovered from the encounter site.Mattoo’s name was in the 12 most wanted militants list issued recently by the Army. He carried a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head and was wanted in many cases.

A police spokesman said acting on specific information, the police, along with 1 Rashtriya Rifles battalion and 90 Bn CRPF, launched an operation in Makro Mohalla of Arwani on Friday.”During the operation, militants present in the area fired upon the search parties with automatic weapons. The fire was retailated, and an encounter started.When the encounter was on an unruly mob instigated by the militants started pelting the security forces with stones  with the intention of disturbing the operation and giving a chance to holed-up militants to escape  Some of the militants also fired from within the crowd indiscriminately on the security forces engaged in the encounter.In the cross-firing some people were injured. The injured were shifted to hospital. Two civilians later succumbed to their injuries,” the spokesman said.Locals, however, claimed that the two protesters were killed by security forces when they were trying to march to the gunfight site.The militants killed in encounter have been identified as Junaid Matto, Nasir Wani and Adil Mushtaq Mir. Arms and ammunition, including AK rifles, magazines and grenades, have been recovered from the site.”Junaid, a notorious militant, was the district commander and was involved in a number of terror activities. He was involved in the killing of a police constable at Bogund in Kulgam on June 15.  He was involved in the Mirbazar police party attack where police official Mehmood was martyred.He was also involved in the killing of an ASI and a constable near Anantnag bus stand last year,” the spokesman said.He said Nasir Wani and Adil had joined militancy last year.When the anti-militancy operation was underway on Friday, militants of Lashkar ambushed a police vehicle in the neighbouring Anantnag district, in which six cops, including a Station House Officer (SHO), Achabal Feroz Dar, were  killed. There are speculations that the attack might have been carried out in retaliation to the killing of Mattoo.J&K Director General of Police SP Vaid said militants fired at the policemen from a close range.”The close range firing disfigured the faces of martyed policemen,” Vaid told the Tribune.  “The militants escaped with five rifles,’’