B’pora gets power cuts at Iftar, Sehari
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Mir TariqBandipora, Sep 20: Residents of Bandipora on Saturday alleged that they are facing frequent power cuts during Sehari and Iftar time and if it continues they won’t pay electric bills. With the power supply playing hide and seek, the residents in Nathpora, Aloosa, Ongam, Ashtangoo, Aythmulla, Arin and ward no 1-7 are facing hardships during Sehari and Iftar time with the Power Development Department (PDD) authorities preferring to look the other way."We are daily forced to spend dark nights as the power supply is withdrawn exactly on Iftar time and restored only at 8:00 am in the morning. It is condition of main town you can imagine of what happens in far flung areas," said a local youth Mubashir Ahmed.Hundreds of consumers in these localities threatened of not paying bills, if their demand for regular power supply was not met in coming days"We will not pay any bill to department if our demand of regular power supply is not fulfilled," locals said.Residents alleged that even as the unscheduled power cuts during this Holy month had made their lives miserable, repeated representations to the board has fallen on deaf ears. “Our complaints are not being heard by the department, there was nobody to attend to the complaints in the office for past four days,” allege residents.Consumers say that when they enquired about the matter from the authorities, they expressed their utter helplessness in this regard. “PDD says the cut is from Amargrah Electric Grid station we can do nothing,” allege residents.While talking to Rising Kashmir Executive PDD engineer Bandipora Bashir Ahmed Wani said, "We have 40 megawatts load and only 6 Megawatt has been registered but the load is exceeding more than the input of 40 Megawatts, because people are using excess load."He said: "People will face irregular power cuts until the new electric grid Station comes up in Bandipora. Department is searching a way out to maintain the regular power supply in Ramdhan."

Increase local production to achieve self-sufficiency: Geelani to farmers
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Mir Tariq
Bandipora, Sep 19: Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani Friday called on people to remain steadfast to accomplish the “mission of freedom” and stressed on importance of self-sufficient economy.
Geelani was delivering a telephonic address to thousands of people who had gathered at Jamia Masjid, Bandipora after Friday prayers.
“Freedom is not far if a nation remains steadfast and continues the mission peacefully,” he said.
Still under house arrest at his Srinagar residence, Geelani in his telephonic message appealed people to continue with the “mission of freedom” steadfastly and peacefully in the light of teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Quran.
The Hurriyat leader’s address was keenly heard by the people who raised pro-frredom, anti Indian and pro-Islamic slogans during his address.
"We are taking forward the unfulfilled mission of thousands of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the noble cause of freedom," Geelani said, adding, "We are under the occupation of India from the last 62 years during which thousands of people have been killed and property worth millions destroyed."
Urging people to remain peaceful, he said, "We should never give any opportunity to our enemies so that they can use force on our youths who are heading the mission. We should remain conscious about the conspiracies of India and should never bow down before injustice."
“I compassionately appeal youths to follow Quran and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who is our Role Model,” he said, adding, "I assure you that if the nation remains steadfast and continue the mission of freedom peacefully, we will reach our goal."
About the economic blockade, Geelani stressed on the importance of self-sufficient economy and urged people to increase the home production.
"We have large number of resources and should produce things in our own valley so that we don’t become victims of any blockade.
While concluding his address, Geelani appealed people to take care of orphans, widows and families of “martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom.”

