Bold Voice organizes debate

Kishtwar: The Bold Voice organized a debating contest on the theme " Role of youth in Politics" at Kishtwar. The programme which was held at Community Hall Kishtwar besides a large number of students was attended by prominent persons including political activist of district. Students from different institutions participated in the contest and the adjudicators of the contest were Prof. Surinder Sen , Sh Kewel Krishan Sharma Retired Educationist and author of various books, and J.R.Aryan Rtd S. E and a columnist. At the inauguration of the function, founder of the weekly Sheikh Nasir Hussain while speaking on the occasion said that he started this newspaper with the purpose to provide a platform to the people to express their views and opinion and to high light their genuine demands. Sheikh Nasir said that journalism is the mirror of the society and a journalist has to act with profound sense of responsibility. While informing that Bold Voice has completed six years of its publication he said that despite of all odds the Bold voice has unearthed various scams and has also raised the genuine issues of the area. He assured that like past it will also inform and comment upon the matter of public interest in decent, sober and accurate manner.
In the contest half of the participants spoke in favour of the motion whereas rest spoke against the motion. Two experts Qazi Akhter and J.R Aryan also spoke on the topic and presented their views. In the contest Subash Kumar from Degree College Kishtwar won the first prize, whereas second prize was won by Vijay Kumar of GDC Kishtwar and third prize was won by Prateek Rathore of Little Angel Academy Kishtwar. On this occasion special prizes were given to different local organizations including Students of Asraria valley Public School, Message for Humanity and Students Welfare Association. Among others who were present on this occasion include B.D.O Kishtwar Qazi Akhter Hussain, District President Congress Pradeep Parihar, PDP leader Rehmat-ullah Malik, NC Youth leader D.D Farooq, Dr. Nazir Hussain and Roop Lal President Teachers Forum.

Bold Voice organizes debate.

Kishtwar: The Bold Voice organized a debating contest on the theme “ Role of youth in Politics” at Kishtwar. The programme which was held at Community Hall Kishtwar besides a large number of students was attended by prominent persons including political activist of district. Students from different institutions participated in the contest and the adjudicators of the contest were Prof. Surinder Sen , Sh Kewel Krishan Sharma Retired Educationist and author of various books, and J.R.Aryan Rtd S. E and a columnist. At the inauguration of the function, founder of the weekly Sheikh Nasir Hussain while speaking on the occasion said that he started this newspaper with the purpose to provide a platform to the people to express their views and opinion and to high light their genuine demands. Sheikh Nasir said that journalism is the mirror of the society and a journalist has to act with profound sense of responsibility. While informing that Bold Voice has completed six years of its publication he said that despite of all odds the Bold voice has unearthed various scams and has also raised the genuine issues of the area. He assured that like past it will also inform and comment upon the matter of public interest in decent, sober and accurate manner.
In the contest half of the participants spoke in favour of the motion whereas rest spoke against the motion. Two experts Qazi Akhter and J.R Aryan also spoke on the topic and presented their views. In the contest Subash Kumar from Degree College Kishtwar won the first prize, whereas second prize was won by Vijay Kumar of GDC Kishtwar and third prize was won by Prateek Rathore of Little Angel Academy Kishtwar. On this occasion special prizes were given to different local organizations including Students of Asraria valley Public School, Message for Humanity and Students Welfare Association. Among others who were present on this occasion include Block Development Officer Kishtwar Qazi Akhter Hussain, District President Congress Pradeep Parihar, PDP leader Rehmat-ullah Malik, NC Youth leader D.D Farooq, Dr. Nazir Hussain and Roop Lal President Teachers Forum.

Close shave for contractor in Kishtwar area

Renegade turn militant abducts JCB operator, demands ransom
Kishtwar: Brother of a contractor and Congress leader, believed to be right hand of minister for Roads and Buildings Ghulam Muhammad Saroori, had a close shave when a renegade turned militant attacked him at a construction site in Sigdhi area, around 25 kilometers from here. The militant later set a JCB on fire and abducted its operator.
Official sources told News Agency of Kashmir that Congress leader Om Parkash Pasarkote Chatroo had a close shave when a militant opened indiscriminate fire at him at Sigdhi area, this morning.
The contractor, who is brother of Congress leader Piyare Lal, was supervising his construction work being executed under Pradhan Mantry Gram Sadak Yogna (PMGSY) when he was attacked by the militant.
Sources said that more than twenty fires were shot at Om Parkash, who escaped unhurt. His PSO fired in retaliation but militants forced them to flee from the area.
The renegade turned militant, identified as Muhammad Amin of Chatroo area, later set a JCB on fire and abducted its operator. The abducted operator has been identified as Sat Paul of Himachal Pradesh.
Official sources claimed that the contractor and his brother has been facing constant threat from the said militant. "A ransom of Rs 3 lakh has been demanded for the release of the JCP operator", sources told NAK on the condition of anonymity.
It was reliably learnt that Muhammad Amin had gone underground after stealing four AK rifles from the Personal Security Officers (PSOs) of former NC MLA Qazi Jalal-ud-Din, where he was working as domestic help. Security forces after managing a contact with him had persuaded him to work for them.
"He is instrumental in killing more than a dozen hardcore militants in the area following which he surrendered before the security forces, who had promised him a reputed life and heavy cash rewards", sources said adding, "However, when the name of the renegade surfaced in some other murder cases and security forces failed to keep their promises, he again snatched official weapon of a police personal and joined militants".
The renegade has created a reign of terror in the area and believed to have created its own group with the help of some local Gujjar youth. He is openly extracting money from the contractors working in the area, while the security forces are watching helplessly.

242 teachers of Doda salary-less for 6 months

CEO admits says ball is in the court of government

BOLD VOICE DESK
Kishtwar: With the withholding of salaries for the last 6 months 242 teachers of Doda district are fed up with the attitude of the government and now have started some private business in order to keep the family pot boiling.
As per sources, 242 teachers who were appointed by the state government as 3rd teachers in primary and middle schools of Doda district in 2003 are without salary for the last 6 months after they were confirmed as permanent teachers.
These teachers were working as Rehbre-Taleem teachers and they were getting Rs 1500/- salary in the first two years which was enhanced as Rs 2000/ in third year of service. Government had fixed criteria that these teachers will be regularized after 5 years of service. All of the 242 ReT teachers were regularized in the month of November. They started receiving full regular salaries but all of a sudden their salaries were stopped from the month of March this year. Now for the last 6 months, they are without any salary.
Though they were highly excited on confirmation yet the attitude of government but their economic conditions is worse than those ReT teachers who are getting Rs. 1500/- per month.
Withholding of salaries of these teachers has forced them to initiate some other jobs in order to earn bread and butter. Many of them have opened shops while few are selling vegetables. Shabir Ahmed who is posted as teacher in Middle School Changa of tehsil Gandoh is an example of this. He said, “When we are getting nothing for our duties, we have to feed up our family and it is why I have opened a shop in my village which I operate after 4PM”, Shabir Ahmed said. Another teacher posted in Middle School Icher Dudwar Anayat Hussain in the same tehsil is selling eggs and Rajmash in Bhallesa area to meet the demands of the family. “If we do not this, we will starve”, he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the problems of salaries are only with the teachers of Doda district. Sources said that government has released salaries of these teachers in all districts of Jammu & Kashmir.
Taking dig at the government, Secretary of Teachers Association Doda, Jamaat Ali told Bold Voice that government is forcing them to adopt another way to get their rights. “Salary is the fundamental right of the employee and government is curbing our rights”, he said adding that if teachers community are not provided salaries in a week they will went on pen down strike.
Meanwhile Member Legislative Council of the area Advocate Naresh Gupta said that he is going to talk to Minister for School Education and will stressed upon him to release the salaries of these teachers. He said that these teachers are in trouble due to withholding of salary and they should be given it within no time.
When contacted, Chief Education Officer of Doda district YR Thusoo admitted that 242 teachers of Doda are not getting salaries for the last 6 months. He said that they have no funds to provide salaries to the teachers. “We were earlier releasing salaries of these teachers from the District Funds and there was no problem in it however Planning department has changed the head and they have kept the salaries of these teachers in Non-Plan Funds which will be released only when the government approved it”. He said that the file is in process and these teachers will be given salaries probably in the next month.

