Kashmir’s most crumbly water bodies end up like a septic tank

Nishwan Rasool:
Despite being Chek Nageen being notified as the green belt area by the Lakes and Water Ways Development Authority (LAWDA), the college continues to thrive.
The National Institute of Technology (NIT) who are using over than 400 toilets finds its discharge way into the Dal Lake, the C.R.P.F troopers, who are deployed at the Institute, are the main part which subsidizes to the pollution of Dal Lake
Officials at NIT, who wished to keep their anonymous, said, “That the Institute had received a warning note from the Pollution Control Board (PCB) and a case was registered against the college authorities.” Because of the presence of CRPF personnel who have occupied three accommodation buildings in the Institute lot of excreta is flushed out from premises," they further said that the students of the Institute have to suffer in terms of facilities because of the continued presence of CRPF personnel in the NIT premises.
“The major polluter of the lake at this side is the National Institute of Technology and the CRPF battalion situated inside its campus. But the people in the Nigeen area consider NIT as the only major polluter. All the drains of the area are directed into the Nigeen Lake. “The drainage from the canteens, hostels and residential quarters inside the campus goes into Nigeen Lake,” said Razaaq Khan [name changed] (who was working in the NIT hostel mess from past 25 years.
“Human left-over is great manure," once it gets in the water, the raw sewage and fertilizer run-off cause plant life to grow quickly. “Weeds and algae, along with bacteria, proliferate. “As the plant life soaks up oxygen from the water, other forms of aquatic life like fish are slowly choked,” said Dr.Abdul Rasheed who is working as Scientist in Plant pathology department.
He further added that the worsening condition of water bodies and the failing sanitation scenario poses a major threat to the health and economic security of thousands of people in Kashmir. The survival of these water bodies like Dal Lake, Wullar Lake, Nigeen Lake, Manasbal Lake, and River Jhelum, are at risk.

The college authorities further said, that a work progress is going on in NIT premises the 1st and 2nd phase are over, now a work is going on 3rd phase (final phase) which would connect college drainage pipes to Cheek Sedarbal (Nigeen Lake) and Dobhighat Hazratbal (Dal lake) the LAWDA authorities had make the Sedarbal and Dobhighat as the dumping area for human excreta.

Showkat was severely beaten up by JKP official and was fired with 5 rounds in his Leg.

Nishwan Rasool

Showkat mother timid with tears in her eyes said, my son was shot before my eyes I heard his loud pain cries. Showkat at that movement was uttering only one thing from his mouth (mama save me, otherwise I will die) but only words which come out from my mouth that time was have mercy on my child or else he will die.

“On Wednesday 7, August JKP official entered into our house without any provocation and ruthlessly beat up my daughters and son. Showkat, was reading in his room because he was supposed to go for a exam next day. But the official dragged him down from second floor and ruthlessly beat him up with their rifles. I begged in front of officials not to beat him but they hit me with their rifle and laid me down,” narrates her mother Haleema.
“Showkat, is 14 year old and is reading in Waheed Memorial Public School at Ganerbal. He is only younger brother among his four sisters. Some couple of years before his father suffered with mental ailment and he was shifted to Srinagar mental hospital. Showkat, never used to go in the protest which were impending in the area,” Showkat very clearly know that all the liabilities of the family were upon him and his one mistakes could result in downfall of his family. I used to work for late night hours to earn money and make Showkat, as successful person so that he can feed his family. Haleema said
‘‘The official was drunk at that time he harassed my three daughters, and brutally beat up them they were so scared that they open their room window panes and jumped out to save their life.” She added
He even did not leave the local imams who were in (aitqaaf) small room were imam worship in the month of Ramdhaan they were dragged outside on the road and mud and dirt were putted on their face,” said his releative Abdul Rashid
“The shopkeepers who left their shop opens for essential commodities were even not spared the official took out their hens and broke down their neck”, said another resident of Ganderbal
“When Showkat was putted in Ambulance and blood was oozing out from his leg the official came and broke down all the window panes of the ambulance he even did not allow us to move a bit,” said his cousin brother who wished to keep his name anonymous
“They have not fired on his leg but they have fired on our hopes, they have killed all our wishes we are really worried about his future”, said his sister Rubeena.

