Srinagar, September 16
In a region with abundant forests, animal-bite victims at the anti-rabies unit at Sri Maharaja Hari Singh State Hospital (SHMS) are forced to buy life-saving drugs from the open market.

Though, the hospital authorities claim to have a full stock of the anti-rabies drugs, even critically injured patients coming here are allegedly forced by the doctors to buy Immunoglobulin medicine from the open market.

The drug is considered a life-saving medicine in such cases. Apart from regular anti-rabies vaccine, immunoglobulin is required by those patients who have class-3 bites, classified as the most severe. Such patients, who are usually referred to the SHMS from different corners of the valley suffer from severe blood loss and thus require the medicine.

A single vile of Immunoglobulin in the open market costs Rs 460, which is beyond the reach of the poor and destitute victims, says Mohammad Ali, a volunteer with Help Poor Voluntray Trust, an NGO, which provides free medicines and helps the poor and destitute patients at the hospital in Srinagar.

“On an average, three such patients approach Help Poor Trust with requests for supplying immunoglobulin. Most of the times the patients are in a severe condition and cannot afford to buy such expensive drugs from the market,” he said.

On the other hand, the authorities at Anti- Rabies Unit of SHMS claim that they have complete supply of the anti-rabies vaccines.

“Ours is a fully-functional unit. We have complete supply of the medicine (anti-rabies) and other vaccines, which are provided free of cost to the patients in animal bite cases,” says Dr Safoora, the head of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at SHMS, who is also in-charge of the anti-rabies unit of the hospital.

She said, “Immunoglobulin is usually administered to the patients with class-3 bites, whereas the patients with class-1 and 2 bites, who require anti-rabies vaccine only, are given the medicine free of cost.”

Attendants of such patients and the volunteers working with them argue that the government should provide Immunoglobulin free of cost.

“The authorities have been resisting culling of stray dogs citing animal rights. Now it becomes the duty of the state to make crucial life saving drugs and medicines, like immunoglobulin available free of cost in the hospital for the dog bite victims,” said Mohammad Ali, who has been helping such victims at the Help Poor Voluntary Trust.

The state authorities and the Municipal authorities the number of stray dogs in Srinagar is 91,110. With increasing dog population, cases of canine attacks in the valley are also on the rise, which has become a matter of concern for the residents.

Srinagar, September 16
Not satisfied with the investigation conducted by the police, the parents of a 16-year-old Class X student, who died 13 days ago at Baramulla of north Kashmir, have decided to approach the High Court with a writ petition seeking a judicial probe and compensation.

Panveer Singh, who was enrolled at Baramulla Public School, died on September 3, a week after he attempted suicide by jumping off the second floor of his school building following alleged harassment at the hands of the school authorities.

“In the petition we have prayed for a judicial probe into the death of the minor boy as the police has failed to investigate the case properly so far.

Besides, we have said that the High Court may also direct an independent investigation either by the crime branch or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),” said Advocate Karnail Singh Wazir, who is going to file the petition before the High Court on Monday on behalf of the parents of the deceased.

Though the police had registered an FIR into the death of the boy, however, it has registered it under Section 325 (blunt injury) and 306 (abetment to suicide).

“The police was supposed to register the FIR under Aection 302 (murder). Besides, it did not record the dying declaration of the boy in the hospital for at least for two days, which it was supposed to at the earliest,” said Karnail.

“In our prayer, we have asked that apart from holding a judicial probe into the death of the boy, the High Court may also order an investigation other than the police, which may be conducted by either the crime branch or the CBI,” counsel Karnail Singh said, adding that the family has also demanded compensation as the “boy died due to the negligence of school authorities”.

Even after having jumped off the school building, the family had alleged that the boy kept lying on the school premises for half an hour and the school authorities failed to provide him with any medical help.

The Shiromani Akali Dal, All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), Kashmir and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee of Baramulla have voiced their support for the victim’s family, demanding a fair and judicial probe.

They have accused the school authorities of negligence and demanded stern action against the teacher Altaf Hussain Teli, who for allegedly harassing the student.

The local police has dismissed the allegation that the boy was harassed for being a member of the minority community, but has registered a case in this regard.

Srinagar, September 16
A Committee on Estimates of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly recently visited the GB Pant Hospital and took stock of the measures taken by the administration for providing better medical and health care facilities to the patients.

The GB Pant Childcare Hospital was in the news a few months ago for its high infant mortality which forced the government to order an inquiry and attach the hospital head.

The inquiry later found that many deaths could have been avoided. It blamed the lack of infrastructure, lack of medicare facilities and mismanagement for the high infant mortality rate.

The Committee of Estimates, headed by Chaudhary Mohammad Ramzaan, which visited the GB Pant Hospital on Saturday, was accompanied by MLA Mustafa Kamal and officers of Health and Medical Education department, a spokesman said.

