25 December 2015

SRINAGAR | 25 December 2015 | 13 Rabi ul Awwal 1437 AH Vol: 3 | Issue No: 306 | Pages: 08 | Rs 3/- 

FRIDAY 

3rd 

PRECIOUS KASHMIR 

http//www.preciouskashmir.com | email: preciouskashmir@gmail.com 

VDC terror continues 

Mother-son duo KILLED as member opens fire in Rajouri 

Statement of 

Dy CM emboldened 

VDCs: KCSDS 

Rajouri, Dec 23: A mother-son duo 

died after a member of Village defence 

Committee (VDC) allegedly opened 

fire on them in Rajouri district of Jammu 

and Kashmir, said an official. 

A news agency reported that the 

VDC member Mushtaq Ahmad, son of 

Mohd Sharief R/O Mohra Dhaveen village 

in Budhal area of Rajouri district 

opened fire upon the woman and her 

four-year-old son after barging inside 

her kitchen at Samote village today 

morning. 

“In the firing incident, the duo 

sustained serious bullet wounds”, a 

news agency reported, adding that 

the injured were immediately shifted 

to nearby Sub-district hospital Budhal 

for treatment. 

However, doctors present there 

declared both of them as dead on arrival, 

they said. 

The deceased have been identified 

as Mother –son as Shamim 

Akhter (35) W/O Mohammad Din and 

Tawheed Ahmad (4). 

Meanwhile, concerned Station 

House Officer (SHO) Kuldeep Raj Sharma 

while confirming the incident told 

GNS that they have seized the weapon 

of the VDC member while a special 

police team has been constituted to 

arrest the absconding accused. 

“A case has been registered and 

the cause of the incident is being ascertained”, 

the officer said. 

Following the killing of motherson 

duo, the locals of the area took to 

streets and staged massive protests 

and demanded strict action against 

the VDC member. 

When reports last came in, the 

strong protests were going on in the 

area. 

Pertinently, On December 20, 

a youth national conference leader, 

Ishtyaq Ahmed Choudhary (26) S/O 

Fakir Mohammad of Kesar Gala was 

shot dead by VDC member Kewal Kumar 

Sharma in Potha village of Kalakote 

Tehsil of Rajouri district. 

Precious Kashmir News 

Srinagar, Dec 24: Asking Coalition 

Government especially 

to his party to disband Village 

Defence Committees without 

any delay, senior People’s 

Democratic Party politician 

and legislator Rajouri Qamar 

Hussain Thursday said that 

Village Defence Committee 

(VDC) members are “more 

lethal than terrorist organizations” 

and the members of all 

the Committees need to be 

disarmed. 

Qamar Hussain said that 

VDC members are targeting 

Gunfight in 

Bandipora, 

body recovered 


Srinagar, Dec 24: Police and 

army have recovered body of an 

unknown person, suspected to be a 

militant, near Saderkote Balla area 

of Ajas in north Kashmir’s Bandipora 

district on Thursday. 

Reports said that army’s 13 RR 

and SOG launched cordon-andsearch 

operation in dense bushes of 

Doodhwan area of Saderkote Balla 

around 3:30 pm. 

“Few gunshots were heard in 

the area around 4:15 pm. However, 

it was not immediately known 

whether there was any firing from 

the militant’s side,” they said. 

“Later in the evening, the joint 

team of forces recovered the body 

of an unknown person at Doodhwan”. 

Meanwhile, a police officer 

while confirming the incident told 

GNS that a brief gunfight broke out 

in the area. 

“So far an unknown militant 

has been killed and search operation 

in the area is going on”, he said. 

Earlier reports said that suspected 

militants lobbed a grenade 

on forces in North Kashmir’s 

See Gunfight on Pg 6 

VDC, military mafia of 

communal forces: Geelani 


PDP lawmaker asks Govt to 

disband ‘terror militia’ 

civilians and due to their “unholy 

and illegal acts”, people 

have been feeling insecure. 

“Being the representative 

of the people of Rajouri and 

being the part of the government 

it is my prime duty to 

impress upon the government 

to disband these committees 

which are turning out 

to be terrorist bands,” he said. 

MLA Rajouri said that he 

is not talking about the Hindu 

members of VDC. “Both Muslim 

and Hindu members of 

these committees should be 

disbanded. Majority of the 

people in the Chenab Valley 

are opposing the continuation 

of these ‘terrorist’ committees. 

People are the ultimate 

source of authority and 

the government must listen 

to public and disarm all the 

members of these committees,” 

he said. 

When asked Deputy 

Chief Minister Nirmal Singh 

is not in favour of disbanding 

VDCs, Qamar Hussain said 

that an individual is not the 

sole authority. “I will organize 

a press conference and will 

keep the point of view of my 

people who support me. I 

See PDP on Pg 6 

Got success in reducing influence 

of IS among youth: Parrikar 

Basohli, Dec 24: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar 

today said the Centre has achieved success 

in reducing the influence of militant outfit Islamic 

State (IS) among Indian youth. 

“We are trying to reduce the numbers (of 

youths getting attracted towards the ideology of 

the IS) and we have achieved success in it,” Parrikar 

said when asked about influence of the IS on 

the Indian youth. 

He was talking to reporters after inaugurating 

the first cable-stayed bridge on Ravi river at 

Basholi in Kathua district situated on Dunera- 

Basholi-Bhadharwah road. 

On a query related to alleged involvement of 

army personnel in a suspected espionage case involving 

Pakistan’s spy agency ISI, he said “we had 

to tighten the security (intelligence) which we 

have already done”. 

In the light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 

two day visit to Russia and the impending defence 

deal, Parrikar said that India’s relationship with 

Russia is not new. 

“We have never been away from Russia. Our 

relationship with Russia on the old contracts (Defence) 

were already there. 

Though new contracts were less but now they 

are taken care of,” the Defence Minister said.Parrikar 

dedicated the first cable-stayed bridge of 

north India in Kathua district to the nation today, 

which will provide close connectivity between 

the three states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal 

Pradesh and Punjab. 

Flanked by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh 

Srinagar, Dec 24: Expressing deep 

sorrow and surprise over the refusal 

of senior BJP politician and deputy 

chief minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, of 

disbanding the VDCs and relating 

this “terrorist group” with the political 

party, All Parties Hurriyat Conference 

led by Syed Ali Geelani said 

that VDC is a “military mafia of the 

selected communal forces” 

“The terrorist members of VDCs 

are involved in murders, robbery, 

kidnappings, rapes, drug trade and 

other serious and grave crimes and 

reckoning these criminals with the 

political party is a non-sense thinking 

and it is an attempt to hide the 

criminal face of these communal 

forces which is in no way acceptable 

to us,” Hurriyat Conference (g) said 

in a statement Thursday evening. 

Reiterating its demand of immediate 

disbanding of this “illegal 

force”, Hurriyat Conference (g) said, 

“the statement of Nirmal Singh vindicates 

our stand that Mufti Mohammad 

Sayeed is just a show boy 

and the state is actually ruled by 

Nirmal Singh Ji.” 

Terming the statement of Dr 

Nirmal Singh regarding VDCs as 

“childish and ridiculous”, Hurriyat 

(g) statement added, “No 

See Geelani on pg 6 


Srinagar, Dec 24: Awami Ittihaad 

Party (AIP) chief and 

MLA Langate Er Rasheed 

while condemning the brutal 

incident of Rajouri where a 

lady Shameema Akhtar and 

her four year old minor kid 

Tawheed Ahmad were shot 

dead by a Village Defence 

Committee (VDC) member, 

said that all levels of “tolerance 

have been crossed by 

these state sponsored terrorists”. 

“The incident comes after 

Dy CM Nirmal Singh rejected 


Srinagar, Dec 24: Kashmir based civil 

society group, Kashmir Civil Society 

for developmental Studies (KCSDS) 

Thursday expressed grief over the 

“continued barbarity” of Village 

Defence Committee (VDC) members 

in Jammu Region. 

“VDCs are emboldened by the 

fascist statement of Nirmal Singh 

that the government is not going to 

disarm and disband VDCS which is 

actually a government sponsored 

militia to terrorize and brutalise an 

entire community of Muslims in this 

region,” a statement issued by KCSDS 

said this evening. 

A woman and her 4 year old child 

were shot dead by a VDC member in 

Rajouri early this morning. 

“The death of Ishtiyaq Ahmad 

Choudhary earlier in the week has already 

put spotlight on the continued 

existence of VDCs in Jammu region 

which has been using its arms to subdue 

the Muslim community which is 

against all norms of justice and equity 

in the so-called democratic country,” 

the statement said. 

KCSDS takes strong exception to 

the “VDC culture” and demands the 

immediate disarming of VDCS and 

dissolution of village defence committees. 

“Its existence has led to an 

unequal relationship between communities 

because out of nearly 27000 

VDC members, only 4 percent are 

Muslims. To keep Muslim community 

at the mercy of this armed gang this 

force has deliberately been created to 

make Muslims subservient to Hindus. 

See KCSDS on Pg 6 

Govt’s denial to disband 

responsible for two more 

killings: Rasheed 

disbanding of VDCs. His statement 

was enough to provoke 

these terrorists to kill the innocents 

in Rajouri and 

See Govt on Pg 6 


Anantnag, Dec 24: A sub divisional 

police officer and his 

personal security officer were 

critically injured in an attack 

by militants Thursday noon in 

Bijbehara in Anantnag district 

in south Kashmir. 

Police has identified the 

injured cop as Deputy Superintendent 

of Police, Irshad 

Ahmad Rather. 

Rather and his police team 

was deployed for Milad procession 

in the town when militants 

opened fire at the police. 

The two cops have been 

referred to SMHS in Srinagar, 

where from they were shifted 

to Army’s Badami Bagh Cantonment 

Hospital for further 

treatment. 

Police sources said that 

the unidentified militants attacked 

the police party at Sadar 

Bazar in Bijbehara town. 

Immediately, after the attack 

police and other security 

forces cordoned off to search 

for the attackers. 

Hizbul Mujahideen has 

claimed responsibility for 

and Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag, Parrikar today 

inaugurated the cable stayed-bridge on river Ravi 

at Basholi situated on Dunera-Basohli-Bhadharwah 

road. 

The Basohli bridge is fourth of its kind in India. 

The other three cable-stayed bridges are, Hooghly 

Bridge at Kolkata, Naini Bridge in Allahabad and 

Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link in Mumbai, officials said. 

With the completion of the bridge, connectivity 

and tourism between the three states will 

improve. 

The work on the maiden cable-stay bridge of 

the state was started in September 2011 on the demand 

of people of Basohli where over 22 villages 

were submerged in water and evacuated to other 

places after the construction of Ranjit Sagar dam. 

The 592 metre span bridge is being constructed 

by Border Roads Organization (BRO) at the cost 

of Rs 145 crore. It is a joint venture of IRCON a Railway 

Company and SP Singla Construction group. 

Out of 592 metre span bridge, 350 metres is 

cable-stayed while rest is plain bridge. 

“A typical cable-stayed bridge is a deck with 

one or two pylons erected above the piers in the 

middle of the span,” officials said, adding, “The 

cables are attached diagonally to the girder to provide 

additional supports.” “The pylons form the 

primary load-bearing structure in these types of 

bridges. Large amounts of compression forces are 

transferred from the deck to the cables to the pylons 

and into the foundation,” they said. 

The officials said these bridges have a low center 

of gravity which makes them efficient in resisting 

earthquakes. 

“Cable-stayed bridges provide outstanding 

architectural appearance due to their small diameter 

cables and unique overhead structure,” they 

added. 

“The peculiarity of this bridge is that the main 

span and back span are balanced by cable and this 

bridge has been designed by Canadian Company, 

Infinity Engineers. IIT New Delhi had approved the 

design of this bridge,” they said. 

Nearly 300 tonnes of specially designed cables 

are needed for the bridge which are being 

procured from Japan and Spain, they said. 

“The span layout is symmetric (121 metre–350 

metre-121 metre) with pylons positioned 

at the top of the river banks. 

Two inclined cable planes splay outwards 

from each pylon in a semi-fan configuration, 

See Parrikar on Pg 6 

Journalism With A Human Heart 

Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) 

celebrated with religious fervor 

Thousands throng Hazratbal to have glimpse of Holy Relic 


Srinagar, Dec 24: Amid chilling 

cold, Muslims community 

all over Jammu and Kashmir 

celebrating Eid Milad-un- 

Nabi (PBUH) with religious 

and traditional zeal and fervor 

on Thursday as thousands 

of devotees thronged revered 

Hazratbal shrine here to have 

a glimpse of the Holy relic. 

The streets and corners were 

decorated in connection with 

the celebrations of the birth 

of Prophet (PBUH). Special 

rallies and ceremonies were 

held in all over the stste in 

which thousands of people 

participated while reciting 

Darud Sharif. 

Thousands of people had 

reached the shrine Wednesday 

evening to participate in 

the night long prayers at Hazratbal 

Srinagar and to have 

a first glimpse of Holy relic 

that was displayed after Fajr 

(pre-dawn) prayers. Devotees 

gathered at the shrine to offer 

congregational afternoon 

prayers and to have glimpse 

of holy relic. The shrine was 

pleasantly decorated. 

The devotees got emotional 

and raised their hands 

DSP, among two 

cops injured in 

Bijbehara attack 

Inaugurates first 

cable-stayed bridge in JK 

the attack. 

In a tele-statement, HM 

spokesman Burhan-u-Din 

claimed that its militants 

carried out the attack on the 

police. 

Meanwhile, Director 

General of Police (DGP), K. 

Rajendra Kumar along with 

IGP (Kashmir Zone) SJM Gillani, 

DIG (South Kashmir), Nitish 

Kumar and SSP Srinagar, 

Amit Kumar visited 92 Base 

Army Hospital Badami Bagh 

this afternoon and enquired 

about the welfare of SDPO 

Bijbehara, Irshid Ahmed 

Rather. Rajendra enquired 

about the condition of the 

injured officer and discussed 

the treatment being provided 

by the doctors of the Hospital. 

The team of doctors apprised 

the DGP about the treatment 

of the officer and discussed 

the future course of action. 

The DGP asked the Doctors 

to provide best possible 

treatment to the officer and 

offered every kind of assistance 

from the Department 

for the speedy recovery of 

the injured officer. 

Day 2: Chadoora protests 

over WSS continue 


for prayers reciting Quranic 

verses and Duroods while 

having the glimpse of holy 

relic of Prophet Muhammad 

(SAW) after Zuhr congregational 

prayers. 

Special arrangements 

were put in place by Traffic 

Police for smooth movement 

of people to and from the 

shrine. Besides private and 

public transport, State Road 

Transport Corporation (SRTC) 

had made arrangements for 

ferrying devotees. Divisional 

administration had made arrangements 

of security and 

other necessary facilities. 