Rabies threat looms large in Dachan villages

10 villagers, 40 cattle head bitten by mad dogs; Administration expresses ignorance
Kishtwar: At least ten villagers and around fourty cattle heads were injured after being bitten by mad dogs, which have reportedly created havoc in some village of remote Dachan area of Kishtwar district. Though the residents said that they fear spread of rabbies in the area in the absence of any medicare facilities, district administration expressed its ignorance about any such incident.
Reports reaching here revealed that mad dogs have created panic among the local residents in some villages of Dachan. “At least ten villagers and fourty cattle heads have so far beaten by the dogs at Suied and Panjdhara hamlets”, Ghulam Nabi, a local resident of the area told The Bold Voice over phone. He said that the locals have now taken the recourse of killing the dogs but the victims were waiting for any medical help from the local administration.
Confirming the incidents another villager said that the victim have not taken any medical help so far as none was available in the area. “There is also no way to bring the victims to Kishtwar”, he added.
The district administration, however, expressed ignorance about any such incident. “I have no knowledge of any such incident in Dachan area”, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar GR Bhagat said when contacted. He, however, added that all necessary step would be taken in case any such incident is reported.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kishtwar Dr Subhash Bhagat also said that the concerned BMO has not so far reported any such incident. He said that even otherwise in case of dog bites a victim has to purchase Anti Rabies Vaccine (ARV) from the market as the government does not provide the vaccine free of cost to the victims.
If the locals have to be believed there is every likelihood of on spread of rabies in the area in the absence of anti rabies vaccine. “Poor victims cannot afford to buy anti-rabies vaccine because one injection cost around 350 rupees and the person who has bitten by a mad dog has to take a cource of seven injections”, Ghualm Abbas, another local resident said.

The unexplored "HEAVEN"

Warwan in Kishtwar

Death dancing on the roads of Doda, Kishtwar

For the last couple of years death has been dancing on the roads of twin mountaneous districts Kishtwar and Doda. These rodas have become a virtual death trap affecting people of this region directly or indirectly. The people, politicians and intelligentsia may enumerate so many factors responsible for these large scale deaths which may range from out dated vehicle, over loading, unchecked trafficking of commercial commodities of many buses, lack of proper maintenance of vehicles and lack of driving skills on part of drivers, but the main reason for accidents like of Bandarkot, Premnagar and Assar remains the negligence on the part of GREFF authorities who are going on with the work of widening of these roads. During this year the tragic accidents have eaten away the bread earners of hundreds of families so far and there is likelihood of continuity of this process in near future also. Afterevery acident a lot of mind boggling is being done in all sections of society including the administration. But it is a general observation that the memory of the people is short lived and every one will forget the horrible scene of death, trauma of affected families. With every gruesome road accident the government promises some remedial measure. But it forgets the promise soon till another accident wakes it from the slumber.
Since January 2009 nearly 150 people have been killed in road accidents, but hardly a concrete step has been taken to arrest this mayhem. The locals are holding GREFF responsible for the bad deplorable condition of the roads which is also one of the cause of these accidents. It is pertinent to mention here that after every accident GREFF used to construct Paraped or used to fix iron garder at the place of accident like that of Warrah, thathri or Bhandarkot. But all is being donbe only after the accidents occur and no precaution is being taken prior to such Accidents.

JK Bank Burglary remains mystery as police gropes in dark

Bank officials undergo polygraph test

Kishtwar: While around two months investigation in Rs 1.05 crores burglary at Jammu and Kashmir Bank Kishtwar branch was leading investigation agency to nowhere, number of Bank officials posted in Kishtwar have been subjected to lie detection test to ascertain the involvement of the insiders. Official sources said that even after the lapse of around two months, police was groping in dark while investigating one of the biggest and high-tech burglaries where unidentified persons broke into Kishtwar branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited and decamped with Rs 1.06 Crores. Though the high level investigation team headed by Superintendent of Police (SP) Kishtwar Dr Haseeb Mughal is burning mid night oil to solve the mystery behind the burglary, sources told that no considerable breakthrough could be made, till now. The police is taking help of scientific experts of Jammu FSL and investigation was being held under the direct supervision of SP Kishtwar, a police officers known for his skills of investigation.
Well informed sources told News Agency of Kashmir that number of bank officials have been subjected to polygraph (popularly referred to as a lie detector) test to ascertain the hand of insiders. Police had earlier rounded up almost the entire staff including the branch manager of the Bank and questioned them for more than one week. "The bank officials were subject to sustained questioning but nothing came out", a police officer told NAK adding, "We have strong prima facie case that some body from within the bank is involved and as such we are now taking the course of polygraph test". The polygraph is an instrument that measures and records several physiological responses such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, breathing rhythms, body temperature and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions, on the theory that false answers will produce distinctive measurements. The polygraph measures physiological changes caused by the sympathetic nervous system during questioning. Within the US federal government, a polygraph examination is also referred to as a psycho physiological detection of deception (PDD) examination.
Polygraphs are in some countries used as an interrogation tool with criminal suspects or candidates for sensitive public or private sector employment. The use and effectiveness of the polygraph is controversial, with the manner of its use and its validity subject to ongoing criticism.(NAK)

Love in Kashmir? Not for the valley’s political elite

Srinagar: The road to romance runs outside the state for many of Jammu and Kashmir’s political elite — be it Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his father Farooq or separatists Yaseen Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Sajjad Lone.
Malik, 42, the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief, is the latest to join the list. The model-turned-militant-turned-politician returned from Pakistan this week with his 28-year-old bride Mashaal Mullick, an artist who has studied at the London School of Economics and is daughter of the late Pakistani economist M.A. Hussain Mullick.
The JKLF chief and Mashaal had an austere nikaah in Islamabad in January this year but a visa hitch and Malik’s subsequent arrests delayed the bride’s arrival to her marital home here.
When she finally arrived at Malik’s home in Maisuma locality Sunday, hundreds of JKLF supporters — and news photographers as well — gathered to greet her.
Way back in the 1960s, former chief minister and now union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, a trained physician, played out the doctor-nurse romance when he married Molly, a British nurse.
Despite her husband and family’s high visibility, Molly Abdullah is rarely seen with her husband at any official function and keeps a low profile in Britain where she stays.
Their son Omar also found love outside the state, where outsiders are not allowed to buy property. He married Payal Singh, daughter of a retired army officer from Delhi. The couple quietly celebrated their 15th marriage anniversary Sep 1.
The alliance was accepted by the family, quite unlike the furore when his sister Sara married Sachin Pilot, the late Congress leader Rajesh Pilot’s son.
Sara and Sachin tied the knot at a quiet ceremony, which was boycotted by the Abdullahs, in Delhi. Even Omar Abdullah, it is widely known, had objected to his sister marrying Sachin.
But that is in the past - Sachin and Abdullah junior now share a close relationship.
The other side of Kashmir’s political divide has similar love stories to tell.
Sajjad Gani Lone, son of slain Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Gani Lone, married Asma Khan, daughter of Pakistan-based separatist leader Amanullah Khan. Khan is the chief of his own faction of the JKLF.
Sajjad and Asma married in 2002 in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. They have two sons but the tough visa regime has forced the couple to live separately. Asma has been allowed to visit the valley only once after her marriage though she is legally a citizen of Jammu and Kashmir, living in the Pakistani part of the state, which India claims is part of its territory.
Then there is Hurriyat Conference chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who married US citizen of Kashmiri-origin Sheeba Masoodi in 2002. Sheeba is the youngest daughter of Sibtain Masoodi, a Kashmiri doctor who immigrated to the US in 1970. The family still has a house in Srinagar.
Like Lone, the Mirwaiz also had to battle difficulties in staying with his spouse in Kashmir. Sheeba is also a citizen of Kashmir but has been given only a temporary visa to stay in Kashmir.
She has taken the matter to a court with the plea that her parents were Indian citizens and that a woman married to a Kashmiri is automatically entitled to become a citizen of the state.
The court has asked the government to put on hold the deportation proceedings initiated against the Mirwaiz’s wife.
There are others too.
Former militant commander Aftab Hilali alias Shahid-ul-Islam, now a senior Hurriyat leader, is married to an Arab woman Habib, who is presently in the US.
Hashim Qureshi, who was accused of hijacking an Indian Airlines plane in 1971, and is now chief of the Democratic Liberation Party (DLP), is married to Zebu-un-Nisa, a Dutch citizen born in Peshawar.

