A Riddle called Kashmir

Ashraf lays out a panorama of predicaments regarding the solution to the Kashmir issue, but misses an obvious: Do the people really want to settle the issue for good?

(Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, 34, was born in village (Hutmarah) of of the District Anantnag of South Kashmir. He completed his graduation from the University of Kashmir in 1999 and Masters’ degree from the Aligarh Muslim University in 2002 and pursued the doctorate (PhD) in Linguistics from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur-India. His research mainly focused on Kashmir specifically language identity discourses and attrition of the Kashmiri speech community. Though his primary research mainly focuses on Linguistic Studies, nevertheless, he has been actively involved on the research concerning the grand narratives of Kashmir. He was associated with the Central Institute of Indian Languages Mysore (Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India) at various capacities. Under the Cognitive Science Research Initiative, he has been awarded a prestigious competitive fellowship by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. Presently, he is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT New Delhi. He has presented/published various papers at several national and international platforms.)


(Mis)understanding the Kashmir Predicament

This is in response of the several articles specifically Nayeema Ahmad Mahjoor’s “Kashmir. What next,” Happymon Jacob’s “New Delhi’s forgetfulness,” Prof. Rattan Lal Hangloo’s “Let it be Kashmir first” mentioning a few published in the English daily Greater Kashmir dated 25th, 18th and 16th March 2012 respectively. The crux of the predicament needs to be understood in a wider perspective. On 11 April 1996, I boarded a bus from Srinagar bound for Anantnag (also called Islamabad). Army personnel stopped the bus for a routine check and asked a middle-aged man: ‘where are you going?’ ‘Anantnag’, was the scared reply. A moment ago, however, the man had fearlessly asserted ‘Islamabad’ to the bus conductor. Islamabad and Anantnag, are merely contextually constructed alternatives. Paradoxically, security forces in Kashmir get angry for using the word Islamabad (probably because it is the name of the capital of the neighboring country! Or perhaps it is an assertion of the religious identity).

The dynamics of such a dilemma plays out among the main stakeholders here: the Kashmiri people, India, and Pakistan. The Kashmiri people include the common masses, the separatist camp (popularly called the Hurriyat Conference), the mainstream political parties, and the migrant Kashmiri Pandits. Within the common masses—who actually experienced the destruction, sufferings and pain—there are varying narratives and opinions. A larger section would advocate azadi (freedom) and some, Nehru’s proposed ‘plebiscite’. Even among the azadi fans, the understanding varies. For some, it entails the end of the entire Indian presence while for others, it implies Kashmir minus armed forces. ‘Most of the young people in Kashmir want azadi, but no two persons have the uniform opinion when asked what azadi is’ asserts Mr. Wajahat Habibullah, Chairman of National Minority Commission.

In summer 2008, hundreds were injured and killed; huge rallies supported the azadi slogan. The influence of these protests across the valley persuaded Vir Sanghvi, Subramanian Swamy and Arundhati Roy to suggest a referendum in Kashmir – ‘thinking the unthinkable’. However, shortly, the people of the valley proved such presumptions false by participating in the Assembly elections with almost a 70% turnout. Mr. Arun Jaitley, in a television debate, then called the volatile incidents of 2008 and 2010 in Kashmir as temporary aberrations. However, a common genuine concern, as Mr. Habibullah articulates is that ‘most of the people opine that New Delhi treats all the people of Kashmir as potential threats [… and] that New Delhi will never treat them as equal citizens.’ The only shared concern, one can notice within the common mass that conjoins their voice is that they all have suffered at every front.

Similarly, among the separatists, there are at least three diverse opinions: Pakistan, azadi and plebiscite. Among the two major factions of the separatists, one is willing to participate in a dialogue with the Indian government; the other faction utterly refuses dialogue, considering it futile and without tangible outputs. However, the only unity in their tones is the perception of a common challenge: New Delhi.

The mainstream parties are no exception and are equally divided. The National Conference advocates autonomy; the People’s Democratic Party campaigns for self-rule; and the Congress Party affirms the status quo. However, they have some common characteristics, which presumably unite them and distinguish them from the separatist groups. They all consent to the accession of Kashmir with India as final, blame each other for the plight of the Kashmiri people and irrespective of which party rules, the state retains its very high levels of corruption.

Similarly, there are confused theories about the migration of Kashmiri Pandits. Kashmiri Muslims presume that the Pandit community migrated purposely. The Indian government holds the militants responsible for displacing the Pandits. Two common concerns, which unite the Pandits, include the threat of losing their linguistic and cultural identity and the strong opposition to any compromise on Kashmir including the demand for referendum or azadi.

The voices from New Delhi endorse dialogue as the only solution. Nevertheless, the tones vary: some suggest a dialogue with Pakistan and some with Kashmiris alone. Occasionally, the offer for a dialogue is unconditional with any group, whether within our outside the jurisdiction of the Indian constitution. Others (specifically the right wing) strongly warn that Kashmir is an internal problem, irresolvable by dialogue, considering the accession of Kashmir unquestionable and perceiving the conflict as a proxy war by Pakistan and ‘cross-border terrorism’. They seem over-obsessed with the semantics of separatism, thereby pressing the state to be hard on separatists and anybody who seeks or supports azadi in any form. Within the stakeholders of the India, this wave of bewilderment travels across the range of narratives, be it the perceptions about the disappeared persons from Kashmir, or the recent discourses concerning the handling of stone-palters, protests, revocation of AFSPA and the most recent issue of the mass graves. However, the unifying oblige for New Delhi is that Kashmir is an integral part of India; the accession of Kashmir is unquestionable.

Another concerned party is the Indian public. The majority has little or no knowledge about the Kashmir issue. ‘People actually don’t know about Kashmir’ points out Rukmini Bhaya Nair (professor, poet and writer) at IIT Delhi. People conceptualize Kashmir through Bollywood movies like Mission Kashmir and Roja, and the sometimes-biased local print and electronic media. The other considerably smaller group with a better understanding of Kashmir constitutes persons from the Indian intelligentsia who often criticize New Delhi responsible for holding Kashmir forcefully with the help of 700,000 troops. The right-wing has ever so often threatened them for making ‘antinational’ pro-Kashmir statements.