Various religious, social, 

business and political organizations 

had erected banners 

on roads and shops outside 

Hazratbal shrine, greeting 

people on the occasion while 

local traders decorated the 

markets and announced discount 

on various items. The 

devotees, who had gone for 

night long stay and those 

who reached the shrine at 

afternoon prayers expressed 

satisfaction over the arrangements 

made by Waqaf Board. 

Vice-Chairman Waqf Board 

told CNS that they had made 

special arrangements for the 

devotees to ensure smooth 

conduct of congregational 

prayers. 

See Fervor on Pg 6 

Mufti 

admitted 

to AIIMS 

Srinagar Dec 24: Jammu and 

Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti 

Mohammad Sayeed was admitted 

to All Indian Institute 

of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) 

on Thursday after he was 

flown to the national capital 

when he complained of uneasiness 

in a state aircraft. 

The 79-year-old Mufti 

was running a mild fever, but 

his condition is otherwise 

stable, Dr Amit Gupta, the 

hospital’s spokesperson said. 

He was admitted to a 

private ward. 

Another doctor said that 

Mufti was to visit the hospital 

on Thursday for a routine 

medical checkup. 

Meanwhile an official 

spokesperson said Chief 

Minister, Mufti Mohammad 

Sayeed, Thursday, proceeded 

to New Delhi for consultation 

and health check up at the 

All India Institute of Medical 

Sciences (AIIMS). 

An official spokesman 

today stated that the Chief 

Minister undertook a hectic 

six-hour-long tour of Srinagar 

See Mufti on pg 6 

Dozen villagers, 4 policemen injured in clashes 

Srinagar, Dec 24: At least 

dozen villagers and four 

policemen were injured after 

clashes erupted amid 

shutdown in Sogam area of 

Chadoora town in Budgam 

district against the construction 

of a water supply scheme 

over Doodh Ganga stream. 

Eyewitnesses said that 

hundreds of people gathered 

at the construction site to 

the workers from carrying 

out their work. The administration 

had deployed contingents 

of police to provide 

security to the workers. 

However, the agitating 

villagers allegedly pelted 

stones toward the workers 

and the police, which triggered 

clashes with police. 

Residents said that scores 

of people were injured as 

forces resorted to teargas 

shelling and baton charging 

the protesters. The locals in 

return also resorted to heavy 

stone pelting. 

Protests have gripped 

Chrar-e-Sharief and Chadoora 

following the villagers’ opposition 

to construct water supply 

scheme as they fear the 

scheme, constructed by Economic 

Reconstruction Agency, 

will dry up water supply 

schemes which are already 

built on Doodh Ganga stream. 

However, the locals alleged 

that police beat them to 

pulp and ransacked the windows 

of their homes. 

Locals said that the village 

is already facing water 

scarcity, but despite that 

government is building water 

supply scheme on Doodh 

Ganga which will impact the 

streams water capacity. 

“We all are educated persons 

and government can’t 

make us fool by giving such 

kind of nonsense reasons. We 

won’t allow the state administration 

to develop as it will 

affect our water supply and 

the government is constructing 

the project against the 

public will,” Dr Gazanfar Ali, 

a social activist of Chadoora 

said. 

Chief Engineer, Public 

Health Engineering, GM Bhat 

said that the people won’t 

See Protests on Pg 6 

C 

M 

Y 

K 

C 

M 

Y 

K


‘Govt launches mass consumer 

rights awareness campaign’ 



Jammu, Dec 24: Minister for Consumer 

Affairs & Public Distribution 

(CA&PD), Ch Zulfkar Ali has said 

that the Government has launched 

a state-wide campaign by roping in 

all the active stakeholders to create 

mass consumer awareness that will 

also include capacity building training 

for safe and hygienic food to the 

consumers. 

While speaking at functions organized 

in connection with the National 

Consumer Day celebrations 

by the Bari Brahmana Industrial 

Association and National Consumer 

Forum Jammu & Kashmir, here 

today the Minister said consumer 

awareness can only be strengthened 

with the massive participation of all 

stakeholders besides effective implementation 

of several legislations 

meant for safeguarding the consumer 

interests. He stressed the need for 

laying utmost focus in rural pockets 

which need greater awareness 

about consumer rights and responsibilities. 

He also reiterated to revitalize 

the national slogan ‘’Jago Grahak 

Jago’’. He said every consumer 

must be vigilant and aware towards 

his/her rights and they must get the 

quality consumer items in lieu of 

their money. 

Minister of State for Education 

and Information, Priya Sethi, MLC 

Romesh Arora were also present on 

the occasion. 

Interacting with industrialists, 

Zulfkar said in order to supplement 

the Government efforts, the industrial 

organizations should also come 

forward and take an active part in 

strengthening the existing food and 

safety regulations. He said industrial 

Rajendra visits Hazratbal, 

inspects arrangements 

LMD books 

erring traders 

Kishtwar, Dec 24: Legal 

Metrology Department 

(LMD) of Kishtwar district 

today conducted a drive 

against overcharging, defective 

weighing machines and 

other violators of Packaged 

Commodity rules in the 

town and its vicinity areas 

including Shalimar and 

Sangrambhatta 

During the scrutiny, 

the department booked 

nine traders for violation 

of rules and seven traders 

were fined Rs. 10,000 for 

practicing unfair trade 

practices. 

The department issued 

strict instructions to 

the traders for adhering 

firmly to the rules and laws 

framed in regard to MRP, 

Net content, Date of manufacturing 

and expiry date. 

Kalakote, Dec 24: Minister 

for Transport, Abdul Gani 

Kohli today suddenly inspected 

a 19 seater SRTC 

passenger bus near Chowkichora 

which was on way 

from Jammu to Kandibakori 

in Rajouri district. 

While checking the bus, 

the Minister found that the 

bus bearing No, JK02Y-577 

had left from Jammu station 

without any passenger and 

only one passenger boarded 

on the bus near Akhnoor 

and he, too was without 

ticket. 

The Minister took serious 

note of negligence on 

the part of SRTC authorities 

and instructed the driver to 

Zulfkar asks people to avail benefits of NFSA 

Srinagar, Dec 24: Director 

General of Police (DGP), K. 

Rajendra Kumar today visited 

the Hazratbal and took 

stock of Police deployment, 

security and traffic management 

made in and around the 

shrine in connection with the 

Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) 

celebrations. 

During his visit, he inspected 

the various police 

camps established by the Police 

authorities and interacted 

with the police functionaries, 

civil defence volunteers and 

issued necessary instructions 

for facilitating the devotees 

visiting the shrine. He also 

interacted with the Auqaf authorities 

and discussed the issues 

related to the security of 

the devotees. 

Later, Rajendra convened 

a meeting of police officers 

and discussed with them the 

security arrangements put 

in place in and around the 

shrine for the current celebrations 

and Friday following and 

directed for ensuring fool proof 

security of the shrine as well 

as devotees. He directed for 

maintaining close coordination 

with other concerned agencies 

and Aquaf management for 

better results. He also directed 

for ensuring one-way traffic on 

routes leading to the shrine to 

avoid traffic hazards. He also directed 

for utilizing the already 

identified parking slots by the 

devotees strictly to maintain 

hassle free movement of traffic. 

Kulgam, Dec 24: Minister 

of State for PHE, Forest, 

Animal Husbandry and 

Irrigation & Flood Control, 

Abdul Majeed Padder 

Thursday visited Hazratbal 

Kabbamarg in Noorabad to 

pay obeisance at the holy 

Shrine on the auspicious 

occasion of Eid-e-Miladun-Nabi 

(SAW). While 

greeting the people on 

the occasion, the minister 

expressed hope that this 

festival would be the harbinger 

of harmony, peace, 

progress and prosperity of 

State in the times to come. 

Paddar said that Islam 

teaches us the values of 

brotherhood, simplicity, 

compassion and morality, 

which needed to be vigorously 

inculcated in today’s 

trouble torn world. The 


establishments should be law abiding 

so that the quantum of offences 

is reduced. Consumer being the 

backbone and prime ambassador of 

products, manufacturing establishments 

deserve best services; therefore, 

it is the prime responsibility of 

these units to maintain high standards 

of quality in their products so 

that the common goal of consumer 

satisfaction is achieved, he asserted. 

“Manufacturers have the social 

responsibility to eradicate various 

unethical trade practices, besides 

striving hard for upholding the 

standards of their products so that 

Jammu, Dec 24: Minister of 

State for Education, Culture 

and Information, Priya Sethi 

today called for establishing 

cultural clubs in schools and 

colleges to promote the cultural 

and literary activities 

amongst the students. 

The Minister made 

these observations during a 

high-level meeting of officers 

convened here to discuss 

the ways and means to promote 

cultural and literary 

activities in the state. 

The meeting was attended 

by Secretary Culture, 

Hemant Sharma, Secretary 

Cultural Academy, Dr Aziz 

Hajni Director Colleges 

Prof. T.A. Kawoosa, Director 

School Education, Jammu, 

Smita Sethi, Director School 

Education, Kashmir, Dr. 

Shah Faisal. 

The Minister directed 

the officers of education 

department to create special 

heritage corners and 

cultural clubs in the schools 

and colleges to acquaint and 

attract the students towards 

the rich culture and heritage 

of Jammu and Kashmir 

so that they carry on the 

legacy along with them. She 

also stressed on organizing 

talent hunt programmes to 

promote and nurture the 

talent of the youth in different 

fields. 

Priya also asked the concerned 

departments to generate 

awareness about the 

various cultural and literary 

events by organizing special 

awareness camps across 

the State. She also called for 

promoting the moral ethics 

in the schools so that 

the younger generation remains 

connected with their 

roots. “Western culture 

has strongly influenced the 

young minds and they are 

distancing from their culture 

News 

Friday 

2 

25.12.2015 

the consumers get the quality products,’’ 

said the Minister. 

Terming the NFSA as path 

breaking imitative in Jammu and 

Kashmir, the Minister said that the 

implementation of the Act would 

go a long way in plugging the pilferages 

in the existing public distribution 

system and address the needs 

of those consumers who were not 

getting CAPD ration anyhow. Highlighting 

the significance of the imitative, 

he said pregnant and lactating 

mothers would get free ration, 

besides an amount of Rs 6000 as 

one time financial assistance, said 

the Minister. 

Ch. Zulfkar said the Government 

has extended the last date 

for submission of Enrolment forms 

upto 30th December to enable all the 

deserving families to get enrolled for 

NFSA before its rollout on Ist February 

2016. He said that certain miscreants 

have launched a misinformation campaign 

on NFSA to mislead the people. 

“The people should not fall prey to 

any such false propaganda and must 

avail the benefit of this revolutionary 

scheme,” he added. 

Priya for establishing cultural clubs in edu 

institutions to promote literary activities 

Paddar pays obeisance at 

Hazratbal Kabbamarg 

return and halt the bus at 

Jammu station immediately. 

Minster also prayed for the 

well-being and happiness 

and development of the 

State. 

Meanwhile, the Minister 

also took stock of the 

development work underway 

for beautification 

of the Shrine and directed 

Kohli makes surprise inspection of SRTC bus 

The Minister directed 

the MD JKSRTC to initiate 

a stern action against the 

defaulters and submit a 

detailed report as to how 

the driver was allowed to 

proceed for a long journey 

without passengers and 

putting the organization in 

loss. He further instructed 

the MD to ensure that no 

such type of passenger 

bus should be allowed to 

proceed on long journey 

in future which causes a 

huge loss to the state exchequer. 

He also directed 

the concerned authorities 

to ply one 19 seater bus 

for Darla via Dhankote instead 

of Bakori. 

concerned officers of Tourism 

Department to complete 

the work on tomb of 

the Shrine within stipulated 

time frame so that 

holy Relic at Shrine could 

be displayed to devotees 

from this tomb during Urs 

days in future. 

Kupwara, Dec 24: With an objective 

to open virgin Lolab valley for the 

tourists, Minister for Rural Development 

and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq 

Khan on Thursday laid the foundation 

stone of a tourist hut in picturesque 

Lalpora area of the valley. 

Blessed with the lush green 

forests over mighty mountains and 

gushing streams, the Minister said 

the eco-friendly huts will be constructed 

at the cost of twenty six 

lakhs at Hapatnaar forest in Lalpora 

village to attract the tourists visiting 

to this valley. “Earlier tourists used 

to visit to Lolab in hurry as there was 

no specific accommodation in the 

area, but after the construction of 

tourist huts they would be at liberty 

to prolong their stay in this beautiful 

New Delhi, Dec 24: With 

an objective to get more 

cities and towns of Jammu 

and Kashmir to be covered 

under Atal Mission for 

Rejuvenation and Urban 

Transformation (AMRUT) 

scheme, Minister for PHE, 

Irrigation and Flood Control, 

Ch. Sukhnandan Kumar 

today called on Union Finance 

Minister Arun Jaitley 

and sought relaxation in the 

guidelines of the scheme. 

Members of Parliament 

Jugal Kishore Sharma, 

Shamsher Singh Manhas, 

Fayaz Ahmed Mir and Nazir 

Ahmad Laway also accompanied 

the Minister during 

the interaction with the Union 

Minister. 

Ch. Sukhnandan 

brought to the notice of 

Union Minister that there 

Jammu, Dec 24: The team 

comprising Shivika Thakur 

and Zain-ul-Abdeen Banday 

of the University of 

Jammu, won the Silver Rolling 

Trophy, instituted by 

the Governor N. N. Vohra, at 

the 1st Annual North Zone 

Inter-University Declamation 

Contest which was organized 

by the University 

of Jammu. The topic of the 

declamation contest was 

“Is tolerance any longer 

relevant in promoting a 

strong, stable and harmonious 

society”. 

The Governor who was 

the Chief Guest at the Valedictory 

function which was 

organized at Brig. Rajinder 

Singh Auditorium, University 

of Jammu, speaking on 

the occasion said that the 

getting together of students 

at such competitions provides 

them a good opportunity 

of getting to know each 

other and develop deeper 

understandings about the 

feelings and sentiments of 

people from other areas and 

regions. 

The Governor noted 

that India is a land of rich 

diversity, and pluralism is 

deeply embedded in our 

which is not a healthy sign. 

The teachers have greater 

responsibility in shaping the 

future of younger generation 

in such a way that after 

attaining their education, 

they become responsible 

citizens and contribute in 

nation building. Lecture on 

moral education should be 

the regular feature in the 

schools and colleges to 

enrich the students about 

the social issues confronted 

by the society” said the 

Minister. 

Priya exhorted for better 

synergy among cultural 

academy, education department 

and credible NGOs to 

organize heritage, book festivals 

and seminars to highlight 

the importance of various 

flagship programmes 

like Beti Padao-Beti Bachao, 

Swachh Bharat Abhyan, Ladli 

Beti, Aasra and other social 

issues on regular basis 

in the schools and colleges 

across the State to enrich 

the knowledge of students 

in social issues. 