Love in Kashmir? Not for the valley’s political elite

Srinagar: The road to romance runs outside the state for many of Jammu and Kashmir’s political elite — be it Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his father Farooq or separatists Yaseen Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Sajjad Lone.
Malik, 42, the pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief, is the latest to join the list. The model-turned-militant-turned-politician returned from Pakistan this week with his 28-year-old bride Mashaal Mullick, an artist who has studied at the London School of Economics and is daughter of the late Pakistani economist M.A. Hussain Mullick.
The JKLF chief and Mashaal had an austere nikaah in Islamabad in January this year but a visa hitch and Malik’s subsequent arrests delayed the bride’s arrival to her marital home here.
When she finally arrived at Malik’s home in Maisuma locality Sunday, hundreds of JKLF supporters — and news photographers as well — gathered to greet her.
Way back in the 1960s, former chief minister and now union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, a trained physician, played out the doctor-nurse romance when he married Molly, a British nurse.
Despite her husband and family’s high visibility, Molly Abdullah is rarely seen with her husband at any official function and keeps a low profile in Britain where she stays.
Their son Omar also found love outside the state, where outsiders are not allowed to buy property. He married Payal Singh, daughter of a retired army officer from Delhi. The couple quietly celebrated their 15th marriage anniversary Sep 1.
The alliance was accepted by the family, quite unlike the furore when his sister Sara married Sachin Pilot, the late Congress leader Rajesh Pilot’s son.
Sara and Sachin tied the knot at a quiet ceremony, which was boycotted by the Abdullahs, in Delhi. Even Omar Abdullah, it is widely known, had objected to his sister marrying Sachin.
But that is in the past - Sachin and Abdullah junior now share a close relationship.
The other side of Kashmir’s political divide has similar love stories to tell.
Sajjad Gani Lone, son of slain Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Gani Lone, married Asma Khan, daughter of Pakistan-based separatist leader Amanullah Khan. Khan is the chief of his own faction of the JKLF.
Sajjad and Asma married in 2002 in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. They have two sons but the tough visa regime has forced the couple to live separately. Asma has been allowed to visit the valley only once after her marriage though she is legally a citizen of Jammu and Kashmir, living in the Pakistani part of the state, which India claims is part of its territory.
Then there is Hurriyat Conference chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who married US citizen of Kashmiri-origin Sheeba Masoodi in 2002. Sheeba is the youngest daughter of Sibtain Masoodi, a Kashmiri doctor who immigrated to the US in 1970. The family still has a house in Srinagar.
Like Lone, the Mirwaiz also had to battle difficulties in staying with his spouse in Kashmir. Sheeba is also a citizen of Kashmir but has been given only a temporary visa to stay in Kashmir.
She has taken the matter to a court with the plea that her parents were Indian citizens and that a woman married to a Kashmiri is automatically entitled to become a citizen of the state.
The court has asked the government to put on hold the deportation proceedings initiated against the Mirwaiz’s wife.
There are others too.
Former militant commander Aftab Hilali alias Shahid-ul-Islam, now a senior Hurriyat leader, is married to an Arab woman Habib, who is presently in the US.
Hashim Qureshi, who was accused of hijacking an Indian Airlines plane in 1971, and is now chief of the Democratic Liberation Party (DLP), is married to Zebu-un-Nisa, a Dutch citizen born in Peshawar.

Nasir’s Poster exhibition attract’s many in Kishtwar

Kishtwar: Poster exhibition organized by a social worker and a professional lawyer Sheikh Nasir Hussain attracted a number of people especially students during its two day display at Islamia Faridia Educational and Research Institute Kishtwar.
Exhibition was kept for display from 1Pm to 5 Pm for two days. Everyone who visited the exhibition left a note of appreciation for this young advocate for his unique way of conveying the good message through posters. Thirty five posters were displayed in this exhibition highlighting the issues like women empowerment, drug addiction, child labour, HIV AIDS, Smoking, terrorism and various other Nasir who is practicing as lawyer in district courts Kishtwar and is an artist also, has his own vision to bring social change.
Son of a National awardee teacher and hailing from a remote area of state, Nasir is a versatile genius in the field of art and culture. He was adjudged as all round best student of Jammu University for consecutive two years (1999-2000).
Besides this he has represented Jammu University in various Zonal and National level competitions and has secured top positions.
with the object of creating awareness among the society especially youth and vision to bring social change, Nasir has decided to organize a poster exhibition in the far flung area of Kishtwar.
He feels that posters have an edge over the other methods and take only a few seconds to attract some one attention. Nasir believes that people retain visual images longer than written words, so, to highlight the apathy of a common man and to educate the people about the fast spreading menace like nepotism by the politicians, drug abuse, AIDS, Child Labour, and Terrorism, poster is the right and appropriate medium.
The young advocate has his own plans of social reforms through posters and other such ways of communication.
He is of the opinion that if any body intends to bring some social change or social reforms, he should start from his home. “I want to organize such exhibition in every corner of the state. I have started it from Kishtwar because I belongs to this place”, Nasir said. To make his posters eye-catching, Nasir has used special techniques of communication using phrases rather than sentences. He has also laid special emphasis on giving colours to his posters.
The collection of 35 posters in Nasir’s proposed exhibition read, “Murder in womb”, “Be a woman before being mother”, “War & peace”, Terrorism devours its own children” and “Environment existence is our existence”. His poster “Be a woman before being a mother” carries in it volume of wisdom in conveying them Do’s and Don’t before being married. His Posters on other issues pertaining to human development are equally interesting. His poster on War and Peace carries a beautiful illustration with a meaningful caption “war is not the solution but a problem. Posters on various burning issues such as HIV/AIDS, Drug Addiction, Smoking, Environment, child labour; Dowry, terrorism etc are equally thoughtful, convincing and eye-catching

Nasir’s Poster exhibition attract’s many in Kishtwar

Kishtwar: Poster exhibition organized by a social worker and a professional lawyer Sheikh Nasir Hussain attracted a number of people especially students during its two day display at Islamia Faridia Educational and Research Institute Kishtwar.
Exhibition was kept for display from 1Pm to 5 Pm for two days. Everyone who visited the exhibition left a note of appreciation for this young advocate for his unique way of conveying the good message through posters. Thirty five posters were displayed in this exhibition highlighting the issues like women empowerment, drug addiction, child labour, HIV AIDS, Smoking, terrorism and various other Nasir who is practicing as lawyer in district courts Kishtwar and is an artist also, has his own vision to bring social change.
Son of a National awardee teacher and hailing from a remote area of state, Nasir is a versatile genius in the field of art and culture. He was adjudged as all round best student of Jammu University for consecutive two years (1999-2000).
Besides this he has represented Jammu University in various Zonal and National level competitions and has secured top positions.
with the object of creating awareness among the society especially youth and vision to bring social change, Nasir has decided to organize a poster exhibition in the far flung area of Kishtwar.
He feels that posters have an edge over the other methods and take only a few seconds to attract some one attention. Nasir believes that people retain visual images longer than written words, so, to highlight the apathy of a common man and to educate the people about the fast spreading menace like nepotism by the politicians, drug abuse, AIDS, Child Labour, and Terrorism, poster is the right and appropriate medium.
The young advocate has his own plans of social reforms through posters and other such ways of communication.
He is of the opinion that if any body intends to bring some social change or social reforms, he should start from his home. “I want to organize such exhibition in every corner of the state. I have started it from Kishtwar because I belongs to this place”, Nasir said. To make his posters eye-catching, Nasir has used special techniques of communication using phrases rather than sentences. He has also laid special emphasis on giving colours to his posters.
The collection of 35 posters in Nasir’s proposed exhibition read, “Murder in womb”, “Be a woman before being mother”, “War & peace”, Terrorism devours its own children” and “Environment existence is our existence”. His poster “Be a woman before being a mother” carries in it volume of wisdom in conveying them Do’s and Don’t before being married. His Posters on other issues pertaining to human development are equally interesting. His poster on War and Peace carries a beautiful illustration with a meaningful caption “war is not the solution but a problem. Posters on various burning issues such as HIV/AIDS, Drug Addiction, Smoking, Environment, child labour; Dowry, terrorism etc are equally thoughtful, convincing and eye-catching