Pakistan, once an essential stakeholder, is currently struggling with its internal troubles and the reputation of a failed state. The current situation has disheartened a handful voices from Kashmir that once favored Pakistan. It would thus be prejudice to consider Pakistan still as a stakeholder, apart from the part of Kashmir they administer, which they call ‘azad Kashmir’.
Finally, the least anxious and non-stakeholders, comprising the international community and organizations (including UN, EU, the US, OIC and the Muslim states) are again in a quandary when it comes to Kashmir. Occasionally, they show concern for human rights violations in Kashmir by the Indian state, and equally randomly consider it India’s internal matter. Seldom, they advocate a dialogue between India and Pakistan, perceiving the Kashmir-solution essential for South Asian peace.

There seems no visionary, pragmatic and sincere policy regarding Kashmir. When a problem is offered diverse perplexing solutions from several parties, it will certainly never be resolved.

Tail piece: One of my friends from IIT Mumbai recently visited Kashmir. On reaching at the Srinagar airport when his wife wondered why her mobile wasn’t working and why the weather was different in Kashmir; he replied humorously “do you think you are still in India?”

Kashmir's Buddhist Heritage

Iqbal takes a look back at the history of the valley


(Mr. Iqbal Ahmad, 51, was born in Parigam Chek, Kulgam. He is a graduate with Diploma in Numastics, Archaeology and Heritage. He is an archaeologist, writer, and a cultural historian. Mr. Iqbal Ahmad has published 12 reference books on Kashmir archaeology and heritage.)


We Have Come a Long Way

Nothing is properly known about the religion of earliest inhabitants of this land. Historical accounts are silent and do not supply any concrete evidence of any such religious belief that might have left a mark for the historians to trace. However, the legends carried by Nilmatpurana and by the earliest Buddhist records suggest that the earliest race of this country was worshiping Nagas, which means snakes. The snake worship as per these legends has been a popular tradition of this land. The word “Naga” is, even today, very popular among Kashmiri people. By ‘Nag’ they mean a ‘spring’ while ‘Nagin’ refers to a small spring (consort of Naga).

There are plenty of springs found in Kashmir which can be classified as hilly and plain springs. Hilly springs are those which come out from the mountains while plain springs rise in the plain valleys. People still regard these springs in high esteem for the fact that many curious legends and events are associated with them. Many springs are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu and are held in high regard by the people of Shiva and Vishnu cult.

There is a spring in Kothair village (Achabal) where water was once believed to have the power to wash the sins of the mankind. This Nag was known as Papasudana Nag. There is a spring at Khiejugpura (Kulgam) again believed to have great healing powers. In year 1986 another spring at Parigam (Kulgam) diverted the attention of large number of its devotees when some mysterious plant emerged from its waters. The waters of Burzhama spring became famous in 2004 when its waters cured some diabetic patients, though no scientific and medical tests were conducted.

Although many springs have disappeared from time to time, almost every village and site houses a spring either small or large one even now. These days a Naga means a spring but during the earliest periods, as is mentioned in legends, Naga meant a deity believed to have been worshiped by the people of the ages. Kalahana says, Kashmir was a land protected by Nila,Somkha and Padma. PN Bamzai writes in his monumental book ‘The history of Kashmir’, “there are reasons to believe that in the fourth and fifth century BC, Naga worship may have been the principal religion in Kashmir”.

He further writes, “When Budhism was the predominant faith, one of the early Kings, Gonanda, is said to have revived the ancient form of Naga worship as prescribed by Nilmathpurna. We also have the legend of Susravas Naga and mention of Padam Naga, at the Wular Lake.” Kalahana mentions the annual festival of Takasaka- Naga at village of Zewan which was “Frequented by donnrs and strolling players and thronged by crowds of spectators”

Kshemendra also refers to Taksakayatra festival in Samyamatrika. The Mughal Period historian Abul Fazal writes, “there are 700 places of worship where there were carved images of snakes. No doubt the number of worship places may have been much more, one could not find many images of snakes carved on the rocks of this land”. So it can be said that little is known about the earliest religions beliefs of Kashmir.

Plenty of sources, literary as well as archeological, are available to us to believe that Budhism and Shivaism had been the ancient religions of this land. These religions may have been contemporaries to one another or one of them could have been successor of the other, many scholars however, believe that Shivism might have been the ancient one. As writers a scholar, “if the religious beliefs of the Kings and the royal families be regarded as a fair index of the popularity of a religious cult, Shivaism had been the predominant religion in Kashmir long before Budhism was introduced here.” Budhism, it is believed, was born out of it.

Buddhism is believed to have flourished here during Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian and Kushan periods. Maharaja Ashoka is learnt to have sent many machineries to this land to introduce the Buddhist philosophy. The most outstanding event of Budhism in Kashmir is related with the mystery of the council believed to have been held at Kundalvan in Kashmir during the period of Kushan King, Kanshika in about 1st century AD.

Greeks, Scythaines and Kushans cultivated it and the religion flourished under the Karkota Utpalas, Lohura’s and their successive period. Lalitditya, Avantivarmon, Shankarverman,Jayasimha and Queen Didda were the celebrated patrons of the Buddhist philosophy. There are a number of Buddhist shrines attributed to these rulers. There were hundred Buddhist monasteries in 631 AD as per the record of Haun- Tsian and Ou-Kung, another Chinese traveler who arrived during Karkota period Which makes it clear that during Karkota period, the graph of Buddhists increased heavily.

Haun-Tsiang, the Chinese Ambassador, who arrived here in 631 AD was the first historian to write about this wonderful historical event that had and were unfolding in this valley. He gives a vivid picture of the proceedings of the council collected from a study with its records and reports maintained in different libraries in Kashmir which were enclosed in stone boxes and deposited in a monastery built by King Kanshika. While more than two thousand years have passed, these could not be found anywhere in Kashmir. How could one find this treasure when there has not been any systemic hunt for treasure?

Although there is not any such Buddhist shrine in this valley, the ruins of many a Buddhist shrines in Kashmir can still be spotted across the length and breadth of the valley. The discovery of a Buddhist relic is the normal feature of this land as there is no such village which has not revealed any such artifact. However, lack of proper documentation and poor know-how has resulted in neglect of this Buddhist heritage.