The Minister also called 

for organizing capacity 

building training programmes 

for the in-service 

teachers/heads of the 

institutions with special 

emphasis on conservation 

of cultural, heritage and 

natural resources like forests, 

water bodies and issues 

related to the climate 

change and global warming 

which are cause of concern 

for everyone. 

are many towns in the 

state which don’t have sufficient 

population to qualify 

for the scheme, but they 

are in urgent need of basic 

amenities like water supply, 

sewerage and urban 

transportation. He requested 

him to relax the norms 

in case of Jammu and 

Kashmir being a hilly State 

which have tough terrain. 

As per the guidelines of the 

the AMRUT, the scheme 

thousands of years old socio-religious 

traditions and 

we should strive to foster 

and sustain harmonious 

relations among our diverse 

communities. 

The Governor observed 

that challenge before our 

society and the future generation 

is to ensure that 

this wonderful experiment 

called India is not lost and 

its glorious traditions stay 

deep rooted in our actions 

and thoughts. He noted 

that the Constitution of 

India contains chapters on 

Fundamental Rights and 

Directive Principles of State 

Policy which safeguard all 

human rights and lay down 

covers only those cities 

and towns which have a 

population of over one 

lakh with notified municipalities 

including cantonment 

boards besides, cities 

classified as Heritage Cities 

under HRIDAY scheme. 

The cities and towns 

from hilly states, islands 

and tourist destinations (not 

more than one from each 

state) are also covered under 

AMRUT scheme. Thus, 

www.preciouskashmir.com 

Tolerance is a hallmark of 

civilization: Governor 

the parameters and objectives 

of a welfare state and 

good governance. He urged 

the students to adhere to 

tolerance and ethical values 

throughout their future 

lives and stressed that 

peace and harmony are 

imperative for the growth 

and development of the 

country. 

The Governor observed 

that declamation contests, 

debates, sports and other 

extra-curricular activities 

help the youth to enlarge 

their horizon and evolve a 

liberal perspective; besides 

bringing out their best and 

ensuring their personality 

development. 

Guv, CM, Dy CM extend 

Christmas greetings 

Jammu, Dec 24: Governor, 

N. N. Vohra has extended 

warm greetings to the people 

on the auspicious occasion 

of Christmas. 

In a message, the Governor 

said that the teachings 

of Jesus Christ, the apostle 

of peace, compassion and 

brotherhood, have guided 

human bevbings towards 

righteousness. He observed 

that the message of Lord 

Christ is perhaps more relevant 

today than ever before, 

when the world is ridden 

with hate, greed, intolerance 

and violence. 

The Governor expressed 

sincere hope that this auspicious 

occasion would help 

in further strengthening the 

bonds of communal harmony, 

brotherhood, amity, 

secularism and the traditions 

of pluralistic ethos for 

which Jammu and Kashmir 

has been known for centuries. 

The Governor wished 

the people a very Happy 

Christmas and prayed for 

peace, progress and prosperity 

in the State. 

Chief Minister, Mufti 

Mohammad Sayeed, Thursday, 

extended greetings to 

the people on Christmas 

and hoped that the holy occasion 

would be a harbinger 

of peace, harmony, progress 

and prosperity for the state. 

In his message, Mufti 

Sayeed said the essence of 

celebrating Holy Christmas 

lies in strengthening the 

values of compassion and 

love towards mankind. 

“Christmas marks the birth 

of Jesus Christ and rekindles 

the spirit of peace and 

harmony. Let us resolve to 

promote unity and lead a 

true and virtuous life,” he 

exhorted. 

Deputy Chief Minister, 

Dr. Nirmal Singh has extended 

greetings to the people 

of the state on the eve of 

Christmas. 

In a message, Dr. Singh 

hoped that the occasion 

would be a harbinger of 

peace, progress and prosperity 

of the state. 

He further hoped that 

the festival would further 

in strengthen the values of 

compassion, mutual brotherhood 

among the people 

besides infusing empathy 

and love towards mankind. 

Sukhnandan seeks relaxation in AMRUT 

guidelines to accommodate more towns in JK 

only three cities of J&K including 

Jammu, Anantnag 

and Srinagar are being covered 

under this prestigious 

scheme of Ministry of Urban 

Development. 

The Union Finance Minister 

assured him that the 

issue would be taken up 

in the next Cabinet meeting 

to address the concerns 

of the Jammu and 

Kashmir in implementation 

of AMRUT scheme. 

‘Lolab to be on International tourism map soon’ 

valley which would give impetus to 

the economic activities in the area,” 

said Haq while addressing the people 

after laying the foundation stone 

of the tourist hut. 

He said Chief Minister Mufti 

Mohammad Sayeed is personally 

taking interest in the development 

of Lolab and Bangus areas as tourist 

resorts to tap the tourist potential 

of these virgin areas. Soon, both 

the valleys will be on international 

tourist map and there will be hub 

of tourist activities in view of its 

unique picturesque beauty, said the 

Minister. 

The Minister said the connectivity 

to Lolab valley is being enhanced 

and in this regard construction of 

Kupwara-Lolab will soon be completed 

on priority to ensure hassle 

free travel to valley. “Lolab-Bandipora 

road will also be inaugurated 

soon so that the distance between 

Lolab and Srinagar is shortened,“ he 

added . 

Elaborating further the unique 

features of the area on tourist point 

of view, the Minister said that Lolab 

is blessed with lush green forests 

and gushing streams which is famous 

for centuries old Kalaroos 

caves and Satbaran monuments, 

the Minister said the Government 

will explore possibilities to promote 

these caves for attracting tourists to 

the scenic spot. 

He said government will ensure 

that the virgin valley is not polluted 

and that polythene will not be allowed 

to ruin the place. “We have 

imposed blanket ban on the use of 

polythene and have given powers to 

BDOs and Panchayat officers to seize 

the polythene and action against the 

defaulters under law. We will not allow 

tourism to affect fragile eco-system 

of Lolab valley, rather promote 

eco-tourism activities including 

home-stays, fishing, and trekking in 

the area,” he added. 

The minister later inspected the 

ongoing construction work at a Public 

Park in Lalpora and asked the officers 

to accelerate the work on the 

park. 

The minister was accompanied 

by DC Kupwara, CEO Bangus-Lolab 

Development Authority and other 

officials of Kupwara District.

Precious Kashmir 

NEWS 

Srinagar,Friday 


3 

No electricity yet 

in this Bpr village 


Bandipora, Dec 24: While construction of 

power house for 330 MW Kishen Ganga Hydro 

Electric Power Project is underway in Chak 

Matrigam of district Bandipora, the same village 

is reeling under darkness and sans water from 

past 20 years. 

According to residents of the village, the 

transmission poles and transformer were 

installed in the village almost 20 years ago, but 

the people living in the village are still have no 

electricity. 

“What else could be the sluggishness of the 

state administration as in the period of modernization, 

the village in the Kashmir Valley is still 

reeling under darkness,” Manzoor Ahmad said. 

“Despite assurance by the state administration, 

the government has failed to provide 

electricity in the village,” he said, adding that 

the transmission poles installed by the authorities 

are useless and have been damaged but the 

authorities have never cared to repair them. 

“We have been continuously pleading 

before the state administration officials but 

unfortunately nothing has been done in this 

regard,” he said. 

While informing, the residents said that 

since that time snowstorm hit the village, the 

poles and transformer got damaged. “The 

officials didn’t even bother to replace the 

transformer, electric poles or transmission lines 

thereby the village comprising of around 210 

families are being forced to reel under darkness 

for the past over two decades,” they said. (KNS) 

Show political will 

to resolve Kashmir 

issue: Hurriyat (M) 


Srinagar, Dec 24: Urging 

Indian and Pakistani leadership 

to show political will 

to resolve Kashmir issue, 

Hurriyat (M) Thursday said 

a dignified resolution of the 

vexed issue was the only 

guarantee for bringing lasting 

peace in South Asia. 

The senior Hurriyat 

(M) leaders expressed this 

during a people-to-people 

contact program initiated by 

the amalgam while addressing 

various public gatherings 

and holding interactions 

with various public delegations. 

Hurriyat (M) senior leaders 

Muhammad Musadiq 

Adil, Ghulam Nabi Zaki, Abdul 

Majeed Wani, Ghulam 

Hassan Mir, Jaffar Kashmiri 

visited Arampora and Ranbir 

areas of north Kashmir’s Pattan 

area while senior APHC 

leader Mukhtar Ahmad 

Waza and Gul Muhammad 

visited Kondoo, Waltengo areas 

of south Kashmir where 

they addressed several public 

gatherings and met many 

delegations. 

According to a statement, 

addressing a gathering 

at Waltengo, Waza said 

unresolved Kashmir is a 

danger for entire South Asia 

and Hurriyat (M) has always 

maintained that the clouds 

of danger would continue to 

hover over the region until 

Kashmir issue is not resolved 

as per the wishes and aspirations 

of the people of Kashmir. 

He said Kashmir issue 

cannot be kept under the 

carpet for long and till the 

issue would be kept on the 

backburner, it would continue 

to be detrimental for the 

progress and prosperity of 

entire South Asia as peace in 

South Asia is directly linked 

to Kashmir resolution. 

Addressing public 

gatherings and speaking to 

delegations in Araqmpora 

and Ranbir areas of north 

Kashmir’s Pattan region, 

senior Hurriyat (M) leaders 

Muhammad Musdadiq Adil 

and Ghulam Nabi Zaki said 

Kashmiri people had offered 

selfless sacrifices of their 

lives and properties and now 

needed to show steadfastness 

and resolve to continue 

the resistance movement 

and not rest until the issue 

reaches its logical conclusion. 

They said Hurriyat (M) 

would continue to fight for 

the rights of the people of 

Kashmir and would not rest 

until Kashmir issue is solved 

as per the wishes and aspirations 

of people and that the 

amalgam stands for a permanent 

and a long lasting 

resolution to Kashmir issue 

and would not abandon the 

resistance movement. 

Hurriyat (M) leaders 

said people of Kashmir had 

offered innumerable sacrifices 

and Kashmir issue had 

attracted international attention 

due to these sacrifices 

and now people of Kashmir 

needed to keep it in their 

mind that the day is not far 

when it would be resolved as 

per their wishes. (KNS) 

JK to have yearlong 

cultural 

activities 


Srinagar, Dec 24: In a 

first, Jammu and Kashmir 

State has chalked out 

a year-long cultural 

calendar for schools and 

colleges with focus on 

promoting the concept 

of cultural diversity and 

extracurricular activities. 

Giving details Secretary, 

J&K Academy of Art, 

Culture and Languages, 

Dr. Aziz Hajini said that a 

meeting to this effect was 

held at Jammu office of 

the Academy on Wednesday. 

“In the meeting it 

was decided that all the 

schools and colleges of 

the State will organize activities 

like debates, symposia, 

singing, painting, 

drama, poetry and essay 

writing competitions on 

regular basis in coordination 

with the Academy,” 

he said, adding, the step 

to have a year-long calendar 

of cultural activities 

for schools and colleges 

has been taken under the 

instructions of the Chief 

Minister who is also the 

President of the Academy. 

Chaired by minister 

of State for Education 

and Culture, Priya Sethi, 

the meeting was, among 

others, attended by 

Secretary, JKAACL, Dr. 

Aziz Hajini, Director Colleges, 

Prof Tariq Ahmad 

Kawoosa, Director School 

Education, Kashmir, Dr. 

Shah Faisal, and Director 

School Education, Jammu, 

Smita Sethi. 

Secretary to Government, 

Department of 

Culture, Heemant Kumar 

Sharma was also present 

in the meeting. (KNS) 

Illegal constructions galore 

along Jhelum, Govt in slumber 


Srinagar, Dec 24: Despite 

the demolition drive in 

compliance with the court 

orders, scores of people 

have again started carrying 

out illegal constructions 

and riverside encroachments 

on the banks of river 

Jhelum. 

Sources alleged that 

illegal construction work 

is going on at full swing on 

the banks of river at Rampora 

Chattabal, Noorbagh, 

Palpora and other areas of 

the valley. 

The Jammu and Kashmir 

High Court had stayed 

all the constructions on the 

banks of river Jhelum and 

its tributaries. 

“The illegal sheds and 

structures that had come 

along river Jehlum from 

Chattabal to Cement Bride 

were demolished but from 

past few weeks, some 

people have again started 

constructing sheds and 

other structures illegally 

while the irony is that the 

authorities are in slumber,” 

a delegation of people said. 

They said that encroachments 

and illegal 

constructions by some 

greedy people have eroded 

the river embankment and 

the process according to 

them was the main cause 

of last year’s devastating 

flood in the city. “Over the 

years, embankment of river 

Jhelum was eroded by the 

activities of people who 

continue to live in sheds on 

the banks of river. Even after 

the floods, illegal sheds 

are being constructed on 

the embankments that too 

under the nose of authorities,” 

they said. 

Sources informed that 

illegal constructions are 

also on in full swing on the 

banks of the Jhelum that 

passes through Anantnag, 

Srinagar, Bandipora and 

Baramulla districts. 

The illegal structures 

are also on the banks of 

the Jhelum in Civil Lines 

and old Srinagar city near 

Cement Bridge, Chattabal, 

Habbakadal, Drab Yaar 

‘Handicrafts Corp to be 

made more effective, 


Srinagar, Dec 24: Stating 

that Jammu and Kashmir 

Government Arts Emporium 

showrooms located 

outside the state to be up 

gradated on international 

standards, Industries 

and commerce minister 

Chander Prakash Ganga 

has said that government 

is committed to make J&K 

Handicrafts corporation 

more vibrant. 

Officials of the corporation 

that the Minister 

visited Government Arts 

Emporium at Mumbai 

and Kolkatta and was 

accompanied by Managing 

Director I. H. Drabu 

and other officers of the 

Industries and Commerce 

Department. 

“Minister took stock 

of the showrooms and 

reviewed their performance 

on spot and issued 

instructions to Managing 

Director for up gradation 

of the existing showrooms 

on International standards 

as the showrooms are 

mostly visited by Global 

customers,” one of the 

officials said. 

He said that the Minister 

approves the purchase 

of handicraft items directly 

from the Artisans and their 

Societies thereby eradicating 

the role of middlemen. 

“Ganga has instructed that 

the purchase of handicraft 

items shall now-onwards 

be centralized at Head Office 

and the branches will 

be augmented with the 

required stocks on their 

demand from there,”. 

As per the officials the 

Minister also stressed that 

the Corporation must sell 

its exquisite handicraft 

items through online and 

every effort in these directions 

has to be made to 

computerized the branches 

so that the esteemed 

customers and Art lovers 

are provided these items 

at their doorsteps. 

“Minister assured that 

all the funding shall be 

provided to the Corporation 

immediately to 

take-up this job on war 

footing.”. 