Kishtwar lawyer to organise poster exhibition

Kishtwar: A social worker and a professional lawyer Sheikh Nasir Hussain is organizing two days poster exhibition of a rare collection of his works on social and developmental issues from July 22 at Islamia Faridia Educational and Research Institute Kishtwar.
Exhibition will be kept open from 1Pm to 5 Pm for two days. Nasir who is practicing as lawyer in district courts Kishtwar and is an artist also, has his own vision to bring social change.
Son of a National awardee teacher and hailing from a remote area of state, Nasir is a versatile genius in the field of art and culture. He was adjudged as all round best student of Jammu University for consecutive two years (1999-2000).
Besides this he has represented Jammu University in various Zonal and National level competitions and has secured top positions.
with the object of creating awareness among the society especially youth and vision to bring social change, Nasir has decided to organize a poster exhibition in the far flung area of Kishtwar.
He feels that posters have an edge over the other methods and take only a few seconds to attract some one attention. Nasir believes that people retain visual images longer than written words, so, to highlight the apathy of a common man and to educate the people about the fast spreading menace like nepotism by the politicians, drug abuse, AIDS, Child Labour, and Terrorism, poster is the right and appropriate medium.
The young advocate has his own plans of social reforms through posters and other such ways of communication.
He is of the opinion that if any body intends to bring some social change or social reforms, he should start from his home. “I want to organize such exhibition in every corner of the state. I have started it from Kishtwar because I belongs to this place”, Nasir said. To make his posters eye-catching, Nasir has used special techniques of communication using phrases rather than sentences. He has also laid special emphasis on giving colours to his posters.
The collection of 35 posters in Nasir’s proposed exhibition read, “Murder in womb”, “Be a woman before being mother”, “War & peace”, Terrorism devours its own children” and “Environment existence is our existence”. His poster “Be a woman before being a mother” carries in it volume of wisdom in conveying them Do’s and Don’t before being married. His Posters on other issues pertaining to human development are equally interesting. His poster on War and Peace carries a beautiful illustration with a meaningful caption “war is not the solution but a problem. Posters on various burning issues such as HIV/AIDS, Drug Addiction, Smoking, Environment, child labour; Dowry, terrorism etc are equally thoughtful, convincing and eye-catching

High-tech burglary: Police groping in dark after burglars decamp with Rs 1.06 Crores from JK Bank

Kishtwar: Jammu and Kashmir police is groping in dark while investigating one of the biggest and high-tech burglaries where unidentified persons broke into Kishtwar branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank Limited and decamped with Rs 1.06 Crores.
Though the high level investigation team headed by Superintendent of Police (SP) Kishtwar Dr Haseeb Mughal is burning mid night oil to solve the mystery behind the burglary, sources told the Bold Voice that no considerable breakthrough could be made, till now.
The investigation team has so far questioned all the bank officials and employees of the —Grand Place hotel, sources said that the burglars have not left much clue behind, thus making the job of the police more tougher.
The police is taking help of scientific experts of Jammu FSL and investigation was being held under the direct supervision of SP Kishtwar, a police officers known for his skills of investigation.
Official sources on the other hand claimed that the police has got some important clues and was hopeful of solving the case in next few days.
While the police claims that there is great suspicion about the involvement of some bank officials in the burglary, the residents of Kishtwar held a strong protest demonstration against the alleged torture and harassment of some bank officials by the police.
The Bank is situated in the heart of the town with local police station on one side at a distance of around 100 meters and a CRPF bunker on the other side. Official residence of some senior officers from the district administration is also situated on the opposite side of the branch. The building also houses some other offices, a hotel and shops.
Giving details, sources told The Bold Voice, that peon of the bank noticed locks of the main gate broken when he came to open the office, July 8. He immediately informed his superiors who rushed to the spot and informed the police.
Senior police officers rushed to the spot and seized the bank building and asked the staff members to remain away from the office till forensic experts reach the spot. A team of forensic experts were rushed to Kishtwar from Jammu to assist the police in investigation.
Insiders told this correspondent that two cans of patrol were found on the spot which clearly indicates that the burglars had intention to set the building on fire. The police also seized two iron rods, one hexa blade, two nylon ropes from the spot.
The investigation, conducted so far, clearly points out fingers at the involvement of some bank officials in the burglary, sources said adding the bank staff and manager of the hotel were detained by the police for questioning. They were released in the evening but their mobile phones were seized for scrutiny.
Police sources said that the burglars have reached the main hall of the bank after breaking the lock of main shutter. After disconnecting the CCTV cable, the burglars have detached the exhaust fan on the outer wall of the Chest. "The huge exhaust fan weigh around one quintal and has been very technically detached", sources said adding, "Two ropes have been used to lift the fan and it clear that more than three persons were involved". They said while the thieves have not touched the main locker, cash kept in a trunk has been stolen. "The initial calculation reveals that Rs 1.08 crores was kept in the trunk", they said adding, "The notes are in the denomination of Rs 20, Rs 50 and Rs 100 as the larger denomination notes were kept in the main locker". The involvement of some bank official is also clear from the fact that the thieves knew that new cash has arrived in the bank two days back and a huge cash was lying in the trunk.

Jubilation in Cong camp; NC disappoints Kishtwar

Kishtwar: Amid jubilation in the Congress camp, National Conference workers and activists have been disappointed by their party high command, who have ignored the only face of the party in entire Chenab district in the recently expanded cabinet of Omar Abdullah lead coalition government.
Though the Kishtwar district got the representation in the state council of minister with the induction of Ghulam Muhammad Saroori, MLA Inderwal, as R&B Minister, contrary to the expectations the National Conference failed to give representation to the only party MLA from the three districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban.
Saroori, who remained as Minister of State (MoS) during the erstwhile Congress-PDP government was given full cabinet birth by the party high command, giving him preference over two other party MLAs and strong contenders; Abdual Majeed Wani of Doda and Muhammad Sharief Naiz of Bhaderwah.
The cabinet birth to Saroori with prized portfolio of R&B ministry led to a large scale celebration by the party leaders and workers in Inderwal and Kishtwar. The induction is not only been seen as a victory of the party leaders but also as a hope for the backward and ignored areas of Inderwal and Kishtwar constituencies.
However, amid the celebration and enthusiasm, Kishtwar witness ire against National Conference, the party which has a strong hold in the constituency since the election of Late Bashir Ahmed Kichloo to the state legislative assembly.
The non-induction of Sajad Ahmed Kichloo is being seen as a betrayal with the loyalty and trust of the party workers over the party. Kichloo was the front runner for the cabinet birth as being the only NC MLA in six constituencies of Chenab Valley.
If sources in the party have to be believed the name of Kichloo was excluded from the list of ministers at the last stage for some unknown reasons. Some circles in the party believe that the party chief patron and president Dr Farooq Abdullah was keen to have Kichloo in the cabinet but the chief minister Omar Abdullah had something else in his mind.
Though party sources said that the MLA is being now tipped for heading a state owned corporation, sources said that Kichloo has expressed his unwillingness to take any such assignment.
The non-induction of the party MLA led to a large scale protest demonstration in Kishtwar, where party leaders and workers came openly against the decision and even burnt the party flags to register their anger.