Time to Ponder About the "Other Half"

Zafar wonders why there is fuss, but no policy about the Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir


(Mr. Zafar Choudhary, 35, was born in Rehan village of Rajouri district. He received his post graduate degree in Journalism from the University of Jammu. Mr. Choudhary is a Journalist and Policy Analyst based at Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir, India). He is founder Editor of Epilogue Magazine and Honorary Director of Indus Research Foundation (IRF), a think tank, research and resource centre on issues of historical and contemporary importance within and around the region of Jammu and Kashmir. A non-political, non-governmental Trust, IRF promotes the entire region of undivided Jammu and Kashmir as a bridge between India and Pakistan and essential link between Central and South Asia. Zafar is regularly engaged in tracks of peace processes on Kashmir and he writes a popular weekly column known as 'This, That & The Other' appearing every Friday in Srinagar based English daily 'Rising Kashmir'.)


What to do With the West of LoC?

On a recent morning when thousands of hapless villagers and town dwellers of the Kashmir Valley were taking stock of their roofs blown off by cyclonic winds, the Legislative Assembly, currently in session in Jammu, witnessed noisy scenes over a strange issue. While members of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party did try to raise issue of the calamity in Kashmir but they couldn’t make a point as the members of Bhartiya Janta Party, Panthers Party and a loner from Jammu State Morcha caused a situation of pandemonium in the House before staging a symbolic walkout to lodge protest on,

What they called as, ‘issue of grave national importance’. Both factions of BJP and the Panthers Party were inviting attention of the House towards media reports suggesting Pakistan’s alleged moves of ‘leasing out’ the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, (GB) the traditional known as ‘Northern Areas of Jammu and Kashmir State’, to China. The senior Minister present in the House at that point in time, Abdul Rahim Rather, responded to the opposition members with nearly equal concern. Rather said, “It is a matter of serious concern but this (J&K Legislative Assembly) is not the appropriate platform to raise this issue”.

It is heartening to note concerns of responsible people in Jammu, or for that matter in Srinagar or Ladakh, when something happens in up north in Gilgit or down south in Mirpur but the key question here is: “Do we have a national policy on the parts of Jammu and Kashmir towards on the western side of Line of Control? Or, do we have an audit of the local public sentiments or an idea of the political standpoints on those areas under custody of Pakistan?”
China in Gilgit-Baltistan

The case of Chinese presence in Gilgit-Baltistan is open and shut. For its geographical location, terrain and to some extent ethnic and cultural affinity Gilgit-Baltistan, for all practical purposes, has more interaction and dependence on southern Sinkiang (or Xingjiang) province of China than with the mainland Pakistan. In recent years most of Gilgit-Balistan’s trade is with Kashgar and other areas in Sinkiang. Every other day there is a report in the Indian Press attributed to our Army Generals pointing to ‘reports of Chinese presence in Gilgit-Baltistan’. If China connection is ‘really, seriously and honestly’ any cause of concern in India, there are many other glaring cases. For example, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan don’t need to visit the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad to obtain a visa and take flight to Beijing. In fact, residents of Gilgit-Baltistan don’t need a visa, at all, to visit China. All they need to do is to pay Pakistani Rs 200 at the outer border of Hunza-Nagar district and take a permit for visit to China. NATCO (Northern Areas Transport Company) and another private operator ply daily two buses from Gilgit and Baltistan to Kashgar. The passenger traffic between GB and Islamabad-Rawalpindi is not as frequent as it is towards Kashgar. It takes 22 hours from Gilgit to reach to Rawalpindi. Another interesting fact is that while GB operates two bus services with Kashgar in China, there is no road link between any part of GB and the Pakistan administered Kashmir in the south. A large area of Hunza towards northwest of Attabad lake has practically no link even with rest of Gilgit-Baltistan –their entire dependence is on China after submersion of a key pass. It often surprises when ‘revelations’ are made about Chinese presence in GB when it is an open secret that all major and essential infrastructural development in GB is all Chinese doing. May that be Karakoram Highway, Bhasha-Diamer and other dams, the upcoming high speed rail project –it is all in Chinese hands and, of course, they their engineers, skilled and unskilled workers and the men to secure them–all in thousands. China has recently unveiled a major infrastructural and development blueprint for enhancing the restive Sinkiang’s business relations with neighbouring area. Gilgit-Baltistan has been identified as a priority area. So, there is more of China in Gilgit-Baltistan than the fuss in India but the question is what to do with that.

What is on the West?

This might sound self humiliating but the fact of the matter is that neither we have a national policy nor a cohesive public agenda on 37 percent of the total area of Jammu and Kashmir that lies towards west of the Line of Control and is known by different names by different people –for ‘official’ India, the entire area on the west of LoC is ‘Pakistan occupied Kashmir’ and at the same time anyone living outside of the Valley of Kashmir and calling himself a Kashmiri is ridiculed misnomer of identity. A section of Indian civil society has, however, recently started calling the southern parts of areas under Pakistan’s control as ‘Pakistan administered Kashmir’. And for Pakistan, the southern long stretch is ‘Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir’ since October 24 1947. Gilgit-Baltistan, the vast area with sparse population that made part of Dogra rule, is entirely a separate case for Pakistan. Known in Pakistani parlance as Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA) since taking over its control on November 16, 1947 Pakistan had kept the legal and constitutional status and also name of the region loosely undefined until the promulgation of ‘Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order’ of 2009. Therefore, since 2009, Northern Areas have a provision of elections, an assembly, a Chief Minister, a Governor and more importantly the name – Gilgit-Baltistan. This is in stark variance with Pakistan’s administrative mechanism with respect to the southern strip –the PoK, Pak or whatever. Precisely, Gilgit-Baltistan has been assimilated by Pakistan, more or less, as its fifth province. This strange piece of information may of importance for those who are concerned about the ‘so called lease to China’ that except for one symbolic statement from the spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs and another from RSS there was hardly a word from anywhere in Jammu and Kashmir or rest of India when Pakistan carried out strategically surgical operation in 2009 to alter the status of Gilgit-Baltistan as far as the question of territorial jurisdiction of Jammu and Kashmir is concerned.

Now what is the plight of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan or Pakistan administered Kashmir or what do they want for the future is an irrelevant issues for the people on east of LoC or in rest of India unless they are clear about the people and places on the west of LoC. The 1994 resolution of Parliament is certainly not enough to answer these questions.

Kashmir's Own "Babygate"

Javaid says we can not push this matter under a carpet

(Mr. Javaid Malik, 38, was born in Srinagar. He did his schooling from the Burn Hall High School, and completed his 11th and 12th grades from the Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. After his graduation from the Madras University, he completed his Master's degree in Mass Communication from the Manipal University. Javaid has worked for various Srinagar based English language dailies since 2001. He joined the Greater Kashmir staff in 2005, and is now the Editor of the on-line edition.)