The officials added 

that he further re-iterated 

that in the coming future 

the Corporation will be 

strengthened and will be 

made more effective and 

vibrant. (KNS) 

and other areas, raising a 

question mark on the role 

of the authorities that how 

these constructions were 

allowed. 

Pertinently, the High 

Court had ordered to 

demolish the constructions 

that are seen coming up 

on the river banks right 

from its source in Verinag 

in south Kashmir to Uri in 

North Kashmir. 

However sources said 

that one can notice the 

innumerable newly raised 

concrete structures on the 

sides of the Jhelum, while 

the government is sleeping 

over the issue. 

Sources said that 

during the past one decade, 

encroachment has taken 

place in a planned manner 

under the very nose of the 

administration. (KNS) 


Srinagar, Dec 24: International 

Film Festival 

of Kashmir (IFFK) 2015 

Wednesday concluded 

with award ceremony in 

which Iranian and Spanish 

movies bagged maximum 

awards in different categories. 

‘Absolute Rest’ directed 

by Iranian filmmaker 

Abdolreza Kahani won 

‘Best Feature Film’ award 

while another Iranian film 

‘Waskat’ received ‘Critic 

Award’ in International 

Category. 

Among J&K select, Best 

Feature Film award was 

given to Ibtida directed 

by Ali Emran, Best Short 

Film was given to Stunning 

Gilgit-Baltistan by SM 

Bukhari while Gul was 

declared as Best Debut 

Film. Gul has been directed 

by a Kashmiri filmmaker 

Gul Reyaz. 

The ‘Best Feature 

Film in Indian Panorama’ 

category was given to Gour 

Hari Dastaan by Ananth 

Narayan Mahadevan. 

The top award in Best 

No staff at Bandipora 

PHC since 2009 

Arshad Farooq 

Baramulla, Dec 24: Despite 

tall claims of the state 

government that they will 

bring tremendous change 

in Health Sector across the 

state of Jammu and Kashmir, 

there is no medical staff 

available at a public health 

centre in Baramulla for over 

six years now. 

People in various rural 

areas of Baramulla district 

are at the mercy of God for 

want of basic health facilities 

in their areas as since 

the inauguration of a PHC 

in 2009 in the far flung village 

of Phelipora Boniyar, no 

staff has ever functioned at it 

even after so many years. 

People had seen a ray 

of hope when a building for 

Primary health center was 

constructed and medical 

and Para-medical staff was 

appointed there for the betterment 

of rural masses, said 

sources. 

Sources said, all the 

medical staff was shifted to 

the urban areas and many 

health centers were closed 

due to unknown reasons, 

due to which the common 

masses were put at the mercy 

of God. 

Short Fiction Film category 

was given to ‘Day Dreams 

of Wilderness’ of Philippines. 

Other awards include 

‘Best Experimental Film 

International’ which was 

given jointly to Estonian 

film ‘Mouldy Memories’ and 

‘Dystopia’ from Spain. 

Rupstre, another film 

from Spain received award 

in ‘International Best Animation/New 

Media’. 

Best Documentary film 

Interestingly, there are 

some Multi-Purpose Health 

Workers (MPHW), auxiliary 

nurses and pharmacists in 

some health centers, who 

cannot prescribe medicines, 

adding nurses are prescribing 

drugs in absence of doctors, 

said sources. 

It is learnt that, about six 

years ago, the government 

had upgraded this mini primary 

health center to primary 

health center and they 

were supposed provide 24*7 

healthcare, but the irony is 

that there is no availability of 

medical staff at the moment. 

in International Category 

was given to Icons Make 

Miracle and Best Sports 

Film in International category 

was given to Russian 

short movie ‘Sprint to the 

Past’. 

The awards were given 

by Chairperson XMITA, 

Yaqout Mushtaq while 

leading film and Television 

professionals attended the 

awards. 

Those who spoke on 

the occasion were Zameer 

‘Stunning Gilgit-Baltistan’, ‘Ibtida’ 

bag awards from Kashmir 

Ashai, Ayash Arif and 

Shabir Mujahid. Others 

who were present at the 

award ceremony include 

Zahid Manzoor, Shafiq 

Qureshi, GM Wani, Azad 

Shah, Raja Bilal and Abdul 

Rashid. 

The festival was 

organized by Kashmir based 

socio-cultural NGO, XMITA in 

collaboration with HOTICE, 

an event management company, 

a statement by XMITA 

sais late Thursday evening. 

A local resident of Phelipora, 

Nazir Ahmad told 

Precious Kashmir, “The infrastructure 

including the 

equipment at this health 

centers is worth crores but 

has been lying defunct and 

unutilized due to lack of 

technical manpower. 

When this reporter visited 

the spot, the hospital 

was found locked, and locals 

came to streets to protest 

against the callous attitude 

of the government who 

have made them to suffer for 

want of basic healthcare. 

Meanwhile Retire Zonal 

Education Officer (ZEO) 

Ghulam Hasan Parray of 

the same village, told Precious 

Kashmir that since the 

building was constructed, no 

medical staff was seen here 

on ground due to which the 

hospital building is in shambles, 

government authorities 

are in deep slumber and are 

watching the things as mere 

spectators. 

Meanwhile when contacted 

Minister of State Asia 

Naqash said that full status, 

location may be texted to her 

mobile number for redressal 

of the matter. 

Valley shivers as 

temperature dips 


Srinagar, Dec 24: Jammu 

and Kashmir reeled under 

intense cold weather as 

minimum temperature 

dipped further across the 

state on Thursday. 

The weather office 

has forecast dry weather 

for the next two to three 

days. 

“Minimum temperatures 

are likely to 

fall further due to dry 

weather in all regions of 

the state,” an official of 

local meteorological office 

said here. 

Dry weather coupled 

with clear night sky has 

intensified cold and chilly 

conditions, particularly in 

Kashmir valley. 

Mercury dipped 

below the freezing point 

in Srinagar and settled at 

minus 4 degrees compared 

to previous night’s 

minimum of minus 0.3 

degrees Celsius. 

The maximum temperature 

in Srinagar will 

hover around 4.1 degrees 

Celsius, the official said. 

Minimum temperatures 

also plunged below 

GB Pant form 

counseling team 

for attendants 


Srinagar, Dec 24: Authorities 

in the GB Pant 

Hospital here have formed 

a team of doctors and officials 

to provide counseling 

to the attendants visiting 

the hospital. 

GMC Principal Dr 

Kaisar Ahmad said that patient 

care in all the GMC’s 

associated hospital will be 

top most priority and such 

steps are aimed at that. 

Medical Superintendent 

of the hospital 

Dr Shafqat Khan that 

the move was aimed to 

streamline and remove the 

difficulties of the attendants 

who visit with their 

infant patients. 

The committee 

comprises of Dr Rehana, 

consultant Incharge, senior 

PG of Paediatrics, Shugufta 

Khursheed, nutritional 

counselor, Abdul Wakeel, 

child psychologist, Rubana. 

“This will improve 

further patients care in the 

hospital,” Dr Khan said, 

adding that the arrangement 

shall be a part of regular 

Standard Treatment 

Protocol for health care 

delivery in the hospital 

and shall be followed in 

letter and spirit. (KNS) 

the freezing point in 

tourist resorts of Gulmarg 

and Pahalgam. 

The minimum 

temperature recorded 

at Pahalgam was minus 

8.5 degrees compared to 

Wednesday’s minus 6.3 

degrees Celsiusy. 

Kashmir is passing 

through 40-day period of 

harshest winter season 

known as “Chillai-Kalan”, 

which began on Monday. 

In Ladakh capital Leh, 

the minimum temperature 

dropped to minus 

12.9 degrees. 

The overnight 

minimum temperature 

in Jammu city was 3.8 

degrees compared to 5.6 

degrees on Wednesday. 

The maximum temperature 

in Jammu city is 

likely to hover around 18 

degrees Celsius. 

In other places of 

the Jammu province, 

minimum temperatures 

recorded were 4.8 degrees 

in Katra town, 1.7 degrees 

in Banihal, minus 0.7 

degrees in Batote, minus 

0.6 degrees in Udhampur 

and minus 3.5 degrees in 

Bhaderwah town.

Precious Kashmir 

Edit 

Srinagar,Friday 

25.12.2015 4 

Losing lives 

to mishaps 

ome 1.25 million people die each year as a 

result of road accidents, according to a report 

issued here by the World Health Organization 

(WHO). Road traffic crashes are a leading cause 

of death globally and have taken an unacceptable 

toll -- particularly on poor people in poor 

countries. The report noted that a big gap still 

separates high-income countries from low and 

middle-income ones where 90 percent of road 

traffic deaths occur in spite of having just 54 

percent of the world's vehicles. In the past three 

years, 79 countries have seen a decrease in the 

absolute number of fatalities while 68 countries 

have seen an increase, the report showed. 

In Kashmir too, the situation has been horrific. 

Official statistics reveal that in J&K from January 

01 2009 till July 31 2015, about 40, 957 road 

accidents having taken place, leading to 58,072 

persons being injured and 6953 being killed. On 

an average, thus 18 accidents take place in the 

state out of which 25 persons are injured and 

more than 3 killed every day. With our failure 

to make our roads safer, we seem to have 

gained the notoriety of recording highest percentage 

of unnatural deaths in the country. In 

2013 the National Crime Records Bureau made 

some startling revelations in its report ‘Accidental 

Deaths and Suicides in India’ saying that 

Jammu and Kashmir had recorded the highest 

percentage of unnatural deaths occurring due 

to road accidents that year. Even as some general 

causes like driver-error, reckless driving, 

overloading, poor condition of vehicles, etc., 

are prevalent almost across the country, the 

accidents in J&K can primarily be attributable 

to factors like dilapidated and narrow roads, 

common ignorance about traffic laws and lack 

of knowledge about safe-driving principles. As 

earlier also mentioned in these columns, we 

have been quite slow in taking effective steps to 

improve the engineering of vehicles and roads 

that envisages regular inspections for warrant 

of fitness, promotion of the use of vehicles with 

improved designing giving ease of vision and 

control to the driver, installing traffic signals, 

road markings, regulatory signs like “stop” and 

“give way", warning and destination signs, etc. 

The government agencies endowed with this 

task need to focus on the ‘locations and times’ 

that feature frequently in accidents. That would 

give them some important insights into the 

reasons for the increasing number of accidents 

and a better idea about how to prevent 

them. Similarly, massive education-n-training 

programmes for the drivers about safe driving 

principles need be arranged by the government. 

Is war imminent in the 

Richard Giragosian 

For the past three weeks, there has 

been a steady escalation of clashes 

between Armenian and Azerbaijani 

forces over the Nagorno-Karabakh 

conflict. The renewed fighting 

began on December 4, when Azerbaijan 

launched an offensive targeting Armenian 

positions along the “line of contact” separating 

Karabakh and Azerbaijan. 

In the days that followed, the situation 

quickly worsened, with an escalation 

of fighting that left more than a dozen 

fatalities on both sides. And as hostilities 

intensified, a fragile ceasefire agreement, 

first brokered in May 1994, is now under 

serious threat. 

While that 1994 ceasefire agreement effectively 

ended open warfare over control 

of Nagorno-Karabakh, it merely “froze” 

the conflict, with Azerbaijan effectively 

“losing” Karabakh and the local Karabakh 

forces, backed by Armenia, taking control 

of several districts of Azerbaijan beyond 

the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Since then, diplomatic efforts to resolve 

the conflict have largely floundered. The 

diplomatic deadlock stems from the different 

and divisive views of the conflict 

itself: For Armenia and Karabakh, the 

principle of self-determination is the 

guiding issue, while for Azerbaijan it is the 

competing principle of territorial integrity 

of states. It is this fundamental contradiction 

between two principles of international 

law that continues to hamper a 

negotiated solution. 

Frozen conflict 

This most recent escalation was marked 

by a dramatic increase in casualties on all 

sides. For example, since 2013, the rate of 

casualties (for both soldiers and civilians) 

has almost tripled. The total number of 

deaths from these clashes stood at 19 soldiers 

in 2003, but surged in 2014, with 64 

soldiers and 8 civilians losing their lives, 

representing the highest level of deaths 

in the over 20 years since the ceasefire 

agreement. This year, however, there have 

Caucasus? 

been at least 56 military fatalities and 

another 3 civilian deaths on all sides. 

Beyond the rising death count, the more 

worrying development was the use of 

more serious offensive weapons. Moving 

well beyond previous incidents where the 

ceasefire was violated by sporadic sniper 

fire, there has been a steady upward trend 

in the use of more serious weapons, ranging 

from grenade launchers and mortar 

fire to artillery and rocket attacks. 

But even this escalation was surpassed 

when, for the first time since the 1994 

ceasefire, Azerbaijan deployed battle 

tanks in several attacks. Tension further 

rose after Armenian forces succeeded 

in downing an Israeli-made Orbiter-2M 

Azerbaijani military unmanned aerial 

vehicle (UAV) or “drone.” 

For Azerbaijan, the decision to escalate 

tension and launch renewed attacks has 

been largely driven by a combination of 

diplomatic activity and domestic politics. 

More specifically, Azerbaijani operations 

were related to the December 19 

presidential summit between the Armenian 

and Azerbaijani leaders in a bid to 

strengthen Azerbaijan’s diplomatic position. 

The meeting itself was a disappointment, 

as fighting only continued after the 

summit and neither side could forge any 

breakthrough agreement to even lessen 

tension and de-escalate clashes. Yet, it 

was an important resumption of diplomacy 

and dialogue, as the summit was 

the first meeting of the two leaders since 

October 2014. 

The parties to the conflict remain simply 

too far apart on core issues of the negotiations, 

and are unable to agree to a basic 

framework for the peace talks, and have 

also been unwilling to even implement 

meager confidence-building measures. 

In this context, the Azerbaijani strategy 

is to rely on military escalation as a way 

to bolster diplomatic leverage within the 

peace process. 

Although this has never delivered any 

tangible or demonstrable diplomatic dividends, 

and usually tends to only weaken 

the Azerbaijani position within the 

negotiations, this posture is also driven 

by a justified degree of frustration with 

the peace process, and a general disdain 

for diplomacy which is, at times, directly 

expressed at the mediators themselves. 

The second factor, the appeal of domestic 

political dividends, is driven more by the 

politically convenient use of nationalism 

to bolster the Azerbaijani leadership. 

But this presents a unique challenge, as 

the pattern of military operations does 

not necessarily follow military science or 

logic, making the application of diplomatic 

or political pressure difficult and greatly 

weakening any effective deterrence. 

Domestic play 

At the same time, Azerbaijan has attempted 

to widen the conflict to draw Armenia 

more directly into the conflict and provoke 

an Armenian overreaction. This is 

evident in the pronounced expansion of 

the geography of fighting, well beyond the 

“line of contact” separating Karabakh from 

Azerbaijan proper, largely targeting more 

vulnerable civilian population centres in 

Armenia’s north-eastern and southern 

border areas. 