The committee also sought details from the hospital administration and visited various blocks of hospital, including Neonatal wards, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), X-Ray, MRI, CT-scan and ECG blocks.

Besides interacting with the attendants, a serious discussion was held with the medical and paramedical staff of the hospital, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the committee had been informed by the hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Muneer Masoodi that despite shortage of human resources and medical equipments, medical and paramedical staff was working very hard roundthe clock.

“The committee was also apprised that besides establishment of Microbiology laboratory, the Hematology and Biochemistry laboratory has been upgraded and ABG Analyser has been installed in NICU,” the spokesman added.

The spokesman said the committee observed that various constructive steps had been taken and further measures were necessary to provide better medical and healthcare facilities.

The committee members also observed that the hospital has no proper ventilation and the escalators were not in use because of the absence of operators, the spokesman said. He said more steps were needed to keep the hospital in shape.

Kupwara, September 16
Commercially busy Jamia market and bus stand in Kupwara have been turned into garbage dumping sites due to the alleged negligence of local municipal authorities. Garbage littered on the streets of Handwara has become a major nuisance for the residents as well as the traders.

“People avoid coming to Jamia market and adjoining Dar Gali due to the garbage dumped on the roadside,” said Nazir Ahmad, a trader.

The locals said heaps of garbage at Kupwara bus stand and at various places in the town invites stray dogs.

They said the safai karamcharis of the municipal committee lift the garbage from the market after a delay of many days.

Traders of Regipora market said garbage remains dumped near the bridge for days.

Senior citizens said in the absence of dustbins, people living alongside the Nullah Warnow flowing through the Kupwara town throw all the garbage into it.

“It not only adds to the pollution in the nullah but slows down its flow,” they said. They also demanded that the municipal committee, Kupwara, should put dustbins along the nullah.

The stretch of the nullah from the higher secondary school, Kupwara, to Bumhama, is the worst-affected due to dumping of garbage. “Heaps of garbage is scattered along the sides of the nullah. It attracts dogs and cattle especially around the old bridge area, Jamia Masjid, higher secondary school and Eid-Gah,” a resident said.

The locals said, “Butchers slaughter along the sides of the nullah and hoteliers also dump tons of waste into the nullah,” The traders say although the municipal committee has its own dumping sites at Bohipora, two kilometers from the town but the garbage often remains scattered in the town for days.

Residents of Handwara also rue that the local municipal committee has failed to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the town. “It has become difficult for the residents to live amidst the stink emanating for the heaps of garbage littered on the streets,” they said.

They also demanded that the garbage should be dumped far away from the town. Despite repeated attempts, no municipal official could be contacted for comments.

Srinagar, September 16
‘Tika Lal’, a famous play of 80s, written by MY Shaheen and directed by MD Wani was presented by the Kashmir Cultural Society, Srinagar, on the eighth day of the ongoing 11-day comedy festival at the SKICC auditorium in Srinagar.

The audiences went crazy for the Valley’s noted artist Farooq Shaikh, who made his entry as Tika Lal in the play.

The play was a satire on the system of dowry and other atrocities to which the women in our society are subjected to. It revolved around the trends that had developed in the middle-class society, demanding dowry, brides with government jobs and other social evils.

The festival has been organized by the J&K Film Makers and Artists Cooperative Limited in collaboration with the J&K academy of Art Culture and Languages.

Srinagar, September 16
Blaming the media for undermining the concerns of Kashmiri society, noted film-maker, TV actor, writer and theatre artist, Rajat Kapoor said the media should not project frivolous matters, but should adopt a serious approach towards highlighting the issues faced by the Kashmiri society.

Kapoor spoke while interacting with the students and teachers in a special session organised at the Media Education Research Centre (MERC) of the Kashmir University on Saturday.

He advised the mass communication students at the University of Kashmir to brace up for the challenging life of media ahead. He said the blame game in the society should not be played and that every individual had a significant role to play.

Rajat released the latest issue of MERC journal Media Times on the occasion.

Rajat is well known for his award winning portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in the film ‘The Making of the Mahatma’.

One of his most popular TV roles was Byomkesh Bakhshi. Besides other contributions and achievements, Rajat had worked with director Shayam Benegal for a number of movies, including the famous trilogy Mammo (1994), Sardari Begum (1996) and Zubaida (2001).

MERC Head Prof Mufeed Ahmad said, “If the department is not in a position to take the students to the film industry, our endeavor is to bring the eminent film personalities to the classrooms. The students should take full advantage of these opportunities.”

MERC senior faculty Nasir Mirza listed the contribution made by Rajat in the field of film, TV and theatre. “We look forward to such interactions with acclaimed artists with keenness and such interactions inspire and instil optimism,” said Mirza.