Baby Shock

Recently a new born baby stolen from Valley’s lone maternity hospital Lal Ded in Srinagar was recovered from south Kashmiri’s Pulwama district. People involved in the heinous crime were arrested and unfortunately they turned out to be the employees of the hospital.

The nameless newborn baby girl is craving for her mother’s love but the unfortunate soul is too innocent to realize that a few crooks for the sake of making quick money have taken her too far away from her parents. Oh! What a pity! The innocent angel may grow up without even knowing who her parents were.

When this baby grows up and becomes aware about what went wrong in her life soon after she was born one wonders how would she react? One thing is for sure that she would never forgive the crooks who changed her life for a few currency notes. The question she would ask is why did this happen to her?

The heinous crime of baby stealing in Kashmir should serve as an eye opener to all of us. Such crimes were never heard of in our society. One such case coming to fore has sent shockwaves across the Valley as people are finding it hard to believe that someone could be so cruel that he or she can snatch a baby from the cradle. One wonders what the hospital authorities would have told the couple whose baby was stolen. God only knows whether the parents of this unfortunate baby girl are even aware about the tragedy that has struck them. Police are investigating the case and media reports suggest that many people have come forward to adopt the baby, but the point is are any efforts being put to locate the biological parents of this untouched soul? One wonders whether the crooks who stole her have any idea about whose baby they stole?

Recently in New Delhi, media highlighted the story of a similar victim baby Falak for days together which led to the Police tracking her both parents. Let us hope Jammu and Kashmir Police also takes a cue from Delhi Police and leaves no stone unturned to locate her parents.

Another question which arises is, if a baby was stolen from the hospital why her parents didn’t lodge a police complaint and why nobody is turning up to claim her. One finds it difficult to believe that parents despite knowing that she is their baby are not coming forward. Police need to check the hospital records to ascertain how many babies were born on the day when this tender soul opened her eyes in this cruel world. Every possible effort needs to be put in to locate her parents and all the records need to be checked. This matter cannot be pushed under the carpet.
Crooks arrested in connection with this case need to be taught a lesson so that no one in future dares to commit such a heinous crime. It is really unfortunate that our society with each passing day is becoming more and more materialistic. Our ethos and values seem to have disappeared and the only thing we want is money. How it comes, we are least bothered. For it we don’t even mind selling stolen new born babies. Oh! What a shame!

It is the duty of Police officers investigating this case to bring truth to fore and make people aware about how this baby was stolen and what happened to her parents, and what do the hospital records state.

It is the duty of every citizen to rise to the occasion and act as a vibrant society. We cannot allow such cases to become a routine. One needs to appreciate all those good hearted persons who have come forward to adopt this tender soul this shows humanity in Kashmir is still alive. But that does not mean that we would allow anyone to dump his baby and some crook to sell it. Such issues touch our skin and we cannot just turn a blind eye and say it is not our concern. It obviously is our concern as we cannot allow our society to go astray. Let us wake up before it is too late.

"Public Interest" or "Personal Pockets"?

Junaid narrates a sordid story of public waste

(Mr. Junaid Azim Mattu, 26, was born in Srinagar. He partly completed his schooling at the Burn Hall School, Srinagar, and partly at the Bishop Cotton School, Shimla. He attended college in America and graduated with a degree in Business and Finance from the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University. He is a consulting financial analyst and telecom-IT entrepreneur based in Srinagar. A seeded national varsity debater throughout his school and college career (his grandfather - Khwaja Ghulam Ahmed Ashai - was one of the founding fathers of the Muslim/National Conference), Mr. Mattu also played under-19 cricket at national level for J&K. He is a founder of the World Kashmiri Students Association (WKSA), a global youth association for Kashmiris based in Srinagar, Kashmir, working on social, economic and political issues through constructive and informed activism. WKSA, as of today has 1,700+ registered members in Kashmir. He is also a nominated alumnus of the Global Young Leaders Conference. He is also the Srinagar District President of J&K Peoples’ Conference, led by Mr. Sajad Lone. In his leisure time, Junaid likes to engage in reading, gardening, watching movies and listening to music.)


The Story of a Stadium

This column is about a reality that, as Mark Twain would put it, might seem stranger than fiction. This is a real-life story about how a certain elected functionary of the ruling party has blatantly dared to waste public money and resources to apparently benefit his own kith and kin. Since years, the government has been planning to construct a sports stadium at Kulangam, Handwara on a stretch of land measuring around 200 kanals of land owned by the State. This was after repeated representations from the people of Kulangam to the government to utilize this vacant, barren piece of land for an infrastructural addition to the village and the district as a whole. Lo and behold, the local elected functionary of the ruling party had something else in mind.

It’s a well known fact in the area that the local elected functionary’s relatives (and perhaps him as well) own a significant amount of land in a village called Byaaripora. Byaaripora is incidentally loacated right next to Kulangam. So, the local elected functionary of the ruling party started to pull strings to change the planned location of the stadium from Kulangam to Byaaripora despite the fact that the earmarked land at Kulangam is owned by the State and the land that the elected local functionary wants the stadium to be located at is private, agricultural land owned by the locals – acquisition of which would cost the exchequer a significant amount of money. Money that wouldn’t be spent if the stadium is constructed at the location in Kulangam which is just approximately 800 meters from the new location at Byaaripora.

Land that is agricultural and a vital source of livelihood for the locals of Byaaripora.
The local elected functionary’s intention is to benefit his relatives and eventually, through this political maneuver, convert the land in Byaaripora into residential land – a move that would jack up land prices for the land owned by his kith and kin. Byaaripora, like all villages of rural Kashmir, depends on paddy land and agriculture for it’s livelihood and economic welfare. Byaaripora has also been a victim of politics of greed on earlier occasions as well.

Years ago, the State decided to construct a Fruit Mandi in Byaaripora at the behest of traders in Delhi with the single motive of failing the Fruit Mandi in Sopore, a Mandi that – by the grace of God and the persistence and courage of local visionary trade leaders – has been a huge success despite the State doing anything and everything to ensure its failure. Individuals who envisioned the Sopore Fruit Mandi were incidentally slapped with Public Safety Acts, yet they courageously prevailed. In addition to the land taken up by the Byaaripora Fruit Mandi, more agricultural land was then infringed on by the By-pass, the Degree College, the Police Station and the “Environmental Hall”. The “Environmental Hall” was constructed with the sole purpose of doling out contracts to a few chosen individuals who were aligned with the ruling party’s local elected functionary. The hall was constructed despite the fact that the Dak Bunglow – as it exists – was sufficient to hold all events and functions that the “Environmental Hall” was allegedly constructed for.