Although this strategy did not prompt an 

Armenian overreaction, it has fostered 

the development of an Armenian policy 

of “overwhelming response”, aimed at 

retaliating for Azerbaijani attacks with a 

degree of force exceeding the initial assault. 

Although the Armenian view is such 

an “overwhelming” response is an attempt 

to deter Azerbaijan, it also contributes to a 

dangerous “spiraling up” of the conflict. 

For Armenia, the increasing intensity of 

the attacks is also putting pressure on the 

Armenian leadership. This has fostered a 

move towards a more “hardliner” position 

regarding Azerbaijan, and has recently 

prompted the Armenian Ministry of Defence 

to redefine the situation as one of 

“war” rather than mere ceasefire violations. 

This only elevates the level of discourse 

and makes an escalation of aggressive 

rhetoric more likely. And this may actually 

harden the Armenian position regarding 

the territories of Azerbaijan beyond Karabakh 

now under their control. 

Printer, Publisher, Owner : Afaq Ahmad Bhat 

Editor: Afaq Ahmad Bhat 

Legal Advisor: Hakim Sami Yaqoob (Advocate) 

Published From: Rajbagh Opposite Radio Colony Srinagar J&K 

Printed At: Alsafa Printing Press Hazuri Bagh Srinagar 

RNI No: JKENG/2013/55310 

Cell No: 9419081703 

Other Opinion 

The Falcon has landed 

G 

iven the seemingly never-ending problems on 

Earth, compounded every day by crises both natural 

and manmade, not to speak of doomsday scenarios 

being painted afresh as in dangers from asteroids 

and comets or dug out from ancient texts, it 

might just make sense for man to be a multi-planet 

creature than be tied down to one. The pioneering 

business magnate Elon Musk’s cutting-edge firm 

SpaceX might have taken the first step this week 

towards simplifying the journey to Mars, the nearest 

planet to us, in successfully landing a rocket 

upright back on Earth after it launched an array of 

satellites into space. 

The complicated manoeuvre of turning around to 

land back on Earth may have been achieved before, 

as in the start-up rocket company of Amazon boss 

Jeff Bezos demonstrating similar technology last 

month in sub-orbital flight. However, reigniting 

engines in the course of orbital flight after propelling 

the second-stage rocket further to launch a 

commercial payload of satellites is a challenge of a 

far higher technical scale altogether, which is why 

the scientific world is agog with the feat of Falcon 

9. 

Mankind may still be decades away from sending a 

manned flight to the Red Planet, but imagine how 

much the cost of replenishing supplies and sending 

more people to the International Space Station 

could come down if reusable rocket technology is 

proven by a second success. While a rocket costs 

about Rs 4,000 crore to build, the cost of fuel is 

only about Rs 13 crores. Maybe, one day, there will 

be a Musk Colony on Mars, named after Elon. 

Email: preciouskashmir@gmail.com 

Website: www.preciouskashmir.com 

Returning to the days of 

military rule in Israel 

Suhad Bishara 

For the first time in Israel’s history, 

a political movement has been 

declared an unlawful association on 

the basis of government claims that 

are not grounded even ostensibly in 

security rationales, but instead are based 

on ideological reasons. 

The Israeli defence minister’s administrative 

order outlawing the northern branch 

of the Islamic Movement on November 17 

did not cite any charges that the movement 

was involved in terrorist activities, 

financing terrorist activities, receiving 

funds from dubious sources, incitement 

to terror and violence, or incitement to 

racism, as government officials repeatedly 

claim. 

Instead, the order simply stated in one 

brief sentence that the measure was 

necessary for the protection of the “security 

of the state, public safety and public 

order”. 

False accusations 

In an interview on the Arab station Radio 

al-Shams, Gilad Erdan, the Israeli public 

security minister, explained the reasons 

for the government’s decision to ban the 

Islamic Movement, which was executed 

through a law known as the Defence 

(Emergency) Regulations of 1945. 

Erdan did not mention anything related to 

security grounds in a proven and substantiated 

manner. He explained instead that 

“an organisation does not need to carry 

out terrorist acts itself in order to be declared 

an illegal organisation”. 

Erdan stated that he views the movement’s 

ideological platform and activities 

as problematic, particularly its “false campaign” 

on behalf of the al-Aqsa Mosque 

compound, which he claimed causes 

“people to go astray and decide to go off 

on terrorist missions”. 

He noted that the Islamic Movement 

funded transportation for worshippers 

to al-Aqsa, claiming it did so “in order to 

shout and create friction with security 

forces, tourists and visitors”. 

He also said that the movement funded 

Maharjans (festivals) during which it 

called on people to protect al-Aqsa with 

their bodies. Erdan said the mosque was 

not in need of protection. 

“This activity harms coexistence” he 

added. Of course, Erdan’s view of “coexistence” 

is one in which Palestinians 

accept the reality of occupation, racism 

and oppression in the West Bank and 

East Jerusalem. 

His attempts to justify the government’s 

decision cannot conceal the fact that 

there is a huge and extremely problematic 

gap between the government’s 

“accusations” against the Islamic Movement, 

and the government’s choice of using 

a repressive administrative measure 

to outlaw a major political and religious 

movement. 

The decision taken by the government to 

circumvent this gap - despite the opposition 

and reservations of Israel’s General 

Security Service - demonstrates that the 

ideology and ideologically based activities 

of the Islamic Movement are the sole 

basis for the order. 

Arbitrary rules 

The government’s accusations are instead 

merely a facade for an arbitrary 

political decision designed to suppress a 

legitimate political and religious movement 

that represents a broad section of 

the Palestinian population in Israel. 

Israel’s legal framework contains numerous 

laws that are designed to punish 

those who call for and employ violence 

in all forms. 

The decision to ban the Islamic Movement 

must be understood in the historical 

context of the use of the Emergency 

Regulations. 

For example, the Prevention of Terrorism 

Ordinance prohibits any activity 

that supports or is identified with an 

organisation designated as a terrorist 

organisation, the Prohibition of Terrorist 

Financing Law prohibits the giving 

or receiving of funds to or from terrorist 

organisations and activities, 

and the Penal Code determines that 

incitement to violence and terrorism, 

incitement to racism, and prohibited 

association and gatherings constitute 

criminal offences. 

Despite these numerous laws - which 

certainly require investigations, collection 

of evidence, filing indictments, 

and a trial - the Israeli government decided 

to employ a highly draconian and 

arbitrary tool, the Emergency Regulations, 

which dates back to the colonial 

British Mandate of Palestine. 

The government invoked this law while 

voicing very laconic and general accusations, 

without granting the movement 

or its leaders the opportunity 

to defend themselves and their right 

to freedom of political and religious 

expression. 

The result was an act that outlawed a civil, 

political and religious movement without 

trial and due process, and without any evidence 

or history of security offences that 

could justify the measure. 

In the past, Israeli defence ministers have 

indeed outlawed the extremist Jewish 

organisations “Kahane Lives” and “Price 

Tag” through the Emergency Regulations 

without justifying the use of the administrative 

and draconic tool. 

>>>>>>>>> Please send your articles and letters on preciouskashmir@gmail.com >>>>>>>>>


Sensex Nifty Gold 

Business/ International 

Friday 

5 



Silver Dollar J&K Bank Yes Bank SBI ICICI Bank HDFC Bank 

11.59 

4.90 

122.00 

109.00 

0.01 

0.05 

0.40 

1.35 

3.90 

0.10 

25838.71 

7861.05 

25,189.00 

34,324.00 

66.21 

74.55 

724.35 

228.30 

257.95 

1,074.00 

IPO drought ends; companies raise Rs 13600 cr in 2015 

Mumbai, Dec 24: Ending the IPO 

drought, 21 companies have entered 

Dalal Street in 2015 with initial public 

offers to garner Rs 13,600 crore -- the 

highest in five years -- and an impressive 

pipeline is already in place for the 

new year. 

While IPOs worth Rs 14,000 crore 

are already in the final stages of hitting 

the market, experts say the overall pipeline 

currently stands at well in excess of 

Rs 50,000 crore. 

Adding to the depth of the IPO market, 

companies from diverse sectors like 

renewable energy, QSRs, logistics, pharma, 

electronics and airlines have made 

their way into the IPO space this year. 

The total funds collected by the 

21 IPOs in 2015 is the highest since Rs 

37,534.65 crore garnered in 2010. 

As an icing on the cake, the year has 

seen as many as 60% of the newly-listed 

stocks trading at a high premium over 

their issue prices, as against most of the 

stocks trending below issue price in previous 

years. 

The star performers this year include 

InterGlobe Aviation which runs 

New Delhi, Dec 24: Unsettled equity markets 

have not discouraged investors from pouring 

money into equity mutual funds. In the 

current calendar year, equity funds have witnessed 

net inflows of more than Rs 92,000 

crore, the highest in ten years. 

Positive returns from equity funds, coupled 

with changing approach of retail investors 

and success of investors awareness programmes, 

can be attributed to such strong 

flows into equity funds. 

Industry participants say gone are the 

days when retail investors used to enter the 

markets at peak and exit at bottom. Milind 

Barve, MD at HDFC Asset Management Company 

(AMC), said: “I think credit should be 

given to both distributors as well as the mutual 

fund industry to expand their reach across 

India and attract new set of investors. The industry 

has been positioning equity funds as a 

three-five year product. Even if we look at investor 

behaviour, they are not reacting to any 

corrections in the markets and are continuing 

to invest for medium to long term.” 

According to the industry officials, 

around Rs 2,500 crore flows into equity funds 

every month only through systematic investment 

plan (SIPs). 

Even in 2014 calendar year, equity funds 

the country’s largest airline IndiGo (Rs 

3,017 crore), Coffee Day Enterprises that 

owns the largest coffee chain Cafe Coffee 

Day (Rs 1,150 crore), Alkem Laboratories 

(Rs 1,350 crore) and Inox Wind (Rs 

1,020 crore). 

“While a few companies that 

launched IPOs this year have not done 

well, a majority of them have given positive 

returns,” Kotak Securities executive 

vice-president Trivikram Kamath said. 

“Several of these companies are in 

emerging spaces like renewable energy, 

amusement parks, quick service 

restaurant chains, logistics and airline,” 

Kamath added. 

The sectors represented on the IPO 

mart also included engineering (Power 

Mech Projects), beverages (Manpasand 

Beverages), milk and dairy products 

(Prabhat Dairy). 

Two companies -- Ortel Communications 

and UFO Moviez-- represent the 

electronics and consumer and media industries, 

while Adlabs Entertainment is 

into amusement parks. 

Four companies belong to the 

healthcare sector (Alkem, Dr Lal Path 

Equity MFs see Rs 92 K cr inflows 

in 2015, highest in 10 years 

(which include equity, equity-linked saving 

schemes and other ETFs) had seen net inflows 

of Rs 53,194 crore. Over the past few 

years, volatile markets and lack of incentives 

for distributors had seen mutual funds register 

net redemption. 

In 2012 and 2013, equity schemes saw 

outflows of Rs 15,133 crore and Rs 10,660 

crore, respectively. But with equity markets 

on the rise and steps taken by the industry as 

well as Sebi to ‘incentivise’ distributors, there 

seems to renewed enthusiasm for mutual 

funds. 

There are players who believe that equity 

funds scored above other instruments 

such as gold, real estate and traditional debt 

products. Aashish Somaiyaa, CEO at Motilal 

Oswal AMC, says, “Returns of equity schemes 

have been better compared to other financial 

products, and that is one of the reasons for 

people coming into equity funds…” 

Labs, Narayana Hospitals and Syngene 

International), while two represent the 

roads and highways sector (MEP Infrastructure 

Developers and Sadbhav Infra 

Project). 

The response to small and medium 

companies was also upbeat with dedicated 

SME platforms witnessing fund 

raising of Rs 252 crore. In comparison, 

Mumbai, Dec 24: Markets 

ended flat on eve of Christmas 

Day amid lacklustre 

participation from traders 

and investors in wake of the 

truncated week and caution 

ahead of the expiry of November 

derivative contracts 

next week. 

The S&P BSE Sensex 

ended down 12 points at 

25,839 and the Nifty50 ended 

5 points lower at 7,861. 

In the broader market, 

the BSE Midcap and Smallcap 

indices ended up 0.3%- 

0.5% each. Market breadth 

was positive with 1553 

gainers and 1120 losers on 

the BSE. 

“Markets remained 

lacklustre amid lack of buying 

interest in wake of the 

truncated week and traders 

cautious ahead of the expiry 

of November derivative 

contracts next week,” said 

Prakash Diwan, Director, 

Altamount Capital Management. 

Meanwhile, crude oil 

prices came off its multiyear 

lows after data released 

overnight showed US crude 

inventories has dropped unexpectedly 

previous week. 

According to the Energy 

Information Administration 

(EIA), US crude inventories 

have slipped by 5.88 million 

barrels to 484.78 million last 

week as against a forecast of 

rise by 1.4 million barrels. 

Indian Forex and currency 

markets are closed 

today on account of Id-A- 

Milad. Further, Indian equity, 

forex, money and commodity 

markets will remain 

closed tomorrow, Friday on 

account of Christmas. 

KEY STOCKS 

Financial shares ended 

lower with HDFC, ICICI 

UN Security Council endorses Libya unity deal 

United Nations, Dec 24: 

The UN Security Council has 

given its backing to the new 

national unity government 

in Libya, a move it hopes 

will help stem mass migration 

to Europe and reverse 

gains made by the Islamic 

State of Iraq and the Levant 

(ISIL) group. 

The 15-nation council 

gave its support to the 

deal signed last week in the 

Moroccan town of Skhirat 

between representatives of 

Libya’s two competing regimes. 

Britain’s ambassador to 

the United Nations, Matthew 

Rycroft, presented the 

motion, which he said represents 

a “strong collective 

sign of our commitment to 

Libya’s sovereignty, territorial 

integrity and national 

unity.” 

“This is just the start of a 

process to deliver a prosperous 

and stable future for all 

Libyans,” Rycroft said. 

“We urge all those who 

have not yet signed to decide 

now to support the 

agreement and to work with 

the government of national 

accord.” 

The United Nations envoy 

to Libya, Martin Kobler, 

is now working on arrangements 

to allow the unity 

government to safely set 

up shop in Tripoli,which is 

under the control of militia 

fighters. 

“I encourage those who 

are not yet on board to join - 

China tightens security as 

embassies warn of threats 

Beijing, Dec 24: Beijing police tightened 

security around a bar and shopping area 

popular with foreigners on Thursday as embassies 

issued warnings for their citizens to 

be on guard against possible threats against 

Westerners. 