Amdani Chawanni.. Kharcha Rupaiyya

Saffron Development Farm Kishtwar, A Loss-making Venture
SHEIKH NASIR HUSSAIN
KISHTWAR: The Saffron Development Farm (SDF) situated in Berwar area of Kishtwar district is a testimony of poor government functioning. With the total annual expenditure of the farm running into crores, the 25-years-old farm has produced only 4 kgs of saffron till date.
As per the official records, the farm is spread over 217 kanals of land and government is spending lakhs of rupees every year on the salaries of the employees posted at the farm. However, only 15 kanal area of the farm is being used for saffron cultivation as a result of which, the income generated from the SDF has not even been 5% of the total money invested into the farm so far.
Sources inform that the farm was set up way back in 1961, however, it began to be used for saffron development only after 1983. Between that time, the farm was being used as Tehsil Seed Multiplication Farm. As per the official records, traditional area of saffron cultivation in Kishtwar is about 120 hectare and about 3500 families of the district are engaged in saffron cultivation. The department officials claim that the district has enough potential to grow saffron over 300 hectare, across 25 villages including Thakri, Chhatroo, Dachchan, Padder and Thathri.
Even then, the concerned officials repeatedly blame bad weather, low rainfall and crop diseases for the low production of saffron in the district. Opposed to this, the locals have a different opinion. They allege that the concerned department is not serious towards improving the yield of saffron per hectare, despite the fact that saffron is a crop having tremendous commercial importance.
Another factor that hampers the prospects of the SDF is its location, which the locals claim is not suitable for growing saffron. According to the people of the district, Pochhal or Cherhar could have been the ideal choice to set up the farm because of the quality of soil and other factors.
However, it is not as if the SDF’s only problem is its location. In the past years, the department appointed 6 gardeners at the farm while five posts, including that of on Saffron Development Officer (SDO), two Assistant officers and two field staff, are lying vacant. Despite that, only one Assistant officer and one incharge SDO have been engaged to ensure quality crop. The total expenditure on the salaries of these appointees runs into more than Rs 5 lakh a year.
The height of corrupt farm practices is evident from the fact that farm officials allegedly purchase saffron from the local growers and deposit it at the Agricultural Inputs office in Jammu as their own produce.
The Chief Agricultural Officer, Kishtwar, Manmohan Rai, informs the farm was primarily not meant for the production of saffron but for its bulbs. Rai admits that there is a substantial decline in the production every year however he expectedly blames bad weather and low rainfall for the same and says that the department is organizing awareness camps in the area for the saffron growers, to increase output.

Kishtwar not on priority list of union minister Azad

SHEIKH NASIR HUSSAIN
Kishtwar: It seems that mountainous Kishtwar district does not figure in the priority list of former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who recently concluded his maiden visit to Chenab Valley after taking over new assignment at New Delhi.People living in the far flung area of Kishtwar district were enthusiastic after induction of Ghulam Nabi Azad as union health minister in Manmohan Singh cabinet but the hopes and aspirations proved unrealistic as Azad chose not to visit Kishtwar during his extensive tour of Chenab Valley. Though the party leaders claimed that Azad visited Doda and Ramban district on account of functions organised by the party leaders, sources in the state government revealed that during his visit the union minister took note of health care facilities and scope of its improvement in the areas. He also intracted with the district authorities and took stock of various ongoing developmental work, started during his tenure as the chief minister of the state. However, Azad preferred not to visit Kishtwar due to some unknown reason which has created a resentment among the general masses of the area, who till recently were proudly associating themselves with the union minister. Surprisingly, when the Kishtwar district is suffering due to lack of proper medicare facilities the union minister instead of visiting the area summoned the officers from the district administration to his native place Bhaderwah. “We were eagerly waiting for Mr Azad to visit Kishtwar as we thought that his visit would give a new life to the ailing health sector”, Malik Rehmat-ull-ah a trade union leader told The Bold Voice, adding the approach of the union minister has not only shocked the residents of the area but it has also shattered their hopes. However, the opponents of Azad have some other reasons to offer. “We never expected him to visit the place as we know that being the chief minister of the state he has always ignored and neglected Kishtwar district for obvious reasons”, District President of PDP (Youth) Ishtiyaq Hussain Waza said. He said that Mufti Muhammad Sayeed had sanctioned University campus for Kishtwar but the proposal was changed overnight soon after Ghulam Nabi Azad took over the reign of power in the state. Another senior PDP leader Shakir Hussain Sadiqi believe that Azad never want any development in Kishtwar as it would foil his plans. “We know that the developmental funds meant for the entire district were diverted to Bhaderwah and no funds were sanctioned and spent on tourism sector in Kishtwar during his tenure as the chief minister”. Bhartiya Janta Party leader Sunil Sharma say’s that anti-Kishtwar approcah of Ghulam Nabi Azad has once again exposed. “ People should now behave accordingly” added Sharma.

Kishtwar Municipal Committee Comes Under Scanner

Kishtwar Municipal Committee (KMC), responsible for the civic maintenance of one of the largest towns in the State is in the dock for the poor sanitation in Kishtwar. The municipal body, which should be looking after the municipal arrangements in the town, is, in fact, itself accused of encroachment, as a result of which it has been drawing flak from various quarters of civil society.
Kishtwar’s 13 municipal wards are not only suffering for lack of sweepers but also stray animals, particularly dogs.
The number of sweepers engaged with the KMC is inadequate and had been engaged in services decades back, since when no fresh appointments have been made. Most of those engaged quite some time back have either retired or left the job. As a result, piles of garbage can be seen lying around in most of the municipal wards and drainage system is choked, simply due to insufficient number of employees to take care of the cleanliness.
Another major problem, which the town residents have to face, is that of stray animals, who can be seen roaming in packs all over the town, threatening people, especially the children and the infirm. There have also been incidents where these stray dogs have attacked school-going children, who often return to their homes unattended in the afternoon, when most of the people stay indoors.
The KMC has also not been able to construct a single public urinal for the town, even though, there is a considerable movement of people through the town. As a result, roadsides and walls bear testimony to the lack of urinal facility.
The public is fed up with the dilly-dallying attitude of the municipal officials, who have simply ignored the repeated public complaints with regard to the issues expressed above.
But, as if, its inactivity was not enough, the Municipal body has allegedly also encroached a portion of the land on which the Kishtwar District Hospital stands. Moreover, the KMC has raised concrete structures on the encroached portion of land and has been renting these structures to shopkeepers. This means, that despite being an encroacher on the land, the KMC has also been collecting revenue for the same.
On his part, Municipal Committee President Shabir Ahmed Kamal replied that the body had written to the higher authorities a number of times, asking for funds to engage more sweepers. However, the higher echelons of power refused to take note of the requests.
Regarding encroachment in the hospital land, Kamal said that he is unaware about it and will check the revenue papers. He assured that if the KMC shops were found to be built on hospital land, the shops would be demolished. Despite all the assurances and explanations, the matter of KMC failing in its duties still hangs fire.

