Security sought for Sikh panchayat members

Srinagar: The All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) on Thursday urged the state administration to ensure the security of sarpanches and panches belonging to the minority community of the Valley. In a statement, the APSCC asked the state administration to ensure ‘security of the Sikh community members who remained associated as panches and sarpanches in the Valley, especially south Kashmir’. The statement was issued a day after a few Sikh panchayat members of south Kashmir announced to resign in the wake of the killing of a Sikh youth at Khasipora, Tral, in Pulwama district on January 4. The APSCC also welcomed the concern shown by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Basheer Ahmad Khan, who had assured the community members that their issues would be looked into. “However, more needs to be done in order to inculcate a sense of security among the community members,” the statement added. TNS

Separatists condemn Tral youth’s killing

Srinagar: A day after the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee expressed resentment over the Hurriyat’s silence on the killing of a youth of the minority community, the joint resistance leadership on Thursday condemned the incident. In a joint statement, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik said: “Loss of human lives in any form at any place is worth condemnation. Whenever attempts were made to give a communal colour to the movement at the behest of agencies, the Sikhs exhibited proof of being pro-movement by expressing solidarity with the majority community.” The joint resistance leadership also pointed out that protecting the minority communities was their moral responsibility. “The protection of minorities whether they are Sikhs, Hindus or Buddhists is not only our political and moral responsibility, Islam also teaches us to safeguard their lives and properties,” it said while adding that a separatists’ delegation would soon visit Khasipora, Tral, in south Kashmir where a Sikh youth had been shot dead on January 4.TNS

Cong leader briefed on veggie sellers’ issues

Jammu: Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma on Wednesday reached the vegetable mandi in Narwal and heard the problems of vendors. He was invited by the newly elected president of the Vegetable Association, Narwal Mandi, Surinder Singh Kala. During the meeting, the members outlined various problems faced by them. They said though a small health centre was built in the area, it was not well-equipped and no medical official was available there. “Health centres in vegetable markets across the country are fully equipped so that timely medical care is provided to the needy. Such type of health centres should be provided in the vegetable market,” the members said. They also appreciated the work of the erstwhile Congress government for them. TNS

NC’s commerce college unit constituted

Jammu: National Conference Students’ Union provincial president Iftkhair Choudhary on Thursday constituted SPMR Commerce College unit, which will be headed by Sidhant Bhardwaj. Gautam Dewan will be its senior vice-president while Chatainyna and Himani Dubey will be the vice-presidents, Puneet Moza the general secretary, Asrar wani and Dharamveer Singh as its secretaries, Kunal, Navneet, Swati and Sourab as its joint secretaries, Atul and Rohan as media in charge and Sajeed as adviser. The unit was constituted in the presence of provincial vice-president and in charge of the student wing Chaman Lal Bhagat, provincial secretary Sheikh Bashir Ahmed and district president, Jammu (Urban) Dharamveer Singh Jamwal. TNS