The American, British, French and other 

embassies said they had received information 

of possible threats against Westerners 

in the Sanlitun area on or around Christmas 

Day, and urged their citizens to be vigilant. 

Embassy spokespeople contacted said 

they had no more information to share. 

Dozens of police, some with rifles, were 

standing on guard in the area, which has 

many big-name brand stores and some embassies. 

Roads leading into the embassy area 

were closed to traffic. 

Beijing police also announced on Thursday 

that they had issued a yellow security 

alert to ensure safety during the Christmas 

period. 

According to Beijing’s security regulations, 

the alert is the lowest on a three-tier 

security warning scale for large stores or 

shopping and entertainment areas and is 

issued in case of receiving threats or finding 

suspected explosives. 

Rs 267 crore was raised in 2014 and Rs 

335 crore were mopped up in 2013 by 

SME IPOs. 

ICICI Securities’ Executive Director 

Ajay Saraf said, “The retail investors on 

an average made a 17-20% return in 

the current year. The trend of blockbuster 

response from retail investors 

in the recent listings can be anticipated 

to continue in the forthcoming 

issues.” 

Going forward, the IPO market is expected 

to get even better in 2016, with 

at least 32 issues worth Rs 14,260 crore 

already lined up for the new year, according 

to investment bankers. 

According to Prime Database, 21 

companies have already secured regulator 

Sebi’s go-ahead for share sales worth 

Rs 8,800 crore. They may launch their 

IPOs early next year. 

Some of the major IPOs lined up include 

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam (Rs 1,500 

crore), AGS Transact Technologies (Rs 

1,350 crore), Dilip Buildcon (Rs 750 

crore), Nuziveedu Seeds (Rs 700 crore) 

and Paranjape Schemes (Rs 600 crore). 

Besides, issues from Matrix Cellular 

(Rs 500 crore), Catholic Syrian Bank (Rs 

400 crore) and Matrimony.Com (Rs 450 

crore) are also expected. 

Moreover, 11 more companies are 

awaiting Sebi go-ahead to mop up Rs 

5,445 crore from IPOs. These issuers include 

RBL Bank (Rs 1,500 crore), Mahanagar 

Gas (Rs 1,200 crore), Equitas Holdings 

(Rs 750 crore), GVR Infra Projects 

Markets end flat amid thin 

volumes; Nifty holds 7850 

the door is wide open,” said 

Kobler after the UN vote, 

adding that a priority of the 

new unified government 

will be fighting ISIL, which 

he said is expanding toward 

the east, west and south of 

Libya. 

After the annoucement 

of the UN council’s backing, 

Samantha Power, Washington’s 

UN ambassador, 

tweeted: “We urge all parties 

to unite behind Libyan 

political agreement; door is 

open to those who want to 

join in work [toward] peace 

[that] Libyan [people] deserve.” 

Libya has been locked 

in conflict since a NATObacked 

revolt that overthrew 

long-time leader 

Muammar Gaddafi four 

years ago. 

On December 17, under 

Koh Samui, Dec 24: A Thai court on 

Thursday sentenced two Myanmar migrants 

to death for the murder of two 

British backpackers on a resort island 

last year, in a case that raised questions 

about police competence and the judicial 

system in Thailand. 

Human Rights Watch called the 

verdict “profoundly disturbing,” citing 

the defendants’ accusations of police 

torture that were never investigated 

and questionable DNA evidence linking 

them to the crime. 

Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin, both 

22, have denied killing David Miller, 

24, and raping then murdering Hannah 

Witheridge, 23, last year on the island 

of Koh Tao. Their defense attorney said 

they planned to appeal. 

Miller and Witheridge’s battered 

UN guidance, envoys from 

both sides and a number of 

independent political figures 

signed a deal to unify 

the government. 

Around 80 of 188 lawmakers 

from Libya’s internationally 

recognised 

parliament and 50 of 136 

members of the rival Tripoli-based 

General National 

Congress signed the deal. 

The agreement calls 

for a 17-member government, 

headed by businessman 

Fayez el-Sarraj 

as premier, based in the 

Libyan capital. 

A presidential council 

would also serve for a transitional 

period of two years 

until legislative elections. 

International officials 

expect the new government, 

once installed, to have 

the authority to request 

international assistance - 

perhaps even military intervention 

- to counter the 

growing threat from ISIL, 

which has seized a pocket 

of territory around Gaddafi’s 

hometown of Sirte. 

Bank, SBI and Axis Bank 

down 0.3%-1.3% each contributing 

the most to the 

Sensex decline. 

Shares of metal and 

mining companies gained 

following a rebound in the 

commodity prices. Vedanta 

and Hindalco ended up 

1.6%-3.2% each. 

Coal India ended flat 

with positive bias. The company 

plans to invest approximately 

Rs 500 crore 

in its joint venture with 

Indian Railways to procure 

rail wagons for transporting 

coal. 

Idea Cellular gained 

nearly 1% after it announced 

the launch of fourth generation 

(4G) services in all four 

telecom service areas of 

South India on Wednesday 

ahead of the launch of Reliance 

Jio. Meanwhile, its rival 

Bharti Airtel gained 2%. 

bodies were found on Septeber 15, 

2014, on the rocky shores of Koh Tao, 

an island in the Gulf of Thailand known 

for its white sand beaches and scuba 

diving. Autopsies showed that the 

young backpackers, who met on the 

island while staying at the same hotel, 

suffered severe head wounds and that 

Witheridge had been raped. 

In its ruling, the court on nearby 

Samui island, said that prosecutors had 

presented evidence from the crime 

scene and provided witness testimony 

that proved “without any doubt 

to the court” that the two men had 

killed Miller and raped Witheridge before 

murdering her “to cover up their 

wrongdoings”. DNA evidence showed 

that the semen of both men was found 

inside Witheridge, the court said. 

Oil exploration major 

ONGC ended 0.7% lower. 

The company plans to invest 

Rs 3,500 crore in extracting 

gas lying below coal seams 

(CBM) in three coal-bed 

methane blocks in eastern 

India. 

State-owned banks ended 

lower after the Reserve 

Bank of India (RBI) criticized 

the dividend distribution 

policy of PSU banks in its 

latest Financial Stability Report 

(FSR) report. 

IDBI Bank, Punjab National 

Bank, Bank of Baroda, 

Canara Bank, Bank of India, 

SBI and Union Bank of India 

slipped between 0.5%-1.5%. 

Sun Pharma ended flat. 

The company today said it 

has raised Rs 1,000 crore 

through issuance of nonconvertible 

debentures 

(NCDs) on private placement 

basis. 

Riyadh, Dec 24: At least 25 

people have been killed and 

107 injured in a fire at a hospital 

in Jizan, Saudi Arabia, 

authorities said. 

The Saudi civil defence 

directorate said in a post 

on Facebook that the fire at 

the Jizan General Hospital 

started at about 2.30am local 

time. 

It is not yet known what 

caused the blaze, which began 

on the first floor of the 

hospital. The intensive care 

unit and maternity ward are 

both on the first floor. 

Saudi Arabian authorities 

are on the scene investigating. 

At least 20 brigades from 

the civil defence directorate 

were deployed to fight the 

blaze, which has now been 

brought under control. 

Dr. Ahmad Alsum, an 

emergency doctor at Jizan’s 

King Fahd Hospital, told Al 

Jazeera that most of those 

injured in the fire were patients. 

Patients were transferred 

to a number of other 

nearby public and private 

hospitals. 

Alsum said early indications 

were that the blaze 

was an electrical fire. 

(Rs 500 crore) and VLCC Health Care (Rs 

400 crore). 

A lot other companies are also 

readying their IPO plans and the overall 

pipeline is estimated at Rs 50,000 crore. 

“The increase in the number of IPOs, 

as witnessed this year, is likely to continue 

over the next few years,” NSE’s 

business development chief Ravi Varanasi. 

“In the coming years, majority of 

new listings will be driven by the new 

economy companies in diverse sectors 

such as e-commerce, fintech, biotechnology,” 

he added. 

The premier bourse BSE is expecting 

to list around 15 IPOs on its main board 

and 15-16 issues on its SME platform in 

the first half of 2016. The BSE’s SME platform 

is the largest with over 100 companies 

trading. 

“There are about 30 companies on 

the main board and 18 firms on the SME 

platform which have got IPO approvals,” 

a BSE spokesperson said. 

Experts see many more firms and 

small finance banks licensees tapping 

the IPO market to raise funds in 2016. 

25 dead, 107 injured in 

Saudi hospital fire 

Myanmar migrants found guilty 

of killing British backpackers 

In an emotional statement after 

the verdict, Miller’s family said they 

had initial doubts about the investigation 

but found the evidence against the 

accused to be “absolutely overwhelming”. 

“Justice is what has been delivered 

today. We respect this court and 

its decision completely,” said Michael 

Miller, the brother of David, reading 

from a statement beside his two parents. 

“Our lives have been changed forever, 

nothing brings David home. No 

last hugs. No goodbyes,” his brother 

said, describing David as intelligent, 

hard-working, caring and fun. “He is 

irreplaceable to us. Our hearts will always 

be filled with the brightness that 

he brought to our lives.” 

Reliance 

Defence signs 

pact with Russian 

arms firm 

Mumbai, Dec 24: Reliance Defence 

said on Thursday it had 

signed a manufacturing and 

maintenance deal potentially 

worth $6 billion with Russia’s 

Almaz-Antey, the maker of an 

air defence system that sources 

said the Indian military was 

poised to buy. The partnership 

between the Indian firm 

controlled by billionaire Anil 

Ambani and the Russian firm 

was announced as Indian 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi 

began a trip to Moscow aimed 

at strengthening defence ties. 

Earlier this week, Indian 

defence ministry sources said 

the government had cleared 

the purchase of five S-400 

air defence systems that are 

estimated to cost about $4.5 

billion in a bid to modernise 

the country’s defences 

against airborne attacks. 

“Twenty-five people 

died in this fire. It is very 

devastating,” he said. 

Jizan is the capital of 

the Jizan region in southwest 

Saudi Arabia, located 

immediately north of the 

Yemen border. 

Syria agrees to join 

Geneva peace talks 

Syria, Dec 24: Syria is ready 

to participate in peace talks 

in Geneva aimed at ending 

its civil war, the country’s 

foreign minister said during 

an official visit to China. 

“Syria is ready to participate 

in the Syrian-Syrian 

dialogue in Geneva without 

any foreign interference,” 

Walid Muallem said during 

a press briefing on Thursday, 

following his meeting 

with Chinese Foreign 

Minister Wang Yi. 

Last week, the UN 

Security Council gave its 

unanimous support to 

a plan to end the Syrian 

conflict by summoning 

rebels and the regime to 

the negotiating table.


Psychiatric symptoms could 

be sign of brain tumour 

Psychiatric symptoms such 

as depression, mania, hallucinations, 

anxiety disorders 

and anorexia nervosa, 

even without any neurological 

signs, may be signs of a 

brain tumour, according to 

doctors who treated a woman 

thought to have treatment-resistant 

depression. 

The 54-year-old woman 

had been depressed for six 

months, but treatment with 

the antidepressant fluoxetine 

and the anti-anxiety 

medication bromazepam 

was discontinued after five 

months because these were 

not found to be effective, 

says an article published in 

BMJ Case Reports. 

The patient’s symptoms 

included apathy, difficulties 

with making decisions and 

FROM FRONT PAGE..................... 

Geelani........ 

conscience person can issue such an irresponsible statement.” 

“No political party and the VDC have any comparison. VDC 

is an armed force beyond the control of state authorities and 

above the constitution and law of the state. There are although 

only 196 criminal cases registered against the members of this 

force but these personnel are involved in thousands of such serious 

crimes which have no official record and due to the terror 

of this force, hundreds of affected people are scared to open 

their mouth against them,” the statement added. 

KCSDS........ 

We demand that these people should be kept in a reformatory 

after being disarmed.” 

PDP........ 

will start a campaign against these ‘terrorist’ committees. Government 

has not right to arm a section of people in the name 

of militancy which doesn’t exist anywhere in Jammu region,” 

he said. (CNS) 

Govt....... 

add to the already charged atmosphere. All political parties cutting 

across party lines badly need to take a stand against this 

state sponsored terrorist outfit and ensure that the committees 

are disbanded and weapons whatsoever are snatched from 

them. It is time to perform the duty without playing politics 

and prove that humanity and lives of humans are much more 

precious than anything else,” Rasheed said in a party statement. 

Meanwhile an AIP delegation today visited Kalakote to offer 

condolences to the family of late Ishtiyaq Chowdhary who was 

murdered by the VDC member few days back. 

Speaking on the occasion Molvi Shabir reiterated the demand 

of disbanding the VDCs. 

He asked the local MLA and BJP Minister, Ab Gani Kohli, to 

“stop shedding crocodile tears and resign from the BJP if he feels 

pain of people”. 

Fervor....... 

Meanwhile, special congregational prayers were also organized 

at other revered shrines of Kashmir like Jenab Sahab Soura, 

Asar-e-Sharif Shahri Kalashpora, Khanqah-e-Maula, Ziarat 

initiating action, a lack of 

energy, sleep disorders, and 

concentration and attention 

problems. 

She had suicidal 

thoughts, admitted self-accusation 

due to ineffectiveness 

in her job, and lost 

interest in her usual past 

times. 

She did not have a history 

of personal or familial 

mental illness, but experienced 

several stressful 

events. 

A neurological examination 

was normal. However, 

a brain CT scan and MRI 

revealed meningiomatosis 

with a giant meningioma -- 

the most common primary 

benign brain tumour -- in 

Stay away from cough 

medicines containing 

codeine: Doctors 

Codeine, a widely prescribed 

painkiller, can also 

be purchased over the 

counter in preparations of 

cold/cough remedies but 

over consumption of such 

medicines can lead to a 

“confususional” state and 

loss of the ability to create 

new memories, says a new 

study. 

There is little evidence 

showing benefits of 

codeine in cough remedies, 

and the risks associated 

with codeine use in over 

the counter cough suppressants 

may be “particularly 

unnecessary” because of 

the lack of evidence, the 

experts said. 

An article in the ournal 

BMJ Case Reports described 

the first published case 

of confusional state in a 

healthy 14-year-old girl 

attributed to excessive 

consumption of over the 

counter cough medicine 

that contained codeine. 

Codeine intoxication 

symptoms often include 

central nervous system 

depression, respiratory 

depression, severe itching 

of the skin, and flushing. 

Confusion is a relatively 

unusual complaint. 

However, in this 

particular case, the teenage 

girl experienced confusion 

and the loss of the ability to 

create new memories. 

She falsely reported to 

have completed tasks, for 

example, by claiming to 

have showered when it was 

obvious to her mother that 

she had not. 

She slept up to 20 

hours a day, had a decreased 

attention span and 

suffered from intermittent 

headaches. 