So why move an earmarked stadium from the proposed free, state-owned land in Kulangam to agricultural land that needs to be acquired and compensated for just 800 meters away? The answer, my friends, is as unique as its general in nature. The ruling party, throughout the history of this unfortunate State, has prioritized the economic welfare of its leaders and functionaries over the general economic and infrastructural welfare of the nation – almost always at a great cost to the exchequer.

A number of public representations were made to the Sports Minister highlighting this case that defies logic and justice. In those meetings with the locals, the Sports Minister has often accepted and stated that he has himself failed to comprehend the logic behind this move while also expressing that pressure is being exerted from certain quarters. Before the Sports Minister issues a denial for this, I accept his denial. The local people who called on him were figments of their own uppity imagination and the shifting of the stadium from FREE, State-land to private land just 800 meters away is based on logic. The “logic” of greed, misappropriation and plunder!

This case mirrors the reality of Kashmiri mainstream politics as it exists today. This is a classic example of the modus-operandi of the ruling party – its ways and style of plundering the State resulting in a total and complete economic paralysis of this State. Predictably, the ruling party and the government will propose this illogical, visibly malicious move on the basis of “public interest”. If we are to believe this government and the ruling party, apparently Haji Yousuf died in “public interest” as well. The Education Minister’s son cheated for “public interest”. Money was looted from the coffers of the J&K Cricket Association for “public interest”. Unfortunately, when the courts of this State are confronted with the over-abused, oft used term – “public interest”, they categorically choose to presume that these moves, these deals and these propositions are actually aimed for the welfare of the public.

Same is the case with the “Green Belt” law around Dal Lake. It’s a cardinal and unforgivable sin if an indigenous inhabitant puts a new latch on a 50 year old window but the rich, well-connected former and current bureaucrats, politicians and businessmen can construct homes and hotels in the same “Green Belt” – again allegedly in “public interest”.

Cries of Blackmail Mean it is Working

Muzaffar highlights the potency of the J&K Right to Information (RTI) Act

(Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, 36, was born in Wathoora village in the Budgam district and matriculated from Tyndale Biscoe Memorial High School in 1993. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Dental Surgery from from the Karnatka University in 2000. He has a private dental practice in Chandoora and is a social activist dedicated to educating public on the Right To Information (RTI) legislation. He is the Convener of the J&K RTI Movement and associated with the Commonwealth Human Rights Intitiative (CHRI) office in New Delhi.)


RTI: There is no Blackmail

There has been a marked change in the way bureaucracy functions since the promulgation of the RTI Act in J&K State. This Act has brought a change in the style of functioning of the government. The Government officers have understood that they are now answerable to the people.

This has resulted in openness in the governance which has become more responsive and answerable. Moreover, the RTI Act has come across as a good tool for honest officers to resist political and other pressures.

But as advocates of Right to Information Act (RTI) we have observed that a section of society which includes many corrupt bureaucrats and some politicians have been raising issue of blackmailing by some RTI users. Let us deeply study this phenomenon. The cry is raised because RTI has challenged the authority of corrupt officers

What is Blackmail?

The term blackmail originally denoted a payment made by English persons residing along the border of Scotland to influential Scottish chieftains in exchange for protection from thieves and marauders.

In blackmail the threat might consist of physical injury to the threatened person or to someone loved by that person, or injury to a person's reputation. In some cases the victim is told that an illegal act he or she had previously committed will be exposed if the victim fails to comply with the demand.

In case of RTI particularly in J&K the afore mentioned things don’t generally happen but things like seeking personal favours, illegal gratification etc may take place.

RTI & Blackmail

We have heard complaints that some members of the public are approaching government offices, claiming to be members of the J&K RTI Movement and implicitly or explicitly demanding special treatment. Members of our group should not be treated differently from any other citizen, and we therefore discourage our members from making such statements when filing RTI applications. We have also heard of cases where members of the public have falsely claimed to be part of our group. We have hundreds of members, and we cannot prevent such impersonation, but we are happy to verify the identity of anyone making such a claim.

More than one crore people live in J&K and everyone has the right to seek information under RTI Act and someone committing a crime using RTI does not mean that J&K RTI Movement has done something wrong.

Using RTI for Blackmailing Government officials or other people is mostly possible when the officials or people being blackmailed are themselves involved in some illegal activity otherwise how is it possible to blackmail an honest, upright and dedicated Government official who does work with honesty and integrity ? Even if some civilian has not committed something wrong in connivance with Government officials how is it possible to blackmail such civilian under the grab of RTI ? But at some point of times some vested interest may use RTI as a teasing tool to harass people which includes Government officials but this phenomenon has always persisted in the society even before the enactment of RTI law. Such black sheep will always be there but this does not mean that RTI is a bad law.

To counter blackmailing under the grab of RTI is very much possible and for this purpose the awareness about RTI law needs to be created at a mass level. The Government is under legal obligation to create awareness of RTI Act among people and the section 23 of J&K RTI Act 2009 clearly mentions it. Right now only a section of society, less than 5 %, are using RTI. Taking advantage of RTI Act some vested interested people seek favours (which officials call blackmail) like being enlisted in Indira Awaas Yojna list (IAY) (housing scheme for rural poor under which Rs 48,000 are given to houseless people) through BDO office. Some people get contracts through Roads and Buildings department (R&B) etc but once more and more people start asking same information how many people will get enlisted in IAY beneficiary list or will be given a contract through work order ? But getting Rs 48,000 under IAY or a contract by R&B is only possible when the BDO & Executive Engineer R&B office officials have themselves involved in some wrong practice which is quite often happening in our offices. If the officials in both these offices have done work as per norms how dare someone will seek illegal favours from them under the grab of RTI? More so if ten people seek same information under RTI , how is it possible that the BDO or the Executive Engineer will favour all the ten RTI applicants ?

I sincerely appeal to all those Government officials who talk of being blackmailed by RTI applicants and so called activists to give us details about the person who is involved in this wrong practice. But till date not a single incident has been reported to us. This clearly indicates that officials who claim to have been blackmailed are not sincere themselves as they too might have been involved in the crime in one way or the other. I look forward to working with Government , Civil Society in the future to advance the cause of RTI and good governance in J&K!