Among the others present on the occasion were the senior faculty members of MERC, including Dr Sabeha Mufti, Dr Aaliya Ahmed, Syeda Afshana, Malik Zahra and Muslim Jan.

Anantnag, September 16
Senior National Conference (NC) leader-cum-parliamentarian Dr Mehboob Beg today praised Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani for condemning the killing of Panchayat members.

Addressing a rally in Dialgam area of Anantnag district, Beg said, “I am thankful to the Hurriyat chairman for what he opined about the killing of the Panchayat members and the fact that he has asked the US citizens not to leave the Valley as some people had earlier demanded.”

Praising Syed Ali Shah Geelani for his views, Dr Beg said, “Geelani was the only person to oppose the ouster of the Christian missionaries from the Valley.”

He said killing somebody for his/her own political views was not a solution. For an acceptable solution of the Kashmir issue meaningful dialogue is the only process, he said.

“We have to talk to every shade of people, including the separatists so that the Kashmir issue is amicably solved and peace is ensured in the region,” Dr Beg said.

He said the NC has always pitched for the greater autonomy of the state, however, if somebody has a better solution they should come forward with it.

Dr Beg said the Pathribal victims should get every possible help by the state government to ensure justice. “It is a fact that the Pathribal killings were cold-blooded murders, the idea is to ensure that families have their faith reposed in the system,” Dr Beg said.

He condemned the American anti-Islam movie, calling it a conspiracy to defame the Muslims. “We should not fall prey to such things and should stand united,” Dr Beg said. 

Srinagar, September 16
Jammu and Kashmir police organised an eight-day painting workshop where nine artists of national fame and seven artists from the state are taking part, a spokesman said.

The workshop being held at Officers’ Mess at Humhama on the outskirts of the city was inaugurated by the Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Prasad on Saturday, a spokesman said.

The spokesman said artists from around the country taking part in the workshop are Yousuf from Bhopal, Milan Dass from Patna, Sajal from Broda, Vidya Sagar Uladlaya from Jaipur, Rajan Fulari from Goa, Sangeeta Murthy from Gurgoan, Rathindranath Kanji from Kolkata, Huim Rajni and Shridhar Iyer from New Delhi.

Seven local artists taking part in the workshop are Javed Iqbal, Mohammad Yousuf Bacha, Masarat Mehboob, Rakesh Kumar, Madasir Gull, Arshad Hussain and KK Gandhi.

Inaugurating the workshop, the DGP said such events are aimed at providing an opportunity to the youth of the state to witness the performance of artists of national fame and use their energy for their betterment.

Prasad said the workshop will motivate the youth to come forward and excel in the field of art. The police department has been “focusing to provide a national-level platform to the budding artists in the state,” the DGP said.

The police chief said art provides an opportunity to share experiences and know about the cultures of the different regions of the country.

He also urged the youth to play a significant role in nation building and asked the people from all walks of life to play a role in building confidence among the youth.

The Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Law and Order, K Rajendra Kumar, while welcoming the artists from different parts of the country and senior officers said the workshop will conclude on September 21.

Jammu, September 16
The Army Public School (APS), Udhampur, toppled APS, Srinagar, by 5-0 in the final match to lift the title trophy of the Inter-Regional Command Football Tournament 2012-13 which concluded at the Udhampur APS.

The two-day sporting event witnessed participation from five Army Public Schools of the Northern Command. Prizes were given away to the members of the winning and the runner-up teams. Lakhwinder Singh of Udhampur APS was adjudged man of the tournament. Principal of the school Vinod Joseph congratulated Lakhwinder Singh and also lauded the efforts of team coach Gurmeet Singh. The event was coordinated by school’s sports in charge Manjeet Singh. — TNS

Jammu, September 16
The eves of Samba district spanked formidable Kathua district by 3-0 in the summit showdown to clinch the divisional-level Inter-District Volleyball Tournament, which concluded at the Youth Hostel, Nagrota, here today.

The set score read 25-23, 25-14 and 25-15. Rimaka Jamwal and Nazia were the standout performers from the winner team while Parika Sharma of Kathua district also played outstandingly.

Earlier, in the first semifinal, Kathua prevailed upon Udhampur by 25-23, 25-20. Parika Sharma was the top performer for Kathua while Pinki Kumari and Vaishali from Udhampur also performed well. In the second semifinal, Samba had last laugh against Rajouri in two straight sets by 25-6 and 25-16. Nazia Akhter and Rimika Jamwal were the outstanding spikers from the victorious team while Rimpy Mala also played well for Rajouri. Over 150 girls drawn from six districts of the Jammu division participated in the tournament.

Deputy Director Youth Services and Sports Ashok Kumar was the chief guest on the valedictory function and he distributed prizes among the winners and runners-up teams.