Sufism still holds way in Chenab Valley

Sufism (tasawwuf) a spiritual philosophy of Islam, the essence of which is to establish a direct relationship with Allah by purifying the soul, has been flourishing among the hills of erstwhile district Doda of Jammu and Kashmir] since long.
Regarded as most backward district of the country the erstwhile Doda has traditionally been a place where religion has dominated the discourse and knitted people of different faiths together.
One may argue that massacres created fissures between communities and subsequent creation of Village Defence Committees (VDC’s) widened the gulf yet one has to agree that secularism continues to blossom.
Ask people in Chenab Valley, they would tell you that being an area where Sufism has been thriving from centuries, possibility of communities getting engaged in religious, regional, racist and gender conflicts are meager. Despite changing times, Sufism continues to enjoy supremacy in the three districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban.
Historical manuscripts written mostly in Persian maintain that Sufism flourished in district Doda during the 15 century when Sufi saints from various parts in India started reaching reached this Valley.
However, tasawwuf gained prominence with the arrival of Hazrat Shah Mohammed Farid-ud-Din Baghdadi (RA) and his two sons Hazrat Shah Asrar-ud-din (RA) and Hazrat Shah Akhyar-ud-din (RA) during the 17th century. These revered saints propagated Islam and value based education among the people of all religions, castes and creeds.
Researchers maintain that before Hazrat Shah Mohammed Farid-ud-Din Baghdadi (RA) arrived in district Doda, the region had already been visited by some other great Sufi saints which included Hazrat Shah Hamdan (RA), Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA) and Hazrat Zain-ul-deen Rishi (RA).
These revered saints taught people basics of Islam and pleaded with them to come out of the darkness of illiteracy and ritualism. These revered saints propagated love and brotherhood. They taught tawhid or monotheism, i.e. oneness of Allah, asked people to follow teachings of Holy Quran and the Hadith.
Historical manuscripts are witness to the fact that Sufis were able to convert large numbers of people to Islam by preaching the essence of Islam and Sufism. They taught love, brotherhood and equality.
Many of these Sufi preachers who came to district Doda and propagated Islam have a earned a distinct place for themselves across the world. Their tombs are still respected as holy places, with people from all walks of life visiting and praying for earthly prosperity and spiritual salvation. Legends about the miracles performed by the Sufi saints, who are believed to have been possession of miraculous powers, continue to be a part of social set-up in district Doda. Interestingly one can watch names of different Sufi saints inscribed on the bodies of buses, trucks, matadors and private cars to ensure safe journeys. Of the many revered saints, Sheikh Zain-ud-din (RA) needs a special mention. Born in a royal family of Kishtwar, he was the disciple of highly revered saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA). According to a popular legend, when Sheikh Zain-ud-din (RA) was a child, he fell severely ill. When the chances of his recovery started thinning, his mother began crying bitterly and started praying to the Almighty to save his son. It is believed that a man, who is believed to have been an angel, appeared before the mother of the boy. He asked her about her grief. Mother of Sheikh Zain-ud-din (RA) narrated the entire story and asked him, if he could help her. The man promised to help the aggrieved mother but he kept a stipulation that if her son recovers well in time, she along with her son would start propagating teachings of Islam.
She agreed and promised. The man left but not before telling her not to forget her promise. But when he recovered, his mother forgot the promise she had made with that man. When the condition started deteriorating, she began remembering her promise. Caught in a dilemma, she reached Kashmir. With the help few people, she reached to the place where Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA) had been living.
When she saw him, she was stunned to find that he was the same man with whom she had made a promise. It is believed that she pleaded with the revered saint to forgive her for having forgotten her promise. Sheikh Sahib forgave her and she along with her son began preaching Islam. This is how Sheikh Zain-ud-din (RA) entered Islam and began propagating it among people of different faiths.
He became a disciple of Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA) who sent him to Ashmuqam, a village located in Anantnag district of South Kashmir. He began teaching Islamic tenants to the people in that area. Soon his name gained prominence all over the state and people started visiting him from various parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The other Sufi saint who is highly revered across the state is Hazrat Syed Farid-uddin-Qadri (RA) popularly known as Shah Saheb. His shrine is located in the midst of Kishtwar town. Historical records maintain that Syed Muhammad Farid-uddin Bagdadi (RA) was born in the family of Syed Mustafa, a descendant of Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) of Baghdad, in the year 1689. Although historians have a conflict over the date of birth of Shah Saheb (RA) but according to noted writer, scholar and intellectual Wali Mohammed Aseer (Kishtwari), when Shah Saheb came to Kishtwar in the year 1664, he was 75 year old.
"After completion of his studies, he set out on an extensive tour, offered pilgrimage at Mecca. During the pilgrimage, he met Sheikh Jalal Uddin Al-Maghribi (RA) in Mecca and Sheikh Mohi-uddin-Qadri (RA) in Egypt," added Aseer.
He maintained that thereafter Shah Saheb (RA) reached Sindh where from he traveled towards Agra. "From Agra, Shah Saheb (RA) in 1664 reached Kishtwar which was being ruled by Raja Jai Singh; when he reached Kishtwar, he was accompanied by his followers namely Dervish Muhammad, Shah Abdal, Syed Baha Uddin Saani and Yar Muhammad," added the noted litterateur. According to "Focus on Jammu and Kashmir" written by Aseer Kishtwari, Shah Saheb (RA) began propagating Islam. The book says that Shah Saheb built a monastery and busied whole heartily in the service and propagation of Islam.
After the death of Raja Jai Singh, his son Kirat Singh succeeded him, embraced Islam and assumed name of Saadat-yar Khan. Seeing their King turning to Islam, a large number of his subjects followed their King and turned to Islam. According to a popular legend, Shah Saheb reached Kishtwar via Deeng-batal. At Deeng-batal, a daughter of the landlord was greatly impressed by the piety of the sage and married him and assumed the name Roshan-dil. Shah Saheb (RA) stayed there for seven days [years?].
He consummate his marriage for the third time with the daughter of Shah Noor Ali, a convert who was at that time a lumberdar of village Nagri of Doda town. Shah Saheb (RA) gave her the name Mai Malahat. From there he traveled went to Bhandar-kot and thereafter reached Kishtwar.
According to a popular legend, when a blind man came and prayed for the eyesight. Shah Saheb told him that it is nice to pray both for eye-sight and subjugation. Legend says that Shah Saheb touched his face with his hand and the man not only received the eyesight but insight also. It is also believed that once upon a time, when the King approached him for stopping the earthquake, he prayed to the Almighty and the earthquake subsided. Shah Saheb had three children. Syed Anwar Uddin who died at an age of two and a half years; Syed Akhyar-ud-din (RA) and Syed Asrar-uddin (RA) were saints bestowed with revelations and miracles. Syed Asrar-uddin was a born saint and exhibited wondrous revelations at an early age which his father Shah Saheb (RA) did not approve of.
One day he gave him a bowl full of water and asked him to drink water from it. The son declined. He reiterated by saying "This is your father’s order". Hazrat Asrar-uddin (RA) held the cup, covered his head with a sheet and drank it. He died soon after.
His other son Hazrat Akhyar-uddin proceeded to Gurdaspur, under the orders of his father to be admitted as a follower by Syed Badar-Uddin Sa’mani. He returned to Kashmir after the death of his father and stayed at the Shrine of Sultan-Ul-Arifeen Sheikh Hamza (RA) for seven years and died there.
His shrine stands in the center of Kishtwar town, while Syed Asrar-uddin’s tomb is on the other side of the town facing Chowgan. Syed Akhyar-uddin (RA) has been buried in the outer adjoining room of the Shrine. These Sufis and saints have left yet their shrines continue to hold a significant place in the hearts of the people. These shrines have kept the spirit of communal harmony alive. Shah Saheb used to say "The true seeker should tread the highway of love fearlessly and patiently." "If one cannot drink up the entire ocean One can drink to one’s limit

KMC Demolition Drive Based On “Pick And Choose” Policy

Kishtwar: The Kishtwar Municipal Committee (KMC) has been creating new records in corruption and malpractices, leaving its primary duties behind. Even as the town wears a dirty look overall, with piles of garbage lying in lanes and by-lanes, the KMC is giving out contracts of various municipal works to its blue-eyed contractors.
All this is being done by hushing up the norms and ignoring rules and regulations. As a result of which, the contractors, once being allotted work, collect the money and forget about the work to be done.
An example of the corrupt practices of the KMC is reflected in the way the recent drive to remove roadside encroachments was carried out. The drive, which began on May 27, 2009, was started with the usual zeal and public announcements. However, the KMC had in mind only a few khokha owners, whose khokhas were dismantled as part of the drive. This pick and choose policy of selecting the encroachers resulted in much public anguish as only a handful of encroachments were removed while most of the encroachments stand even today.
The drive was allegedly carried out in an unlawful manner, wherein the KMC did not bother to serve any notice to the culprits whose khokhas were brought down. In fact, some of the sufferers even claim that they had been paying regular rent to the KMC for the last decade, still their khokhas were demolished.
When asked to explain the large number of public complaints arising after the drive was completed, KMC President Shabir Ahmed insisted that no pick and choose policy was employed in selecting khokhas for demolition. He also claimed that KMC had arranged for prior notice to be served at the culprits.