Remembering the beloved prophet (PBUH)
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Book: Zikri Habib: A Biography of the Prophet (PBUH)
Author: Professor Abdur Rashid NazkiPublisher: J&K Offset Jamia New Delhi Language: Kashmiri
Reviewer: Mir Tariq Rasool
The two-volume book, Zikir-i-Habib, yet to be released, is the first biography of prophet Muhammad (SAW) written in Kashmiri language. The book is akin to classical prose. It is innovative in many ways, with the elements of drama and rhythm. Author has tried to be comprehensive while writing the biography of prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Professor Abdur Rashid Nazki, the first doctorate in mystical studies in Kashmir, best known for-Vaharat (collection of Kashmiri poems) and Isra (Mehraj-with philosophical and mystical notion) is a genuine scholar and an intellectual of high order. To write the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) biography in ones own language is an uphill task, but Professor Nazki makes it possible to compile the biography of God's beloved prophet (PBUH) in Kashmiri Language. While going through the pages of the book, a reader can easily discover the beauty of mystical impressions that the Nazki has carved with his pen.In the book under review author profiles Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as mystic, a reformer, and a simple human being living equally with the tribal populace of Arabian desert. Professor Nazki undertook this work to write a fair and accurate biography, which he does not feel, has been done before. There is charming continuity in presenting the circumstances around the character of Holy prophet Muhammad (PBUH).Author begins with the Prophetic period of Hadrat Ibrahim (A.S) and Hazrat Musa (A.S) by giving the reader some background information on the times and culture in which Islam was first appeared. Then he discusses Muhammad's (PBUH) life in such a way that a reader feels himself as being lifted to the times of prophet. While reading the book, reader finds himself as a part of the situation that the book deals with. Author has dramatized the events of Prophet’s (PBUH) life in such a way that reader finds himself in the company of the Prophet (PBUH). When author mentions the conversations of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with the Meccans who are trying to persuade prophet (PBUH) to shun inviting people towards Islam, reader feels himself watching the scene live in the lands of Arabia. This kind of treatment to the events of prophet’s life has a magical effect on the minds of the reader. It carries a reader into the desert of Mecca where Haleema is carrying prophet (PBUH) on her camel. Sometimes a reader feels that he has been captured by the Meccan tribal lords and put in shub-i-Abi-talib. Likewisw reader lives through the times of prophet.Besides trying hard to present the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a human being, the mystical bent of mind of the author can be easily traced in the pages of the book, albeit if one has some taste for mysticism. Author has presented Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a political and social reformer, preaching God rather than tribe, reconciliation rather than rift.To maintain continuity and make it look more real cahpterisation of events has been avoided, as is the routine in biography writing. Once a reader starts reading the book he continues his reading till end. It is the uniqueness of the book and author that the continuity of the life and events of Prophet’s time has been so nicely maintained that reader follows the times of prophet without any break.Perhaps the most interesting portions of the book (at least to me or others who are interested in the history of religions) are those dealing with the subjects that have created lots of confusion among the Muslims and non-Muslims. Such topics have been presented in such a way that a reader gets comfortably convinced; events like Ascension (Mehraj), Treaty of Hudaibiya, waq-i-Ifak. Author has avoided argumentation and needless discussion on some particular events and has relied mostly upon the Quranic verses and prophet’s sayings to make his argument attractive and understandable.Author has consulted almost all the important biographies of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) written in different languages from time to time. From the earliest biographies including Seerat-i-ibni Ishaq (complied by Muhammed bin Ishaq Bin Yasaar), Sirat-i-Ibn-Kathir (complied by Imam Hafiz Abu Ima-du-Din Ibn Kathir) to modern English biographies of Prophet Muhammad Like the ones written by Hyakl and Martin Lings. However, author always refers to Quranic verses and Ahadith to explain the events and occasions related to Prophet (PBUH).I have read some of the books about Muhammad, but this is the most comprehensive one in our mother tongue - Kashmiri. Even reading the preview made me fall in love with this book. It put Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) just as a human being, not some godly being or a magical person above human understanding. The writer describes and tells the story about Muhammad (PBUH) with a deep and wide research at the back of his narration. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the prophet of Islam and the cultural language of Kashmir. The only criticism I have is that Professor Nazki tends to tell the reader too frequently about the Prophet's (PBUH) thinking regarding various occasions which Prophet (PBUH) faced in his life. Author may be correct in some cases, but I don't think it is possible to draw such conclusions--especially about a Person who at once is Prophet, guide, a common man, an economist, a political thinker, a leader, a social reformer and as the beloved of Allah.

Release selection list: Bandipora candidates to Guv
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Mir TariqBandipora, Sep 18: Hundreds of job aspirants for teacher post in north Kashmir’s district of Bandipora Thursday appealed Governor NN Vohra to urge authorities of Services Selection and Recruitment Board (SSRB) for release of selection list. Candidates, who had applied for teachers post against advertisement 22-04-2008, have urged the Governor NN Vohra to impress upon authorities in SSRB to release of selection list for teachers. A group of candidates led by president Bandipora Students Federation (BSF) Muhammad Ahmed Nazir and Secretary Muhammad Samad said that authorities in SSRB have failed to prepare the selection list so far.BSF President Nazir said, "We appeal Governor Vohra to press upon the concerned authorities for the release of list in order to free aspirants from the growing distress." "Authorities in SSRB claimed that the selection of teachers will be done under fast track system, but after three months list is yet to be prepared" said Shabir Ahmed a teacher aspirant, adding "We are urging Governor to press upon the authorities to release the list.""Hundred of teachers posts are vacant here in various schools of Bandipora, which has negative effect on teaching and learning process" said a teacher Reyaz Ahmed, adding "Government should appoint more teachers as soon as possible in order to save the precious future of thousands of students"Official sources in Education Department told Rising Kashmir that about 250 teachers and 40 masters' posts are vacant in Bandipora. The vacancies are increasing day by day as the senior teachers are retiring from the services, source further saidSupporting the demand of aspirants, top officials in education department of Bandipora said department has urgent need of around two hundred teachers as various schools have insufficient staff.Talking to Rising Kashmir Secretary SSRB R.C Chib said "Board is still conducting interviews of candidates who have applied for the various posts. After finishing all the interviews the selection lists from both the provinces of Jammu and Kashmir will be announced."Chib however, refused to announce any expected date for the release of selection list.

