Srinagar, Mar 29 : Advisor to Governor, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, Friday said that combating drug-menace and saving youth from its ill effects was a shared concern for the government and the society.

Addressing an inaugural function of ‘Substance Abuse Awareness Campaign’ in Srinagar, the Advisor said that civil society and educational institutions should step up efforts to defeat drug peddling as it is hazardous for the society.

The programme was organized by Jammu & Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (JKSHRC) in collaboration with Directorate of School, Education Kashmir (DSEK).

Among others, the programme was attended by Joint Director, DSEK, Abid Hussain, Chief Accounts Officer, Irfan Ahmad, CEOs, and Principals of various schools and other officials of the Directorate.

Later, Advisor Ganai along with Chairman JKSHRC, Justice (Retd) Bilal Nazki released a report titled as ‘Empirical Analysis on Drug Addiction in Kashmir Valley’.

Advisor Ganai said that the Education Department would definitely take the mission ahead by informing and educating the children about drug menace. He said that besides ensuring quality education to the children and developing scientific temperament among the students, it was highly needed for the Department to reach out to concerned stakeholders—especially children to make them aware about the ill effects of the drug abuse and drug addiction.

“If drug abuse becomes a bottleneck, it won’t let us realize our goals of imparting quality education,” Ganai said. He said that there was a dire need to strengthen the drug de-addiction centres and there was a need to create more in the State.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice (Retd) Nazki said: “We all must join hands and there should be a visible pressure to tackle the drug menace in our State.”

Director, Department of School Education, Kashmir informed about various initiatives taken by the DSEK in combating the substance abuse. He said that the Chief Education Officers from all the Districts of Kashmir division have been nominated as Nodal Officers of the Drug de-addiction Programme. 

Srinagar, Mar 29 : Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir and Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Muhammad Umar Farooq on Friday said asking for resolution of Kashmir issue is neither terror nor crime. He said Government of India should not criminalize our political aspirations which are rooted in history and principle of justice.

Addressing people during Friday congregation prayers at the Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz said Hurriyat Conference has always taken a realistic and principled stand and advocated dialogue among stakeholders as a means to finding an acceptable solution for all parties involved in the dispute and for friendship between India and Pakistan.

He said that his late father AAC founder ‘Shaheed-e-Millat’ Mirwaiz Farooq was a great advocate of good relationship between India and Pakistan and peace for the region.

In fact, it was he who for the first time put forth the proposal for tripartite dialogue among the three stakeholders at the historic Gol Bagh rally in 1975, Mirwaiz, according to a statement issued, said.

“When we welcomed and participated in the talks with New Delhi and Islamabad we demonstrated our eagerness and faith in it as a means for resolution of the issue understanding fully well that people of Kashmir are the most affected party in issue. We have and will continue to advocate and push for dialogue as it is the way forward as Kashmiris are most at receiving end of the lingering dispute and almost every day are getting killed in one form or other,” he said.

Giving details of the programme in connection with Mehraj-Ul-Alam (SAW), Mirwaiz said that in keeping with tradition, he will delivering sermon on significance of Mehraj Ul Alam (SAW) at Aali Masjid on April 3 from Maghrib prayers onwards and a Majlis-e-Tauba Isteghfar will be held at Jamia Masjid Srinagar on Friday, April 5.

Jehangir Lolabi

Srinagar, March 29 : Week after he went missing, a 14-year-old boy from Kupwara has been traced by the police and handed over to his family.

The boy namely Muneer Ah lone son of Ali Mohd Lone of who was missing since March 23 was traced out today from Manigah Kupwara, a police official said.

The family had lodged a missing report with the police as well.

“Missing boy has been handed over to family.” (GNS)

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The first song, Chol Homa Roshay, from Ashvin Kumar’s upcoming film, No Fathers In Kashmir is out now and is soothing not just to the eyes but also to the ears. It is a popular Kashmiri folk song that has been brought to life with beautiful visuals from the valley, Hindustan Times reported.

The report said that the song was originally written and sung by celebrated Kashmiri poet, Habba Khatoon who is also referred to as the Nightingale of Kashmir. The soulful lyrics are a cry for love and have been beautifully picturised on young protagonists — British girl Noor (Zara Webb) and a local Kashmiri boy Majid (Shivam Raina).

Chol Homa Roshay is a rendition of the folk song which is sacred to the part of Kashmir and their heritage. The song was brought to life by Kashmiri singer Ali Saifuddin whose vocals were sent to French music composers -Loik Dury and Christophe ‘Disco’ Minck to create the new version.

“The song has been recorded in a female version as well by the London based Perkins sisters,” said the report.

The report said that No Fathers in Kashmir stars director Ashvin along with Soni Razdan, Anshuman Jha and Kulbushan Kharbanda. The film revolves around two teenagers (Zara and Shivam), who are on a dangerous journey to find their missing fathers. They reach a treacherous area near the Indo-Pak border and are arrested. Noor is released since she is British and then decides to help Majid get his freedom.

The newspaper quoted Soni’s husband and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt as having said at the film’s trailer launch, “A staggering, heart-wrenching film. Ashvin has the guts to embrace all that darkness and then having done that bring us so much light. In these dark times of hate, here’s a love story from the blood-soaked valley of Kashmir, which has the audacity to hope.”

According to a report talking about the film, Soni had said, “When I read this script, I found it very interesting because here was a film that showed the reality. There have been many films on Kashmir but this one isn’t peppered by drama, love stories and other things. It’s what truly is representative of how the situation is in the valley. And that’s what drew me to the film”.

Courtesy Hindustan Times

Srinagar, Mar 29 : As the reports claim that Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached the property of incarcerated Shabir Ahmad Shah in Rawalpora, the family of pro-freedom leader on Friday said that they have not received any notice in this regard.

Talking to news agency, Shabir Shah’s wife, Dr. Bilquees Shah said that the property which as per media reports has been attached was belonging to Shah but she was the real owner of the land.

“The land in Rawalpora was bought by my father in the year 1999 following which it was presented to me as a gift by my family in 2005,” she told, adding that the property belongs to her and not Shah.

“We have provided all the documents related to the land to ED in English as well as Urdu language. I have constructed the building there on my own salary and also bought Rs 20 lakhs from bank as loan,” she said.

She further added that they will defend the action legally in case it has been attached but so far “we have not received even a notice in this regard.” (KNS)