WAITING FOR MORE TRAGEDIES

NHPC refuses to repair, hand over Palmar road to state govt

Kishtwar: The hullabaloo over the measures being taken by the government in accident prone areas of mountainous Kishtwar district turned out to be another futile exercise to end the miseries of people living in the district as National Hydro Electric Project Corporation (NHPC) has out rightly refused to take any measures to improve Bandarkot-Palmar road or hand it over to the state government.
Well informed sources told The Bold Voice that soon after the recent bus mishap, which claimed at least 31 innocent lives, a high level team of Jammu and Kashmir government under deputy chief minister Tara Chand, during their visit to the area, were told that Bandarkote-Palmar road has been taken over by the NHPC and the corporation was responsible for the maintenance of the road.
If sources have to be believed the deputy chief minister and other government functionaries immediately summoned General Manager (GM) NHPC to enquire about the status of the road, which was in worst condition and has virtually turned into death trap.
They said that the meeting held between the government functionaries and the NHPC authorities brought out the worst part of the scenario, where life and blood of innocent lives does not matter to the authorities.
Sources said that the NHPC authorities were asked to undertake the repair work of the road, with immediate affect, so that the people living in the areas and government officials posted there are not forced to risk their lives.
"The NHPC GM categorically refused to repair the road saying that the same can not be done until the work on the projects in the area are taken up by the corporation", sources claimed adding, "The corporation even refused to hand over the road to the state government for its repair work".
It was reliably learnt that the NHPC had employed at least 30 gang collies on the road for its maintenance but all of them were shifted to some other place for unknown reasons.
The Deputy Chief Minister, sources said, left the meeting in a huff and assured later assured the local authorities that the matter would be taken up with the chief minister.
The people were shocked to know that the agency responsible for maintenance of this road in the aftermath of this horrible act disowned to make any improvement of Palmar road and Hon’ble M.L.A Kishtwar was compelled to demand closure of this road till the same is made trafficable so that further loss of lives in road accidents can be avoided. One wonders whether we are living in 21st century or going back to Stone Age. Why the people of Palmar have been made to suffer at the hands of such in apt agency of NHPC who have no care of human life and have taken the people for granted and for a ride for number of years without any accountability.
"Had Palmar road been improved, there was no need for educated people to travel in a jam packed matador which was the only mode of convenience on this death trap road", says Shakir Siddiqui senior PDP leader. "They have not understood from the past accidents on this road that they too have some moral and social responsibility" added Siddiqui. Another resident Puran Chand says, "The government should pull up such irresponsible agency and throw them out of the area and no further works should be given to this agency in the upcoming projects". "Any MoU if signed may be reviewed by the government in view of the resentment of people and helplessness shown by the MLAs", said Puran Chand.

Troops continue to occupy historical Bhadarwah college

Bhaderwah: Feroz Khan, a young graduate student, today laments the day when he took admission in the historical Bhaderwah college, a premier education institute of Chenab Valley – Erstwhile Doda district.
Since his school days the young student was excited about the college life, which he had seen in movies. For him it was also a time to build dreams, plan career and make smart moves.
However, today his dreams stand broken and he is forced to face the harsh reality. College for him is a fortified place, where he has not even the liberty to move freely. Courtesy; the gun yielding CRPF personnel occupying the campus premises from last over a decade.
Like Feroz, over a thousand student of Bhadereah Degree College, are studying amid the fear psychosis which is effecting their studies considerably. For them going to college means facing humiliation and threats.
Even two years after the central government claimed that the army and para-military personnel have vacated all the school and hospital buildings across Jammu and Kashmir, the students and faculty members at historical Bhaderwah college see no respite from the gun yielding para-military personnel under whose shadow the college has been functioning for a long time.
Had there been no sign board at the entrance gate of the college, no one can judge that the premises inside is an educational institution as right from the gate the premises gives look of a cantonment. The CRPF is occupying staff quarters and the boys hostel resulting in the staff members and the students hailing from outside are forced to pay heavy rents for private accommodations. Due to presence of security personnel in the premises no girl student is ready to stay in the hostel and the hostel building meant for the girls is being used by IGNOU And the PG department of Urdu. Not only this the only play ground of the college is being used as parking place for the vehicles by the security personnel whereas soakage pits and toilets have been constructed over the Botanical garden of the College. Besides security men there are large number of their pet dogs seen in the college which are the biggest problem for the students. As the students can not move freely in the college due to the fear of these dogs.
"Due to presence of security forces in the college premises female students are not ready to stay in the hostel whereas the boys hostel is already occupied by the forces, as such students are forced to stay in rented accommodations and pay huge money" says Fiza Khan an ex student. Another student Aleem Wani says, "We can not enjoy the college life, and always think as if we are inside a cantonment". "Bhaderwah has a big talent in sports, even it has produced star cricketers but due to non-availabilty of play ground as the same is being used by CRPF we can not practice any game" added he.
Govt Degree College Bhadarwah was established in the year 1955 when Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed, the then Prime Minister of the Jammu and Kashmir State laid the foundation of the College. Situated in the lap of the Himalayas, in a beautiful cup shaped valley of Bhaderwah surrounded on one side by Kaplas and on the other side by Ashapati Mountains- a tall range separating this beautiful valley from District Chamba of Himachal Pardesh, Bhadarwah college is one of the oldest colleges of the state and the first one in Chenab Valley.
The previous coalition government led by the then chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had taken initiative with the central government for vacating the government buildings especially school, colleges and hospitals from the force’s occupation.
However, irnocially, the chief minister, who was himself a student of the college, failed to get the college premises vacated and the CRPF personnel still remain there affecting the studies and culture of the students.

THANKS Mr. Abdullah!

SHEIKH NASIR HUSSAIN
Tragedy strikes once again. Another road accident snatches precious lives and once again Kishtwar has faced the brunt of government apathy and non serious attitude towards the serious issues of public importance. The death of thirty one people including twenty young teachers has come as a shock to this mountainous town which has seen many such tragedies in recent months and it has once again exposed the so called public representatives who till recently were building castle in air only to garner votes for themselves. Chief minister Omar Abdullah recently came on a private chopper to seek votes on the name of honest and dedicated government but today when the people of the area wanted a hand on their head to consol them and share their grief and pain the young Abdullah found none of his cabinet colleagues or senior govt officer to be sent to Kishtwar. The ‘dynamic’ leader, as his party colleagues love to call him, sent an RTO to access the situation. It seems that the blood of people of this far off area is too thin to attract the attention of the government. It seems that government is waiting for more such catastrophes before it can seriously think to come to the rescue of the people. But still the people of Kishtwar must express gratitude to ‘WORTHY’ chief minister for at least expressing sympathy with the bereaved families and for his ‘ GRAVE’ concern through press statements

PALL OF GLOOM DESCENDS ON KISHTWAR

SHEIKH NASIR HUSSAIN

Kishtwar: A pall of gloom descended on mountainous Kishtwar town in the wake of tragic road mishap, which claimed 31 lives. Many households in a few streets lost their relatives.
With trembling hands and in faltering voices, the relatives of the victims consoled one another. People throng to the graveyard and cremation grounds to attend the last rites of the victims, while all the schools, shops and other business establishments remained closed with negligible attendance at the government offices.
The news of road accident spread like wild fire in the town and its adjoining areas and people rushed to the accident site, about 6 kilometers from the main town. On motor-cycles, four wheelers and every thing they found, people were seen moving in large numbers towards Bandarkote, where the tragedy struck.
At District hospital, people in large number, including women, were waiting for the bodies to arrive. For around one hour no body knew who was on the ill fated vehicle but everyone was apprehending that being Monday most of the victims would be government employees.
Then bodies started pouring in. Loaded on trucks and tippers, the bodies were blood soaked and even some had disfigured faces.
The atmosphere in the hospital suddenly changed. The silence suddenly disappeared and there was only hue and cry in air.
Doctors rushed and started checking the pulse of the victims. But none of them were alive.
"I have never had a tougher day," said an employee of the hospital, after seeing the bodies everywhere. The hospital staff was duly assisted by the volunteers of some local NGOs, who are now accustomed of such situation due to the growing number of road mishaps in the area.
After the legal formalities the activities stopped at the hospital and people throng to the houses of the victims.
By the afternoon, local graveyard had around four graves ready. Similar was the situation at the nearby cremation ground, where it was a scramble for everything— from cow dung cakes to firewood and other things associated with funeral rites. Locals and strangers rose as one man, assisting the kin of the deceased in completing the last rites.
While a deceased teacher was being buried in the graveyard, hardly few meters away his colleague was being cremated by his relatives.
The things may be back to normal for everyone in next few days but for the kith and kins of the victims even the time may not be able to heal the wounds left by the tragic mishap.