NIT students forced to stay in 'inhospitable' hostels

Nishwan Rasool
Srinagar, October 6: Students of the National Institute Technology (NIT) are now desperately looking for places to stay as they have been asked by the college administration to stay in their college hostels for the upcoming examinations.


“The college administration had already congested the hostel room by keeping four or five students per room. The room is basically meant for three students. It's inhospitable with all the furniture, etc,” said a hostelite from NIT.

A student from the NIT college who wished to stay anonymous said, “We are the students of Engineering Department and from the last four months, we haven’t attended any classes. We are helpless. Students from our class who are staying in hostels are going for regular classes but our education suffers.”

Another hostelite, on the basis on anonymity, lamented, “There are two more hostels in the college campus but because the security forces has occupied the rooms from several decades, the infra-structure is totally battered.”

Students informed that the college administration had given instructions that regular classes would be unhampered in case of strike or curfew in the Valley. This has to be done so that the syllabus would be completed and the examinations would be conducted on time, they said.

Talking to Kashmir Dispatch, the students complained that the troopers had broken the windowpanes of the hostel and wrecked the electric wires. “Even the doors are laying in the corridor. The hostel cannot be used. The college administration cannot accommodate the students in such rooms. Why the college authorities are not renovating the hostels?” he asked.

Manager of the NIT Hostel G M Shah said, “The hostels which were evacuated by troopers is not in a fit condition to accommodate students. The CRPF had been in college hostels for 20 years and therefore we could not renovate the hostels as result the infra-structure and the drainage system is poor.”

As far as the issue of the classes being held despite curfews and strikes was concerned, Shah explained, “The college administration has decided to run the buses through different areas we have also collected the data of the students living in different areas of Srinagar."

Shah added, "A meeting would be held for this purpose where a decision would be taken whether the buses would be provided to the students.”

Less than 3% attendance in christian missionary schools in Srinagar

Out of 8,747 students only 208 turned up
Nishwan Rasool:
Srinagar, September 27: In four Christian missionary schools in the Srinagar City on Monday the attendance was less than 3 per cent with 208 students out of the total 8747 making it to schools amid curfew and strike. Many among those who attended the school complained that ‘not a single State Road Transport bus as promised by the government was available’.

A senior staff member at the Valley’s oldest Christian missionary school Tyndale Biscoe and Mallinson Educational Society said, “Out of 3,747 students only 100 were present today.... government’s decision to open schools at this time when there is so much agitation and tension in the Valley is really wrong.”

“I travelled from Rangreth, Rawalpora to my school Tyndale Biscoe by foot which was very difficult, I did not see any SRTC bus plying,” said a student from Tyndale Biscoe.

“If it is going to be like this then it is impossible for me to come to school regularly,” he added.

Schools could not also send their buses to areas which were under strict curfew.

“We managed some school buses to go to Uptown, but could not send our buses to Downtown as it was under curfew. Out of 2,500 students only 33 students were present in the school. We tried our level best to make the buses to go Downtown but unfortunately the area was under curfew,” said an official from Burn Hall School in Sonwar.

“Early morning, we got a message from the Rangreth, that protesters turned away a school bus or else they have to face the stone throwing,” he further added.

In Presentation Covent 75 students were present, this despite that the mandatory Golden Test Examination for the class 10th was scheduled today.

“Out of 180 class tenth students only 21 appeared in the exams,” Faiza Zahoor, a student who appeared in the exams said.

An official of the school told Kashmir Dispatch, “Out of 2,500 students only 75 made it to school.”

“We can’t assure the parents that their children are safe in the school premises,” the official plainly stated.

Medical students 'thrashed' by STF men

Nishwan Rasool:

Srinagar, September 17: At a time when doctors are needed more than ever before in the Valley, Munsheeb (name changed), a 23-year-old, sixth semester student of Government Medical College who decided to appear for his exams today despite the trying circumstances was ‘trashed by the Special Task Forces on his way to the hospital in Srinagar’.

Speaking to Kashmir Dispatch, Munsheeb said, “After a notification was issued from the College authorities we decided to travel last night to get to our hostel. We were traveling in sumo with six other students of our college when some Special Task Force (STF) personnel tried to stop us in Islamabad Chowk. We requested them that to grant us permission as we had to appear for exams but they start harassing us.”