Something to Cheer About

Pervez discovers the subtle yet intense message springs glory brings to an otherwise dysfunctional city

(Mr. Pervez Majeed Lone, 35, was born in Ashpora, a hamlet located in Handwara Tehsil in the Kupwara District. His primary schooling took place in government schools in his hometown, and he finished his higher secondary education from the Government Higher Secondary School, Kupwara. He graduated from the University of Kashmir as a Continuing Education student with Sociology, Philosophy and English Literature as major subjects. In 2004, he completed his Master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Kashmir. He has worked in various local Urdu journals (Chattan, Pukar) and the Radio Kashmir (Sheharbeen) before joining the Sahara Time, a weekly national news magazine from the Sahara Group. He is passionate about the Urdu language and poetry, and loves to listen to music, read English literature and traveling.)

Spring Spectacle of Kashmir

Flowering trees all around, expanses of yellow mustard fields, chirping birds and plush green meadows dotted with daisies: this is spring spectacle in Kashmir. As the cold, dark and short days of winter give way to bright, warm sunny days, life starts picking up with all its magnificence.

The harsh winter chill virtually jams life in Kashmir and the environs look dull and silent. Except the snow, the beauty of Kashmir gets shrouded in gloomy winter days. And in spring, it seems as if this beauty wakes up from its sleep and moves around like an alluring damsel. In the home lawns and gardens, the flowers like daisy, narcissus and daffodils herald a new life, bringing cheer on the winter-weary people.

In this season, all around one can see various flowering fruit trees, including cherry, apple, apricot and almond in full blossom. This pinkish, purple and white riot of colours creates a heavenly ambience. While walking in orchards - apple and almonds, the fragrance soothes the soul. “The walk in these blossoming gardens is a luxury; the magnificent view mixed with the fragrance makes a cocktail of ultimate beauty,” expresses Muhammad Maqbool Faiq, a poet and a nature lover. Due to abundant snowfall and rains in winter, the blossoming of the fruit orchards is rich this time.

The season enlivens the birds as well, as Kashmir’s native birds including sparrows, bulbuls, Mynas and doves are chirping around, seen collecting straws to rebuild their nests damaged in winter.

The breeze around is calm and soothing. In fact, the spring winds are used as symbols of love and kindness by poets in Kashmir. Though mornings in Kashmir are generally cool and breezy, but they are balmy in spring. The early morning chirping of birds when mixes with soft wind rustling gently through the tree tops creates a mesmerising symphony, cheering even the gloomiest moods.

Yellow Delight

These yellow vast fields, which stimulate the imagination at first look, are an adorable feast to the spring visitors of the Valley. Mustard is grown in a number of fertile plains here. And as its flowers sprout in spring, the lush yellow fields present a captivating spectacle. The view is so irresistible that few can afford not to relish this yellow delight. As one walks through these booming fields, the fragrance and the buzzing of bees create an idyllic scene of beauty and splendour. Like fruits, the favourable weather in winter has helped booming mustard crop this season. Though for its cultivators mustard is just a Rabi crop to add to the family income, but their toil is an important ingredient to the spectacular spring of Kashmir. “We have made mustard our thrust area because it pays dividends in two ways: a good Rabi crop and adds to beauty of spring in Kashmir,” says director agriculture Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone.

Spring Landmark

Traditionally on the arrival of spring, the Mughal gardens of Nishat, Shalimar and Chashma-Shahi in Srinagar are thrown open to visitors. But since past five years, Srinagar’s Tulip Garden has emerged as the most famous spring beauty landmark of the Valley. Situated in the lap of Zabarwan hills, this Asia largest tulip garden has become the major attraction for the tourists who visit Kashmir in spring and early summer days. With the expansion the total number of tulips in the garden has reached 20 million. In the sprawling garden overlooking the Dal Lake, the myriad colours of tulips are in full bloom, adding to the spring mosaic of Kashmir.

Badam Vaer

Almond Alcove in Srinagar, locally known as ‘Badam Vaer’ is one of the fabled beauty spots of Kashmir which traditionally has been used for spring festivities. Elders fondlyrecall how they used to celebrate spring in Badam Vaer under the purple hues and fragrance of flowering almond trees. This garden was lost due to political strife and many other reasons, but remaining part of it was revived in 2008 by the J&K Bank. Since then, it is being thronged by people in spring.

Noted poet Zareef Ahmad Zareef says that Badam Vaer has historical and cultural significance for Kashmir. “It has shrines of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs around it; thus a powerful symbol of Kashmiryat, the communal harmony of the inhabitants,” said Zareef, who has eulogised the importance of garden in a Kashmiri poem which is regarded a literary masterpiece. Now that Badam Vaer is again becoming a cultural emblem of Kashmir, Zareef says “Kashmiris are resurrecting their culture and heritage, lost in years of bloody political strife.

Spring Prayer

The past two decades of turmoil robbed Kashmiris (and of course tourists) of relishing the beauties of the Paradise on earth. But these days, the hordes of people at Badamvaer, Tulip Garden and such other beauty spots gives a hope that this spring holds a promise of peace and joy for the battered people of the strife-torn Kashmir. Rahman Rahi, eminent poet of Kashmiri language who has been awarded Gyanpith Award, the highest literary award of the country, wailed the loss of spring beauty in 1995 thus: Sheen ous galan, wav dalan, baag fulaan aes-hae sountae gawahi di zae, aes kael tae givaan aes. (That time, snow used to melt, breeze blew and gardens blossomed. Ye O spring, be witness that we dumb too used to sing). Nowadays, says Rahi, I hope and pray that my countrymen no more lament the loss of beauty.

History Dying

The pathetic state of valley's main museum is highlighted by the Kashmir Monitor

SPS Museum in Shambles, History Dying

By Firdous Hassan

Srinagar: Sri Pratap Singh Museum the summer capital’s main museum may soon need to be placed in a museum of its own as the government seems to have forgotten that it actually exists.

Being the sole museum of the valley which stores the history and identity of Kashmir’s rich culture, it continues to disappoint the art and history lovers as the administrators of the museum hardly value what has been given to them for being taken care of.

Even after five years of the construction of the much hyped new museum building which was supposed to store all the antiques is still not fully operational.