A School which looses almost entire staff

SHEIKH NASIR HUSSAIN

Kishtwar: It was a routine day at Government Higher Secondary School Palmar on Monday. Peon opened the school; students were getting ready to attend their classes after weekend and teacher too left to perform their duty. However, destiny had something else in store for every one of them. Tragedy struck and the school lost 10 of it’s teachers in the road mishap.
Sources told that out of the twenty teachers, who lost their lives in the road mishap, ten were posted at Government Higher Secondary School, Palmar. Even the principal of the teacher is battling between life and death at Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, where he was airlifted.
It was learnt that almost entire staff of the GHSS Palmar left their homes to attend their duties but none of them reached to their destination. Tragedy struck and they lost their lives in the mishap.
"Principal of the school had called a meeting in the school and had asked the entire staff to remain present", a local resident, whose son is a student of the school told.
"The school is now orphaned", he said with tears rolling down from his cheeks. "My child has not eaten anything since morning and he has gone in a state of shock", he adds.
Back in Kishtwar, colleagues of the deceased teachers were in state of shock. They believe that if things remain as it is most of them will fall pray to the government apathy and road mishaps.
"One of our colleague who lost her life in the accident had once expressed apprehension that one day we may die in an accident", a teacher, Arshad Ahmed said. He said that now ever teacher posted outside Kishtwar has the same apprehension as "we feel that our lives are no more secure on this deadly road".

KISHTWAR BOARD EXAMINATIONS: Board's failing grip on Education

A few weeks ago, we carried a news story of how the volunteers under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) were running from pillar to post, to get their meager honorarium from the authorities. This week, we bring you another aspect of the failing education administration in the mountainous district Kishtwar.
The Board examinations, conducted throughout the district, are suffering from serious malpractices, which include corrupt practices, by the superintendents themselves.
These malpractices go unnoticed most of the times because of the geographical inaccessibility of most of the examination centers in the district. Since authorities like the flying squad or even the regular representatives of the State Board of school education stay away from the far-flung areas of Kishtwar, such negligent conduct escapes the eyes of the Board. Sources within the State Board have confirmed that the teachers of various government schools in Kishtwar pay from their pocket to get engaged as superintendent for these Board exams, just like the corrupt practices carried out in construction business.
The main reason why hefty amounts are paid to get an opportunity to conduct Board examinations in far-flung centers is that the students, in turn, are charged money to allow them to copy while sitting in the examination. At an average, Rs 1,000 to 3,000 are charged from the students who appear in these Board papers and in return, they can bring in any copying material into the examination hall and write answers at their own free will.
While it seems that the authorities are oblivious to the fact, sources also indicate that some of the board officials in the district appear to be hand in glove with the corrupt teachers. This is due to the fact that the teachers who indulge in such practices are repeatedly being engaged as superintendents, despite complaints being registered against them.
That is not all, the authorities are also engaging simple teachers as superintendents for Board examinations up to the level of 10 and 10+2, which widens the scope of copying during examinations. For instance, in a practical examination of 10+2, instead of lecturers, simple teacher or lecturer of another stream were engaged as superintendents, who were not even aware of the subject for which the practical was taking place.
To sum up the whole scenario of Board examinations in Kishtwar, it would be sufficient to say that such events have become money-minting machines for the unethical teachers and education authorities.

CHENAB VALLEY TO PLAY DECISIVE ROLE IN DODA-UDHAMPUR

SHEIKH NASIR HUSSAIN
Kishtwar: Erstwhile Doda district, better known as Chenab Valley with three district will play a key role in deciding the fate of 14 candidates in the fray, including "four Singhs" locked in an interesting electoral battle, in Doda-Udhampur parliamentary constituency.The constituency has a total of 13,62,382 electorate and is going to polls in second phase on April 23.
Official figures reveal that out of 1362,382 voters in Doda-Udhampur parliamentary constituency, 457608 voters belong to the three districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban. It is thus clear that the Chinab Valley will have a key factor in deciding the fate of the fourteen candidate in fray for the parliamentary constituency.
Out of 14 contestants, the neck and neck race will be between Congress candidate and sitting MP Lal Singh and BJP candidate Dr Nirmal Singh. Other two key-players are Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) candidate Prof Bhim Singh and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nominee Balbir Singh.
Official sources told The Bold Voice that Kishtwar district has a total electorate of 125185 (Male 63966 and Female 60219), while Doda has 212979 total electorate with 110541 male and 102438 female voters. Similarly, Ramban district, has total electorate of 119444 with 66066 male and 56378 female voters.
Though the Doda district has witnessed an increase of 48794 voters since 2004, Kishtwar district recorded decrease of 19428 voters since the year 2004. Similarly, Ramban district has also witnessed a decline of -13264 voters since 2004.
If the ongoing trend is any indication, Peoples Democratic Party is likely to give a tough fight to the Congress and BJP. Political pundits are of the opinion that PDP, though has a little chance to win, it can frustrate the winning prospect of Congress in particular.
The ongoing tussle within the Congress and National Conference and lack of understanding especially at the worker level is also likely to be an added advantage to the PDP in all the three districts.
If insiders have to be believed, Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh is not in the good books of some section of Congress leaders in the three districts, which may create a problem for him. Another major reason was said to be that National Conference supporters and workers were not able to digest the new alliance as they were seen fighting tooth and nail with Congress in recently held assembly elections as such they will likely to prefer vote in favour of PDP or JKNPP instead of Congress.
The youth of the Doda-Udhampur constituency is another key factor. In sync with the idea of "Youngistan", over four lakh youth voters of the constituency will exercise their franchise on April 23.
On the whole, the youth voters constitute over 32 percent of the total electorate in this constituency. 4,47,400 youth voters are between the age-group of 20-29 years. 29,000 voters are between the age-group of 18-19 and will cast their votes for the first time. The parliamentary constituency has the second highest number of electorate in the state after Jammu-Poonch constituency and comprises 17 assembly segments.
Udhampur and Reasi assembly segments top the list of young voters with 33,000 young electorate each. Bani assembly segment has the least number of young electorate i.e., 12,000. Interestingly, Reasi assembly segment has the maximum number of rightful representatives of ‘Youngistan’.
In this particular assembly segment, 27,000 electorate would be the first timers, while in Bani this number would be the lowest i.e., 750.
Three assembly constituencies have over 30,000 youth electorate and they included Kathua (32,800), Ramnagar (32,700) and Bhaderwah (32,000).
While nine assembly segments have over 20,000 youth electorate registered for this parliamentary election. These included Hiranagar (28,500), Ramban (27,500), Inderwal (26,000), Banihal (25,400), Kishtwar (23,000), Gulabgarh (21,850) and Basohli (20,970), while Chenani and Billawar have equal number of youth electorate i.e., 26,850.
In 1967 elections, Udhampur constituency was represented by Congress candidate Brigadier Ghansara Singh while in 1971 midterm polls, the constituency was represented by Dr. Karan Singh again on a Congress ticket. In 1977 Lok Sabha elections, the seat was again won by Dr. Karan Singh as INC candidate. In the midterm 1980 parliamentary elections, the seat was yet again won by Dr. Karan Singh, however, this time on INC (U) ticket. In 1984, the seat was won by G L Dogra as INC candidate while in 1989 general election, Udhampur seat was won by Dharam Chand of INC. This seat had been a stronghold of Congress till 1996 when for the first time it was won by BJP. In 1996 the seat was won by Janak Raj Gupta on BJP ticket.
After registering three consecutive wins from the traditional Congress bastion, BJP again lost it to Congress in 2004 elections. Sitting MP Lal Singh had defeated former Union Minister of State for Defence and BJP candidate Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, who won twice from this seat, in last LS polls with a margin of 47,175 votes. Singh had polled 2,40,872 votes while Gupta secured 1,93,697 votes. The total poll percentage was recorded at 45.09. The total voters in the constituency include 8,654 service electors. Out of the total electorate, 7,16,405 male and 6,45,977 female voters have been registered for 2009 Lok Sabha elections. While in 2004 parliamentary polls, there were 13,48,721 voters. Kathua district leads with 4,04,895 voters who include 2,14,422 male and 1,90,473 female voters. Udhampur district follows with 2,86,778 electors including 1,51,902 male and 1,34,876 female electors. Reasi district has 2,11,723 registered voters who include 1,10,702 male and 1,01,021 female voters while Doda district has 1,66,611 voters including 86,551 male and 80,060 female voters. Likewise, Ramban district has 1,48,018 voters who include 78,222 male and 69,796 female voters while Kishtwar district has 1,44,357 total electors including 74,606 male and 69,751 female voters.