Recounting the incident where he received cuts and scars because of the violence, Munsheeb said, “They harassed us and went on a rampage. The girls were loudly crying and shouting for mercy but they just laughed and continued beating us. It was really unlawful and we were terrified,” said a student of GMC who wish to keep his anonymous

Ironically, there were some JKP policemen in the vehicle with Munsheeb, “A policeman took his head out of the window, saying, ‘I am from the police department and we have to go to our area for duty.’ But even they weren’t spared by the STF.”

Munsheeb described how the policemen were dragged by their hair outside the vehicle. He added, “Somehow, the cops managed to get back into the car. Our driver drove the car in reverse but they chased us. The car rammed into a road barrier but the driver managed to keep the control. The STF threw their batons at our car’s windows. The glass windows shattered on to my face causing some scratches.”

“We can’t afford to miss our exams as it would badly affect our career. It would show on our certificate that we have re-appeared,” he lamented from a friend’s house in Kokernag, Islamabad.

A status update on Munsheeb’s wall encapsulates what every student is the Valley is going through since the authorities insist on holding exams despite the unbearable conditions that prevail, “I miss my college. I miss my batch mates. I miss my friends... I call this life... so I miss my life.”

Awantipora airport shut for public till Sep 16

Nishwan Rasool:
Srinagar, September 13: In the wake of current unrest in Kashmir, the airport authorities on Monday decided to stop the flight operations to and from the Valley till September 16. The decision of Airport authorities to stop civil air traffic service has caused a serious concern among passengers with official sources putting the number of stranded passengers at 500 at the Awantipora Airport.

Official sources disclosed, “We have cancelled every flight at Awantipora Airport due to this ongoing agitation in the Valley. It is all for the safety of our esteemed customers.”

While talking to Kashmir Dispatch, Mudasir Nazir, a passenger who is studying in Jamia Millia said, "I was supposed to leave to Delhi as my internal exams are going to start from day after tomorrow."

This has also hit travel agents very hard. "My 50 tickets were cancelled due to prevailing circumstances in these two days. It is a big loss to our business sector," said Abid Hussain, owner of a travel agency.

Sameen, a Srinagar based B.V.S.C student from Pakistan whose ticket was also cancelled said, "My practicals and viva examinations are starting in a couple of days. We have been handed a notification from the college authorities to come two days before the examinations. But now I’ll have to re-appear for my examination.”

Court orders judicial probe into Wamiq's killing

Nishwan Rasool:
Srinagar, May 11: A local court here Tuesday ordered a judicial enquiry to probe the circumstances which led to the death of 13-year-old Wamiq Farooq, who was killed on January 31 this year after a teargas shell fired by the police hit him.

“Chief Judicial Magistrate has referred the judicial enquiry to the judge of small cases Srinagar,” Advocate G N Shaheen, who is pleading the case on behalf the complainant, said.

“The judicial enquiry should complete within two months,” the order passed by Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, Mohammad Ibrahim Wani reads.

The hearing in the case will now commence on July 15.
On April 16 this year, court had recorded statements of two witnesses in support of an application seeking registration of FIR under section 302 (murder) against police officials accused of firing tear gas shell that killed Wamiq.

The application was filed by Farooq Ahmad Wani, father of diseased teenager, on March 27.
Both the witnesses had stated in the court that they could identify all the police men who were present on the occasion including Assistant Sub Inspector Abdul Khaliq and Constable Mohammad Akram.

Wamiq Farooq Wani of Rainawari was killed after he was hit by a teargas shell fired by police near Gani Memorial stadium rajouri Kadal, in old city Srinagar.

Wamiq's death led to widespread protests across valley for many days.

However, the police on February 20, in its report had described Wamiq a “miscreant” who was involved in stone pelting and succumbed to an injury sustained in police's “retaliatory measure” at Rajouri Kadal.

Subsequently, on March 27 Wamiq’s father had moved an application before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate seeking registration of FIR against accused police officials under section 302 (murder). He also recorded his statement before the court on March 30.

The family had also sought constitution of a Special Investigation Team comprising of “senior and credible police officials” to investigate the matter and bring the accused police officials to justice.