An investigation by The Kashmir Monitor into the condition of the museum has thrown up shocking revelations. Priceless antiques are lying in piles of dust ,showing that they have never been cleaned.On top of that they are placed in a haphazard manner, not like a museum stores its antiques.

The world famous paintings of Maharaja and his times, Santosh and even M F Hussain are too lying in dust and uncared for.In todays market these would fetch millions of dollars.

The Kashmir Monitor spoke to some of the visitors who shook their head in disappointment. “We have been to almost every museum of the country but this is the first of its kind where the things are kept in a very shabby manner. Every antique has a history stored in it and here too these antiques narrate a tale but no one seems to be taking care of them”, said a group of local history lovers.

During this reporters visit inside the building, for an hour in the morning there was no lighting arrangement and most of the doors leading to the other sections of museum were closed even at 11:30am as the officials claimed that some of their fellow employees were on leave.

Moving ahead to the first section of the museum where most of cupboards were lying empty while as some of the mummified birds like ‘Jack Daw’ and other animals were found with broken necks and shelled bodies and all the rooms were without any fire extinguisher which the staff claimed to have been sent for the refill.

Furthermore the boat which was gifted to Maharaja Ranbir Singh by Queen victoria has been left in an open ground which has led to its weathering and has now become the resting place of stray dogs.

Unlike other museum of the country the museum also lacks a guide who could educate and inform the visitors about the antiques and paintings lying there.

When asked about the state of the museum, the curator Mushtaq Ahmad, said “We don’t know when the authorities will make the new building operational where all the antiques will be placed in a good pattern. Right now we have kept some of the antiques for rest.”

When asked about the dogs inside the lawn and the condition of the boat, he said, “This area is under Police and Housing Corporation.We don’t have any space in the museum for this boat and we can’t take it away from this place. So we are planning to make a small shed for it in the month of April.”

If You Can Believe It

More people die in J&K due road accidents than due to militant activity and police actions combined. Now there is talk of putting a traffic management system (red lights) in Srinagar. Have we not heard that before? Two reports


935 People Die in Subversive Violence in J&K in Last Three Years Against 3288 in Road Mishaps

Early Times Report

Jammu: When the J&K State Assembly was told on Friday that as many as 3288 people got killed and 27165 were injured in 18786 road accidents during the last three years people heaved deep sighs over the human loss. But those who were a bit petrified and those who felt perturbed over the sorry state of affairs were presumably unaware of the fact that 01.18 lakh people die in road accidents in India per year.

Those who wish to adopt either a sadistic view or "I care least" approach to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir seem to receive satisfaction over reports indicating that about 10,000 people get killed in road accidents in Andhra Pradesh and its adjoining states per year. But those who try to seek comfort from the Andhra scene forget that here are about 14 lakh vehicles in Andhra Pradesh against eight lakhs in Jammu and Kashmir.

Again there are people who believe that more people get killed in road accidents in Delhi state per year than in Jammu and Kashmir forget that in Delhi there are one million cars and in all there are about four million vehicles. Delhi has gained a reputation of being a state of rash, drunk and reckless driving in which over 2,000 people get killed in road mishaps per year.

Yes, if one is bothered over the rising level in the road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir, there have been as many as 18786 during the last three years, they are not to be blamed because no state Government can prevent road accidents from taking place in a state dotted with tough mountain routes and roads. Road accidents can be a routine affair in a state of Jammu and Kashmir where there is no lane driving system nor any automatic traffic control system

If experts says that majority of road mishaps take place in hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir they are right because number of road accidents and causalities therein have taken place in the
hilly belts of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Batote, Banihal, Rajouri and Poonch. Even the official records confirm it they show that in 2009 197 people were killed in the hilly belts of Jammu region against 63 in the Kashmir valley, there were 192 an 190 deaths in road mishaps in the Jammu region in 2010 and 2011 against 55 and 75 in the Kashmir valley during the same period.

Two other factors responsible for the road accidents is rise in the number of road unworthy vehicles or what may be called vehicles that have outlived their utility. These vehicles unfit for carrying passengers from one place to the other operate because of lack of supervision and checking by the traffic and transport authorities.

Another reason being overloading and that too in the accident prone areas of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Banihal, Rajouri and Poonch. Since people, who are yet to achieve proficiency in driving passenger vehicles, manage to get driving licences they become merchants of death while failing to negotiate deep and blind road curves in the mountain regions of the state.

This calls for a new policy for regulating driving licences, registration of vehicles, traffic control in the state. The new policy should provide for heavy penalty for those drivers, vehicle owners and traffic police who violate the norms set by the Government.

If the new system is not evolved more and more people will get killed in road accidents every year. What is worrying is the fact that during the last three years 935 people, including militants, were killed in militancy related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir against 3288 in road accidents. One does hear a louder roar against causalities in militancy related incidents than in road mishaps. This thinking has to be changed.


Srinagar to Get Traffic Signals

(Kashmir Monitor)

Srinagar: Traffic signals will soon be set up at four places in the city to regulate traffic systems and reduce jams, particularly during peak hours, officials said on Saturday.

Local authorities have chalked out a plan to install signals at Rambagh, Jehangir chowk, Dalgate and Radio Kashmir in May, they said.

Other locations will be covered by June, he said.

A foreign company will install a traffic signal at Karan Nagar Chowk free of cost, the official said.

The administration also decided that mini bus drivers would not be allowed to wait at any bus stand for more than two minutes and they should stop only at identified bus stops, he said.

"Police has been asked to ensure the removal of roadside vendors for hassle-free traffic in the city," he said. The decision to act against roadside vendors comes close on the heels of 'Darbar move', a bi-annual practice under which the state government functions six months each in Srinagar during summer and Jammu in winter.

The Canine Paradox

Everyone knows that stray dogs in the valley (especially Srinagar) are posing a threat to public health and safety. So how come the Municipality is not getting rid of them? Even more puzzling, why is not public in an uproar? Two reports from the Greater Kashmir


DOGS MAUL 3-YR-OLD GIRL’S FACE

For three-year-old Dua Me’raj, it’s painful even to cry because that could tear stitches on her cheeks. The little girl sits quietly on the bed as tears continue to trickle down her face while her family members try to console her.

This girl from Baba Pora, Habba Kadal area of Shaher-e-Khaas is a latest victim of attack by stray dogs, over one lakh of whom prowl in this summer Capital, while the state government has been defending the case of dogs saying “rights of animals need to be upheld come what may.”
Just last week, Dua’s parents had admitted this youngest of their five daughters in a school at Hyderpora. But on Friday afternoon she was attacked by scores of dogs near her residence while coming back home.