Editorial: War on forests

BSF personnel caught smuggling wood points towards a scandalous phenomenon in Kashmir.
Ever since militancy erupted in our state, many brutal things happened under the cover of fighting it. Not just life and routine of Kashmir became a casualty to the unbridled powers given to security forces, but our resources too were subjected to a large scale loot and plunder. The news about Border Security Forces personnel being caught while smuggling illicit timber by the Forest officials in Bandipora district, north Kashmir, is a miniscule part of a bigger phenomenon. There is an eyewitness account that has provided the details of it to the media. The incident is not an isolated one. From past two decades we have been a witness to a large scale felling of trees by unscrupulous elements, both civil and defence. Since the forest areas have been made, literally out of bounds for a common man, these unscrupulous elements get a free hand in inflicting heavy damage to our forests. All of it may not get reported, rather very little trickles down to media circles but the general impression among the people in Kashmir is that security forces are taking an undue advantage of the circumstances and are involved in stealing the green gold at an enormous level. The concerned civil officials find themselves in a helpless situation because in the border areas and the forest divisions Army and Para military forces are the real masters. No one has the power to stop them from smuggling the wood from the forests of Kashmir. Since in the absence of any civilian check security forces enjoy unrestricted access to forest areas and the fact that none dares check their vehicles, the cutting of trees and smuggling the wood to the areas where they are needed is an easy affair for the security forces. The news report about Bandipora incident also makes it clear. When the Forest officials, according to eyewitness account, fearing reprisal seized just one log and let the troopers carry the remaining three to their camp, how can one expect that the smuggling of wood can be stopped? When the Forest officials know that the wood is being smuggled for making furniture, which is later carried to the residential houses of security forces outside J&K and still fail to take any action, who is going to help us out? Although it has not still been reported, but people apprehend that there is a nexus between artisans, labourers, mostly from outside state, and some people among security forces to use the wood smuggled from forests for various works in the security forces’ camps. Hefty bills are later framed against the work done. This way a patterned plunder of our forests is occurring, and there seems to be no end to it, unless the higher officials of the various security forces organisation, including Army, take cognisance of the matter. It is only then that the great environmental catastrophe can be avoided. Also the NGOs working for the preservation of environment can contribute by taking up the issue at national and international level. Even the political parties of Kashmir, both mainstream and separatist, can bring the matter into public domain and let the world know about it. Unless all pool their efforts the great game of plunder is not going to stop.

Natures wreaks havoc on farmers in Bandipora
70% crop destroyed

Mir Tariq 15 September
Already reeling under huge financial debts, farmers of Bandipora on Sunday suffered another setback as their standing crop spread across hundreds of acres of land were destroyed by hailstorm and speedy winds that lashed all through the region. "Around 600 hectares of paddy land has been destroyed in two villages," confirmed Magistrate Bandipora, Ghulam Ahmed Khan, who visited the effected villages on Monday.
He said that nearly 500 hectares of land and around ten houses and two cowsheds have been damaged due to sudden downpour and thunderstorm.
“However, there is no loss of life,” the Magistrate said.
The celebrations of harvesting season in Bankoot and Mantrigam villages of Bandipora were cut short even before they began as clouds rolled in, followed by heavy downpour and hails that hit the standing crop.
According to information available, 70 per cent of the standing crops in two villages of Mantrigam and Bankoot of Bandipora have been extensively damaged. The thunderstorm accompanied by heavy downpour ravaged not only the standing crops but houses in these villages rendering scores without shelter.
On getting the information, the district administration swung into action and dispatched officials to the affected villages to conduct the damage control exercises.
"The department would take up the case for compensation to the affected families," said Magistrate Khan, adding, "the summary assessment has revealed that the standing crops along 600 hectare of land had been severely damaged.”
He further said, “20,150 metric tons of paddy-production constituting 1.9 per cent of the total production, was likely to be affected."
On May 23 this year too, the same belt faced a similar situation when framers in loss production of paddy seedlings and orchards incurring losses worth Rs 2, 58, 92,120 as surveyed by the revenue dept.