Before these symptoms, 

the patient experienced 

flu-like symptoms 

over a 15 day period, during 

which she was absent from 

school. She had been taking 

2-3 spoonfuls daily of 

codeine cough suppressant, 

oral codeine phosphate, 

over this time. 

The patient had not 

exceeded the recommended 

daily dosage of three-six 

spoonfuls, but she had 

exceeded the maximum 

recommended duration of 

usage of three days. 

Each spoonful is equivalent 

to 15 mg of codeine, 

and the patient consumed a 

total of 450-675 mg over 15 

days, instead of the recommended 

maximum dosage 

of 270 mg during any given 

course of treatment. 

A urine test reported 

positive for codeine, and no 

other drugs were present. 

The doctors warned 

that there have been many 

reported child and adolescent 

deaths following 

codeine use, and they concluded 

that “the combination 

of lack of efficacy, risk 

of acute intoxication and 

dependence, suggests that 

the use of OTC (over the 

counter) codeine preparations 

may be unwarranted.” 

Hazrat Dastgeer Sahab (RA), Syed Yaqoob Sahab (RA) Sonwar, 

Khawaja Naqshband Sahab (RA) and Ziarat Makhdoom Sahib 

(RA). Similar prayers were also held at Masjids and shrines in Islamabad 

mainly at Jamia Masjid Reshi Sahab, Khiram Sirhama, 

Kaba Marg, Dooru and Seer Hamdan. 

In Kargil, thousands of people celebrated Eid Milad-u-Nabi 

(SAW) in the town. While speaking in Jamia Masjid Hanfia Kargil, 

the Imam stressed for unity among Muslims. He said that 

the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the only way to lead 

a better life. 

A Seerat Conference was held at Idgah in Jammu. The day 

long Seerat Conference was organised by Anjuman Islah-Ul- 

Muslimeen, Jammu. The conference was presided over by Vice 

President All India Muslim Personal Board, Dr. Kalab-E-Sadiq. A 

large number of people besides religious scholars participated 

in the conference. The clerics on the occasion threw light on 

the teachings and working of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and 

through their sermons impressed upon the people to be united 

and follow the teaching of Prophet (SAW). 

In Bhaderwah, people took out procession from the historic 

Jamia Masjid which passed through various roads and streets 

of Bhaderwah town in which various prominent Muslim scholars 

made their speeches and threw light on the teachings and 

working of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). (CNS) 

Mufti........ 

city on Tuesday amidst intense cold, after which he complained 

of exhaustion, On Wednesday, he took complete rest at his official 

residence. 

It was felt appropriate to proceed to the union capital for 

consultation and medical check up. “The Chief Minister’s health 

is absolutely fine and he is taking rest,” the spokesman added. 

Gunfight........ 

Bandipora district. 

Reports reaching here said that Thursday late evening, suspected 

attacked forces at Ajas in Bandipora. 

Immediately after the grenade attack, army fired several 

rounds in air creating panic among the residents. (GNS) 

Parrikar........ 

connecting to the super-structure at 14-meter spacing in the 

main span and 10.3 meters in the side spans,” they said. 

“Near the abutments, three sets of intermediate piers 

spaced at just over 20 meters form a secondary support system. 

When complete, the bridge will accommodate two lanes of 

HEALTH 

her left frontal lobe. 

This is an area known to 

have an important role in the 

development of depression 

for patients with tumours in 

the brain. 

The patient underwent 

emergency surgery, and 

made a recovery. The depressive 

symptoms disappeared 

within one month. 

The doctors in the article 

say that certain patients 

should have a brain scan to 

identify or exclude the possibility 

of a tumour, but note 

that “it seems unrealistic to 

prescribe brain imaging in 

every patient with a depressive 

syndrome” because this 

mental disorder is common 

while brain tumours are “remarkably 

rare” in patients 

with depression. 

7 activities to reduce 

heart failure risk 

Seven measures 

that people can 

use to rate their 

heart health and 

take steps to 

improve it are managing 

blood pressure, 

controlling cholesterol, 

reducing blood sugar, 

getting physically active, 

eating better, losing 

weight and stopping 

smoking suggests new 

research. 

“Even though there 

is awareness about the 

importance of a healthy 

lifestyle, many people 

do not act on those 

messages,” said study 

senior author Vanessa 

Xanthakis from Boston 

University in the US. 

The researchers followed 

3,201 participants 

for up to 12.3 years. The 

average age of the participants 

was 59 years 

During that time, 

188 participants suffered 

heart failure. 

They found that 

for each one-point 

higher cardiovascular 

health score on the 

American Heart Association’s 

Life’s Simple 

seven checklist for a 

healthy heart, there 

was a 23 percent lower 

risk of developing 

heart failure. 

Those scoring in 

the middle third cut 

their risk of heart failure 

nearly in half compared 

to those in the bottom 

third. Those in the top 

third reduced their risk 

even further. 

“This study points to 

the importance of knowing 

your numbers and 

speaking to your doctor 

about improving your 

score on each health 

metric and trying to get 

as close to ideal status 

as possible,” Xanthakis 

explained. 

The study was published 

in the journal Circulation: 

Heart Failure. 

Drug-resistant 

TB cases up 

Experts Seek Change 

In Policy Measures To 

Check Mortality 

There has been a 12% 

increase in the incidence 

of multi-drug-resistant 

tuberculosis (MDR-TB) 

in India since 2000, a 

new study has revealed. 

The study is based on 

a retrospective analysis 

of patient data at Sir 

Ganga Ram Hospital. Researchers 

have termed 

the increase as alarming 

and suggested immediate 

modification in policy 

measures to check 

mortality because of the 

communicable disease. 

According to Dr 

Chand Wattal, chairman, 

department of clinical 

microbiology and immunology 

, multi drug-resistance 

in TB patient 

Simple 

exercises 

to reduce 

eye strain 

was 4.7% in 2000 and it 

has gone up to 19.8% as 

on 2012. “MDR-TB was 

more in case of pulmonary 

(28.2%) than extra-pulmonary 

11.6%) 

TB,” he said. 

Dr S K Sharma, professor 

and head of the 

medicine department at 

AIIMS, said the survival 

rate in TB patients who 

are sensitive to drugs is 

90% and higher but in 

multi drug-resistance 

cases, it reduces to less 

than 60%. 

“Antibiotic resistance 

has a major role to play 

in higher mortality due 

to MDR-TB. People take 

highend antibiotics, used 

for treatment of drug-resistant 

TB, for treatment 

of common infections. It 

reduces the efficacy of 

the drugs when in need,” 

Dr Sharma. 

He said the government 

should stop 

over-the-counter sale 

of anti-TB drugs. “Also, 

the drugs should be prescribed 

only at public 

hospitals or by doctors 

working under public-private 

partnership 

to ensure accountability,” 

Dr Sharma added. 

According to World 

Health Organisation’s 

global tuberculosis report 

2013, India has the 

highest number of MDR- 

TB patients, partly due 

to poor disease management 

by the healthcare 

system. 

Health experts stress 

on the need for rational 

prescribing of TB to 

check instances of drug 

resistance. “There have 

been no new drugs for 

TB for nearly 50 years. If 

we continue to prescribe 

drugs irrationally, we 

will be left with nothing 

to treat patients who develop 

resistance to the 

existing combination of 

drugs,” said a senior doctor. 

Dr Sharma said, 

“South Africa’s former 

President Nelson Mandela, 

India’s former 

Prime Minister Indira 

Gandhi, writer Munshi 

Premchand and several 

other celebrities had the 

disease. But there is still a 

stigma attached to it.The 

general belief is that tuberculosisis 

a poor man’s 

disease which is wrong. 

It can affect anyone with 

low immunity”. 

Do you find yourself squinting your eyes and rubbing them in irritation often? Owing to the 

exposure of the computer screens and mobile phones in our daily lives, a lot of people have 

started experiencing blurred vision, itchiness and headaches on a daily basis. 

Here are a few simple exercises to help rejuvenate and reduce the strain on your eyes. 

Palming 

Rub your hands together for about 10 to 15 minutes till they're slightly warm, now place 

them upon your eyes. Don't touch the eyeballs directly, instead just keep your hands lightly 

over your eyes. 

Repeated blinking 

Blinking every three or four seconds helps in reducing eye strain. When we watch television 

or work on the computer we tend to blink less, allow your eyes to rest by blinking 

every few seconds. 


Srinagar | Friday 


36 

Low vitamin 

D levels 

don’t worsen 

sleep apnea 

Depression? It 

could be just 

sleep apnea7 

sources of vitamin 

DCan 

this cannabis pill be 

the solution for sleep 

apneaVitamin D pill 

may improve exercise 

performanceNutritional 

Vitamin D improves 

vascular function: 

StudyWhy too much 

vitamin D can be 

bad for youVitamin 

D doesn’t cut cold in 

asthma patients 

Contradicting 

common perception, 

researchers have found 

that low levels of 

vitamin D, also known 

as the “sunshine vitamin”, 

does not cause 

or worsen sleep apnea. 

Sleep apnea causes 

repeated awakenings 

and pauses in 

breathing during the 

night. Obesity appears 

to contribute to the 

adverse effects. 

“The link between 

obesity and vitamin 

D deficiency can be 

explained a number 

of ways, one of which 

is that obese individuals 

are less likely to 

be physically active, 

thereby limiting their 

sun exposure,” said 

senior investigator Ken 

Kunisaki, associate 

professor of medicine 

at University of Minnesota 

in the US. 

“Although our 

study was not designed 

to figure out 

why obese people 

have lower vitamin 

D levels, our results 

ultimately suggest 

that low vitamin D 

levels do not cause or 

worsen sleep apnea,” 

Kunisaki said. 

The study involved 

a cohort of 2,827 

participants who were 

generally healthy and 

elderly males with 

average age 76.4 years. 

“Taking additional 

vitamin D supplements 

is not likely to 

prevent or improve 

sleep apnea,” Kunisaki 

said. 

The researchers 

also found no evidence 

to support a link 

between vitamin D deficiency 

and increased 

risk of sleep apnea 

in non-obese study 

participants. 

traffic as well as two footpaths,” the officials said. 

The bridge will act as a lifeline for people of Basohli and Bani 

tehsils and it will shorten their distance of travel to Punjab and HP. 

It will also prove to be a boost to the socio-economic development 

of the region, in terms of an increase in tourism and 

commercial activities, and due to reduced distances to other 

important places like Dalhousie and Chamba, they said. 

The construction of this bridge will help in promotion of 

tourism in the area as a large number of tourists visiting picnic 

spot of Dalhousie and other sight seeing places in neighbouring 

HP can also visit the Ranjit Sagar Dam at Basohli provided it is 

being developed as a tourist spot. 

Moreover, it will also help in boosting pilgrimage tourism 

and other tourists to sight-seeing places in Basohli, Bani and Billawar 

tehsils. 

This bridge is strategically important from defence point of 

view as well and it also has the second longest span in India. 

“It was the most challenging task before the BRO engineers 

to accomplish this task,” they said. 

“Not only the Indian engineers and consultants, the agencies 

from Canada, Japan, Spain and Switzerland have also been 

engaged for the completion of this prestigious project by the 

BRO authorities”, they said. 

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi set into motion the construction 

of the bridge by laying foundation stone on river Ravi 

at Basohli in Kathua district in May 2011. 

Described as an engineering marvel in this part of the country, 

the work on the project was commenced in September 2011. 

“The peculiarity of this bridge is that the main span and 

back span are balanced by cable and this bridge has been designed 

by Canadian Company, Infinity Engineers. IIT New Delhi 

had approved the design of this bridge,” they said. 

Nearly 300 tonnes of specially designed cables are needed 

for the bridge which are being procured from Japan and Spain, 

they said. 

“The span layout is symmetric (121 metre–350 metre-121 

metre) with pylons positioned at the top of the river banks. 

Two inclined cable planes splay outwards from each pylon 

in a semi-fan configuration, connecting to the super-structure 

at 14-meter spacing in the main span and 10.3 meters in the 

side spans,” they said. 

“Near the abutments, three sets of intermediate piers 

spaced at just over 20 meters form a secondary support system. 

When complete, the bridge will accommodate two lanes of 

traffic as well as two footpaths,” the officials said. 

The bridge will act as a lifeline for people of Basohli and 

Bani tehsils and it will shorten their distance of travel to Punjab 

and HP. 

It will also prove to be a boost to the socio-economic development 

of the region, in terms of an increase in tourism and 

commercial activities, and due to reduced distances to other 

important places like Dalhousie and Chamba, they said. 

The construction of this bridge will help in promotion of 

tourism in the area as a large number of tourists visiting picnic 

spot of Dalhousie and other sight seeing places in neighbouring 

HP can also visit the Ranjit Sagar Dam at Basohli provided it is 

being developed as a tourist spot. 

Protests........ 

face any water scarcity due to the water supply scheme. 

“Government will never deprive people from safe drinking 

water,” Bhat said. 

He said that if there will be demand of more water in future 

the government is ready to redress the people’s demand at 

that time. “Government will give priority to the people residing 

from New Bridge to Chadoora,” Bhat said. 

Senior Superintendent of Police Budgam Fayaz Ahmad Lone 

said that the at least four policemen were injured after the villagers 

pelted them with stones during the clashes. 

“Police was providing security to the workers of the water 

supply scheme. But villagers pelted the police and the workers 

with stones in which four of our men were injured. We have no 

knowledge of whether any civilian was injured,” SP said. 

Meanwhile, Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone 

Hanjura directed the Chief Executive Officer, Economy Reconstruction 

Agency (ERA), which is the executing agency for laying 

of 600 MM Di Pipe for Transmission of Raw Water from 

Higher Reaches of Doodganga Nallah to Kralpora Water Treatment 

Plant and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to temporary 

suspend the construction work on the project till an amicable 

solution. He also appealed the people of Chrar-e-Sharief constituency 

and its adjoining areas to maintain calm as the Government 

will safeguard their interests. 

While interacting with media persons here today, the Minister 

said that the construction work of laying of 600 MM Di 

Pipe project was sanctioned with an estimated cost of Rs. 42.54 

crore during the previous regime in September 2013 to augment 

the existing drinking water scenario in the area and the 

work on the same was started in October 2014. 

Hanjura said being public representative of the area, the 

people have represented to him and expressed some reservation 

on the project and have demanded suspension of work on 

the project as it harms their interests. He said he will visit the 

area for some on-the spot amicable solution by addressing the 

concerns of the locals. 

“I have asked the ERA to suspend the work temporarily till 

an amicable solution,” he maintained. (KNS)

7 

SRINAGAR,FRIDAY 


S 

P 

O 

R 

T 

S 

Sathish helps 

TN seal a 

low-scoring 

thriller 

Allrounder R Sathish 

sealed a thrilling onewicket 

win for Tamil 

Nadu to take them to 

their first Vijay Hazare 

semi-final in five years. At 

the start of the 41st over, 

Tamil Nadu needed seven 

runs with three wickets in 

hand, but Piyush Chawla 

struck twice to bring the 

last man in. Rahil Shah 

kept his head and handed 

the strike over to Sathish, 

who had shepherded the 

chase from an earlier 

crisis of 81 for 5. 