THE INCIDENT

Dua’s mother Maqsooda and 11-year-old sister Atoofa who had reached home early, were waiting at the bus stop when the little girl got down from the school bus at around 12:30 PM. The elder sister picked up her schoolbag and the sister duo started walking towards their humble dwelling in the nearby lane, which wore a deserted look as most men were busy with preparations for Friday congregational Salah.

The mother, however, took a halt to procure some vegetables from a hawker. But the sisters had barely walked a few yards that they heard some women shouting: “Hide somewhere, dogs are coming running.” But before the girls would get it, they found themselves being chased by over a dozen dogs.

Scared, little Dua lost her balance and fell on the ground. Ahead it was all blood. The stray packs at once pounced on her trying to make every wound on her face as she cried and they bit and barked.

Atoofa says she tried to rescue the younger sister by beating the dogs with Dua’s schoolbag but in futility. Hearing the cries, the locals peeped out from the doors and windows only to find Dua lying in pool of blood as the dogs declined to step back.

“Some of the neighbours jumped out straight from the windows, others too came running to rescue us,” recaps Atoofa. The locals chased away the dogs and instantly rushed Dua to SHMS Hospital.
By now the mother, unaware of the deadly attack, found crowd near a pool of blood and the moment she heard that Dua was attacked, she fainted.

GMC SLUMBER AT SMHS HOSPITAL

Medical records vide Card No 254398 reveal that Dua was a “Dog bite Category III case.” “Face and cheeks have multiple bite marks lacerated around angles of mouth,” it adds.

A medico explaining the diagnosis says this means the patient’s mouth has been torn apart by dogs. The same is visible on Dua’s swollen face which has multiple stitches on the two sides of her mouth, near the nose and her eyebrows.

But the treatment didn’t come easy for this family whose sole bread earner, Dua’s father, is a bus driver.

Immunoglobulin, something vital for treatment of dog bite cases wasn’t available at the hospital. The family spend around Rs 700 to get it from open markets.

An official at the GMC while admitting the failure to keep available the stock of this vital medicine says: “We don’t procure this because we cannot afford it keeping in view the inflow of dog bite cases. So victims have to get it of their own.”

BACK TO DUAS PLIGHT

At the Karan Nagar hospital, Dua’s newly tailored school uniform was drenched in her own blood. The family and neighbours didn’t want to take back home the child in such scary clothes.
“We removed her clothes and burnt them right there while one of us covered her in jacket till we reached home,” the mother recaps.

THE STERILE PLANS

The summer capital with over one lakh dogs reportedly on prowl has witnessed a surge in the canine attacks while at least three persons including a 10-year old boy of Zaina Kadal died in the past around a year.

While the SMC admits its failure to eliminate stray dogs, the government has failed to formulate an alternative strategy to counter the menace other than looking ahead for a million dollar investment for “rehabilitation of dogs at state-of-the-art” pounds where the male of the specie could be sterilized.

The National Conference led coalition government is seemingly so concerned towards the welfare of dogs that in 2010 following reports of alleged killing of stray packs in some area, it formulated a high level committee to probe the allegations.

As for now, the SMC Commissioner Dr Qasba, who recently assumed the charge, is optimistic of making the sterilization of dogs, a “big success”.

“See we cannot kill the dogs because law doesn’t permit it… But what I assure you is that we will make sterilization a success,” he hopes.

BOTTOMLINE

As this correspondent was talking the family at Teli Manzil, a typical old City mud house, some cries could be heard from outside. Another women is bitten by dogs and rushed to hospital. “This is the third attack after that on Dua,” says a neighbour who rushed in. The news of another dog attack scares Dua.

Fear writs large enough on her tiny wounded face. She wants to say something but cannot. The family consoles her amid fears that will her facial wounds heal up completely or not? Will they be able to spend huge amount on this treatment or not?
May be Dua too is scared of what has happened to her face because of which she can’t cry, talk or eat either. Dua is silent, so is her family amid fears of the fate of her face!


In 1637 Cases Reported In SMHS,34% Victims Were Kids: Study

Srinagar: The government’s failure to check the increasing number of stray and rabid dogs in the Valley is showing dangerous ramifications on ground with canines wreaking havoc across Kashmir and targeting children.

Doctors in the SMHS Surgery Department told Greater Kashmir that a survey conducted has revealed that these dogs attack the minors between the age group of 0 to 10 years and inflict multiple bite injuries.

“For the last five years, the Department has received 1637 dog bite cases from across the Kashmir and out of these 34.02 per cent victims were children in the age group of 0 to 10 years,” the study revealed, adding that these figures were other than the cases reported by the Social and Preventive Medicine Department of the Government Medical College.

The study revealed that out of all the bite cases, 1134 were males and 503 were females and 994 patients were from rural areas and 643 from the urban places.

The study disclosed that 515 children were bitten by both stray and rabid dogs. According to the study, majority of these children suffered Category two and Category three bites (severe injuries). “Out of 515 children, 152 received grievous injuries (Category three) bites while as 328 received Category two wounds,” the studies showed, adding the kids were very vulnerable to the dog attacks as the canines are able to pounce on them.

According to the study, majority of these children had received bites on head, neck, upper limb and trunk. “During the treatment of these children, it was seen that the dogs had inflicted injuries on the left leg of the children while they were on the run,” the study said, adding that majority of the children were also bitten on neck and head.

The study showed that after children, the dog attacks were predominant in the age group of 21 to 40 years. “The dogs had also attacked 420 persons in this age group,” the study revealed, adding that 126 people had suffered category three bites while as 287 had received category two bites.
Sources said that many of these persons were attacked in the early morning or late evening.

The dogs, the survey said, had also attacked 294 teenagers in the age group of 11 to 20 years and 241 people above the age group of 40 years.

According to the medicos, the number of dog bite cases was increasing with every passing year. “With manifold increase of dogs across Kashmir, these incidents have shown steep rise over the years,” the medicos in the hospital told Greater Kashmir.

The medicos said that few days back, the hospital received a full blown rabies case from Noor Wali Uri. Bashir Ahmad son of Noor Wali of Uri was bitten by a rabid dog and was battling for life, they said, adding the attendants of patients later took him back to home as his condition became very critical.

The rabies patient, medicos said don’t have any chance of survival.