When Chawla began 

that eventful over, Sathish 

and captain R Ashwin 

looked set for the win 

with their partnership 

having added 35 assured 

runs. It seemed a questionable 

move to hand 

Chawla the ball when the 

wreckers of the top order 

- Kumars Praveen and 

Bhuvneshwar - had overs 

left. Chawla, though, 

produced two special 

deliveries. With a slider 

he trapped Ashwin lbw, 

and with a big legbreak 

he took the edge of Aswin 

Crist. In between the 

two dismissals, Crist had 

eased the nerves somewhat 

with a cover drive 

for four. Rahil had to 

come in with three runs 

required. 

On the fifth ball of the 

over, UP spread the field. 

They were prepared to 

concede the single, and 

have a go at the No. 11 in 

the next over, but Rahil 

got a full toss fifth ball, 

which he played to long 

leg to bring Tamil Nadu 

closer by one run. Now 

with one ball left, UP had 

two choices: invite the 

big hit and thus the risk 

by bringing the field up 

or keep the fielders back 

to keep the game alive for 

another over. They went 

for the latter, Chawla 

bowled short, and Sathish 

gladly accepted the single 

and retained strike. 

Praveen bowled the 

42nd over. He had started 

the defence of 168 with 

Dinesh Karthik’s wicket 

in the first over. He had 

bowled seven unchanged 

overs in the company of 

Bhuvneshwar, who took 

three wickets, to reduce 

Tamil Nadu to 17 for 4. 

The Kumars had then 

seen the pressure they 

created slip away as M 

Vijay and B Indrajith, who 

added 64 for the fifth 

wicket against the backup 

bowlers. 

Now was the chance 

for Praveen to try to 

produce that one final bit 

of magic to tie the match, 

and have the winner 

decided by a coin toss. 

He nearly did so first ball 

with an accurate yorker. 

Hafeez, Azhar stay away from 

camp due to Amir’s presence 

In November 2011, Amir - along with Salman Butt and 

Mohammad Asif - was sentenced in a London Court on 

charges conspiracy to accept corrupt payments and conspiracy 

to cheat at gambling after a plot was uncovered 

in a News of the World sting operation to bowl deliberate 

no-balls in a Test against England in 2010. 

Pakistan’s ODI captain Azhar Ali and veteran 

allrounder Mohammad Hafeez have chosen 

to stay away from the ongoing conditioning 

camp in Lahore, apparently due to Mohammad 

Amir’s inclusion among the probables 

for the camp. Azhar confirmed that he had 

stayed away because of Amir and Pakistan’s 

team manager, Agha Akbar, said Hafeez’s 

absence was also apparently for the same 

reason. 

Amir, who is in the selection mix after 

serving a five-year ban for his role in the 

2010 spot-fixing scandal, was one of the 26 

probables named for the pre-season conditioning 

camp in the build-up to the New 

Zealand tour. Both Hafeez and Azhar were 

playing domestic matches in Karachi and had 

missed the first three days of the camp which 

began on December 21. They were scheduled 

to join the camp on Thursday, but Agha Akbar 

confirmed that the pair did not train with the 

side. 

“Both are not joining the training camp today 

apparently because of Mohammad Amir,” 

Akbar told ESPNcricinfo. 

Azhar was more direct. “I will not attend the 

BCCI clears India’s tour 

of West Indies 

Quitting Tests May Hurt Mahendra Singh 

Dhoni’s Future as Team India Captain: Kapil 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s future 

as a Team India player continues 

to perplex the greats of the game 

and that includes Kapil Dev. Dhoni 

quit Test cricket after the Boxing 

Day contest in Melbourne last 

year. He will be back in Australia in 

January for a series of overs-limited 

matches as captain of a young and 

experienced Indian team. (Kapil 

Dev, V.V.S. Laxman Speak on India’s 

Chances in Australia) 

Dhoni has run hot and cold in the 

50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy. He 

has had limited success as ODI and 

T20I skipper this year, having lost a 

series in Bangladesh and more recently, 

versus South Africa at home. 

With Virat Kohli emerging with 

flying colours as a Test captain, 

questions on Dhoni’s future were 

obvious. 

Two former captains have contrasting 

views on Dhoni’s value and 

NEW DELHI: On-field achievements often 

jostled for space with off-field drama as 

Indian hockey endured a rollercoaster year 

during which the players scripted historical 

feats but coach Paul van Ass’ acrimonious 

ouster and Gurbaj Singh’s suspension created 

its share of storm. 

While the women team’s return to 

Olympics after a hiatus of 36 years and men 

team’s 33-year-old medal jinx in a major 

international tournament -- Hockey World 

League (HWL) Final to be precise -- were 

the high points, Van Ass’ bitter sacking and 

experienced midfielder Gurbaj’s nine-month 

suspension summed up a mixed year gone by 

for Indian hockey. 

Just like the past two years, 2015 started 

with the high-profile six-team franchisebased 

Hockey India League which witnessed 

“I will not attend the camp as long as Amir is 

there,this is my decision and we are open to discuss 

with the PCB. I don’t want to comment on 

Hafeez’s decision, but we both have the same 

stance.” 

The BCCI has decided to revoke the 

suspension imposed on bilateral 

tours with the West Indies by clearing 

India’s tour of the Caribbean in mid- 

2016. The approval is subject to the 

WICB committing to complete last 

year’s abandoned tour of India. 

Although the BCCI has not commented 

on the matter, WICB president 

Dave Cameron informed via a 

media release that the BCCI president 

Shashank Manohar had confirmed 

India would tour the Caribbean in 

2016. It is understood that both men 

spoke over the phone earlier this 

week to reach an understanding. 

Manohar pointed out to Cameron 

that the WICB needed to give a firm 

commitment to the BCCI that last 

year’s incomplete tour would be 

played in India.According to the ICC’s 

bilateral tours programme, India are 

scheduled to tour the West Indies for 

a four-Test series between July and 

August.“West Indies Cricket Board 

(WICB) President, Dave Cameron, 

today (December 23) confirmed that 

following discussions with BCCI President, 

Shashank Manohar, the West 

Indies will host India in the Caribbean 

in 2016,” the media statement said. 

“This agreement is subject to the 

WICB and the Players Association giving 

a joint commitment to complete, 

at a later date, the tour which prematurely 

ended in October 2014.” 

That pull out by the West Indies 

players was led by then captain 

Dwayne Bravo, citing the failure of 

the West Indies Players’ Association 

(WIPA) and WICB to respond convincingly 

to their questions relating to 

the memorandum of understanding 

and collective bargaining agreement 

signed by the two parties in September 

2014. West Indies were supposed to 

play five ODIs, a T20 and three Tests on 

that tour, but they withdrew after the 

fourth ODI in Dharamsala. 

Ever since that pull-out, the WICB 

and especially Cameron have had to 

face a lot of criticism not only from the 

Caribbean community, but also from 

the BCCI. Calling the abandonment 

a “monumental disaster”, the then 

BCCI administration slapped punitive 

future as a national player. While 

Kapil Dev told NDTV that Dhoni 

may be short on motivation having 

quit the longer format of the game, 

damages upon the WICB amounting to 

$41.97 million. 

This was followed by a brief lull 

as the BCCI itself underwent a quarrelsome 

transition in its administration 

with initially the late Jagmohan 

Dalmiya taking over as board president, 

followed by Manohar. The change in 

guard allowed Cameron to buy more 

time, and he sought an audience with 

Manohar, on October 17. 

A ray of hope emerged the next 

day, after the BCCI’s working committee 

was updated on the WICB request. 

Besides tendering several apologies, 

Cameron and WICB CEO Michael 

Muirhead also conveyed to the BCCI top 

brass comprising Manohar and board 

secretary Anurag Thakur its inability 

to compensate financially. Instead, the 

WICB expressed its desire to make up 

for it by touring India for a series in 

2017.After the BCCI’s annual general 

meeting on November 9, though, 

Thakur had remained non-committal. 

“There is still plenty of time to go and 

play in West Indies. We will decide at 

the appropriate time. 

Sourav Ganguly feels “Dhoni has a 

few years of cricket left in him” and 

it was premature to think of a new 

captain (read Kohli) for the 2019 

World Cup in England. (Mahendra 

Singh Dhoni Has Lot of Cricket Left 

in Him: Sourav Ganguly) 

But what after that? India are 

scheduled to play 12 Tests at home 

next year and will it prudent to 

have two captains for a team whose 

core is common for all three formats 

of the game? 

The 1983 World Cup-winning 

Kapil Dev is not sure about Dhoni’s 

future. 

“He is a very sorted person. We 

can’t read his mind but I don’t 

think news stories will make an 

impact on Dhoni,” Kapil said in an 

interview on Wednesday, hinting 

that Dhoni knows when to bow out 

of international cricket. 

With the talented Kohli lurking and 

growing in experience as a leader, 

Kapil feels that a person who can 

play all the formats stands a better 

chance to skipper Team India. 

a new champion in debutants Ranchi Rays, 

partly owned by cricket captain Mahendra 

Singh Dhoni. 

Soon after India travelled to Ipoh, Malaysia 

for the six-nation Azlan Shah Cup, where 

they finished third after defeating South 

Korea 4-1 on penalties following a 2-2 draw. 

New Zealand claimed the title beating Australia 

3-1 on penalties. 

The Azlan Shah Cup was also Dutchman 

Paul van Ass’ maiden assignment with the 

Indian team since his appointment in January 

earlier this year. 

With a pretty decent start to his stint, 

Van Ass’ next assignment was the Hockey 

World League (HWL) Semi-final in Antwerp, 

Belgium.The Indian eves booked their ticket 

to next year’s Rio Games. (Getty Images) 

In HWL Semi-final, India put up an inconsistent 

show but managed to finish fourth 

losing 1-5 to Great Britain in the third-fourth 

place play-off match. 

But a major controversy broke out after 

India returned from Antwerp as Van Ass was 

sacked unceremoniously just six months into 

his job following a bitter public spat with 

Hockey India president Narinder Batra. 

Van Ass’ future with the Indian team came 

under serious doubt after he failed to report 

on time for the national camp at the Sports 

Authority of India (SAI) centre in Shilaroo, 

Himachal Pradesh. The Dutchman also did not 

submit his report on India’s performance at 

the HWL Semifinals in Antwerp, Belgium. 

Van Ass later told the media from Netherlands 

that he had been fired following his 

alleged spat with Batra after the quarterfinal 

match against Malaysia at HWL Semi-final. 

camp as long as Amir is there,” he said. “This 

is my decision and we are open to discuss 

with the PCB. I don’t want to comment on 

Hafeez’s decision, but we both have the same 

stance.’” 

In November, Hafeez had reportedly turned 

down an offer in the Bangladesh Premier 

League from the Chittagong Vikings franchise, 

who had enlisted Amir. Hafeez told 

ESPNcricinfo that he could not play “with 

any player who has tarnished and brought a 

bad name to the country”, but was open to 

accepting an offer from a different franchise. 

He stressed that this was his personal opinion. 

In November 2011, Amir - along with Salman 

Butt and Mohammad Asif - was sentenced 

in a London Court on charges conspiracy to 

accept corrupt payments and conspiracy to 

cheat at gambling after a plot was uncovered 

in a News of the World sting operation 

to bowl deliberate no-balls in a Test against 

England in 2010. Amir was given a six-month 

jail sentence and served half of it at the Portland 

Young Offenders Institution in Dorset 

He was also given a five-year ban by the ICC, 

and his suspension period formally ended 

on September 1 this year. Amir had been allowed 

to return to cricket ahead of schedule 

by the ICC in January and has since featured 

in Pakistan’s domestic T20 and first-class 

competitions. He was also a part of the BPL 

2015-16, playing nine matches for the Chittagong 

Vikings franchise. 

Syed Kirmani nominated 

for CK Nayudu award 

Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Syed 

Kirmani has been chosen for the CK Nayudu 

lifetime achievement award for 2015. The 

award, the highest honour given by the 

Indian board to a former player, comes with 

a trophy, citation, and a cheque for Rs. 25 

lakhs. 

One of India’s finest keepers, Kirmani 

effected 198 dismissals in 88 Tests, and was 

particularly immaculate behind the stumps 

to India’s spin quartet of Erapalli Prasanna, S 

Venkataraghavan, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar 

and Bishen Singh Bedi. Kirmani was also 

Sybrand Engelbrecht 

suspended for illegal 

action 

Cape Cobras’ offspinning 

allrounder 

Sybrand Engelbrecht 

has been 

suspended from 

bowling in domestic 

cricket with 

immediate effect, 

after his action was 

found to be illegal. 

The assessment, 

which was conducted 

by an ICC-accredited 

facility in 

Pretoria, revealed that all 

his deliveries exceeded 

the 15-degree limit. 

Engelbrecht was 

pulled up during the 

Ram Slam T20 game 

between Cobras and 

Dolphins on December 

9, but was allowed to 

bowl until the results of 

a capable batsman lower down the order, 

scoring close to 3000 Test runs, including 

two centuries, at an average of 27.04. 

Kirmani played 49 ODIs for India, making 

373 runs, the highlight being the 126- 

run rearguard partnership he shared with 

Kapil Dev in the World Cup game against 

Zimbabwe in Turnbridge Wells. Also a 

Padma Shree award winner, Kirmani served 

as chairman of the national selection committee 

and vice-president of the Karnataka 

State Cricket Association (KSCA) after his 

playing career. 

Success, off-field storms make 2015 eventful for Indian hockey 

the test. Now, however, 

Engelbrecht cannot bowl 

in domestic cricket until 

he remedies his action 

and clears a re-test. 

Earlier in November, 

Prenelan Subrayen, the 

22-year old Dolphins offspinner, 

was suspended 

for an illegal action. 

After attack, counter-attacks from both 

sides, High Performance Director Roelant 

Oltmans was handed over the full charge of 

the men’s team till 2016 Rio Olympics and the 

Sardar Singh-led side then embarked on a 15- 

day tour of Europe.During that, India defeated 

France 2-0 in a two-match series before 

beating Spain 2-1 in a four-game rubber.By 

then, seasoned midfielder Gurbaj was already 

sidelined for his unruly behaviour and was 

handed a nine-month suspension by HI for 

creating disharmony and rifts in the team. 

But within months the national hockey 

body was forced to lift the ban after Gurbaj 

went to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. 

However, by then, the damage had been 

done to Gurbaj because he missed the HIL 

auctions and went out of favour with the 

national selectors.

25 December 2015

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?