Locals told Greater Kashmir that the family of six-year-old Ishra, daughter of Muhammad Shafi Malik, grew apprehensive and started looking for her after she failed to return to her room from a washroom, located near their house, at around 9:30 PM on Saturday.

 To their shock and horror, they located Ishra’s throat-slit body outside the gate of a nearby Middle School, they said.

 The incident triggered massive protests in the area. Hundreds of men, women and children took to the streets to protest against the incident. “We want justice. The killers of Ishra should be identified and punished,” they shouted.

 While the district administration and some senior police officers tried to pacify the protesters, they refused to give up.

 Ishra’s father, Muhammad Shafi, said: “My daughter studied in first standard in a local government school. I am not able to understand why someone would kill her.”

 Shafi, a contractor, said: “After taking dinner, Ishra went to the washroom located in the premises of our house. After 10 minutes when she didn’t return, we thought she is sitting with her grandmother. But she was not there. We launched a search and found her throat-silt body near the gate of Middle school Tikker, which is located some 70 yards away from our house.”

 Hundreds of people from Tikker and its adjoining areas participated in the funeral prayers of Ishra this afternoon. 

 Beating her chest, Ishra’s mother said: “Whom should I blame for her murder. She was innocent.”

 The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara, said “it is a case of homicide and we have registered FIR vide No-64/11 under sections 302 and started investigations.”

 “We have deployed sniffer dogs, which will help in tracing the weapons used in murdering the girl,” he told Greater Kashmir.

Known for its magnificent antlers with 11 to 16 points, Hangul is the only surviving race of the Red Deer family of Europe in the sub-continent. Due to varied reasons including increased disturbances in its habitat, the stag is battling for its survival in its last bastion—the Dachigam National Park.

The week-long census, which ended today, was carried out by the Department of Wildlife Protection in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India spanned over 450 sq. kms in Dachigam National Park, Dara, Nishat, Braine, Chesmashahi, Khanmoh, Khrew, Wangath, Shikargah, Hajin and Satura Wildlife Conservation Reserves and adjoining forest areas of Akhal, Najwan, Surfrao and Mammar.

The massive exercise was undertaken by 360 persons including volunteers, researchers and students of Kashmir University, SKUAST-K, Wildlife Trust of India besides staff of Wildlife Department and Forest Protection Force.

Officials said the indirect evidences of presence of Hangul, including shredded antlers, wallowing, droppings and hair have been sent to the Wildlife Institute of India for analyzing the species’ current population trends and establishing final figure.

“By virtue of our initial findings during the census, we can say with confidence that there is an encouraging trend in population of Hangul,” Wildlife Warden Central, Rashid Naqash, who supervised the Census, told Greater Kashmir on the sidelines of a valedictory function to honor the enumerators.

“The researchers and volunteers have witnessed direct sighting of the Hangul in Dachigam and its adjoining forests and conservation reserves. They have also gathered indirect evidences including shredded antlers. Importantly, this time we have spotted the Hangul even outside the protected areas. These factors point towards a considerable increase in the species population,” Naqash said.

Experts said Hangul was once distributed widely in the mountains of Kashmir. Kashmir’s shikar map prepared by Maharaja Hari Singh depicts distribution of Hangul in a radius of 40 km spreading from Keran in Kishenganga catchments over to Dorus in Lolab Valley, Erin catchments in Bandipora to Baltal to Aru, Tral, and Kishtwar. Gradually, the population declined to about 1,000-2,000 in 1947 and subsequently as low as 250 in ‘70s. The remaining population is scattered in and around the Dachigam National Park.

The census of 2004 estimated the population of Hangul at 197 while in 2008 it reduced to 127. The last census carried in 2009 estimated the population at 175 with increase in the male, female and fawn ratio.

The 2009 census indicated that for every 100 females, there are 27 males and 28 fawns as compared to 23 and 9 respectively in 2008. “We are optimistic that the male, female-fawn ratio will also show an upward swing in the current census and this will subsequently lead to marked increase in the Hangul population in coming years,” Naqash said.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of threatened species assessment has categorized Hangul as endangered in 1996. Hangul is also listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

Experts claim that since the onset of political unrest in the Valley in 1990, there have been no major reports of poaching of Hangul. However, in January this year, police arrested six persons accused of having poached a Hangul in Dachigam National Park from Khanmoh side.

“During the current census, we spotted many male Hanguls and collected antlers shed by them. This is one of the good indicators that the gap between female and male Hanguls will be tapped,” said the Wildlife Trust of India’s Assistant Project Officer, Mansoor Nabi, who is also simultaneously undertaking survey on Hangul in Kashmir.

The former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Abdul Rashid Wani said establishing the appropriate number of Hangul is a prerequisite for implementing conservation plans for them. “There is need to spread awareness about the Hangul among the people. You have to act as messengers rather eco-guns to make people realize the importance of Hangul and other wild animals,” he said.

He said besides other ecological factors, the rising political tension between India and Pakistan is affecting the wildlife. “Kashmir is a bio-mass state and boasts of richest and unique biodiversity including wildlife animals. For conservation of its wildlife, it is not only the responsibility of the state government but also of India and Pakistan to enter into ecological agreement to save the environment and wildlife,” Wani said.

Stanzin Landal, a student of SKUAST-K Wadoora who participated in the census, said it was for the first time she saw a Hangul. “I hail from Nobra Valley in Ladakh and feel privileged to have seen a Hangul. It was a learning and adventurous experience,” she said.

 The survey says that 4119 primary schools, 628 middle schools, 76 high schools and 7 higher secondary schools are without buildings and are being run from rented buildings or by internal arrangement. Apart from this, 984 upgraded institutions are deficient in accommodation, which include 611 high schools and 373 higher secondary schools.

 Figures further reveal that 474 primary school buildings are in dilapidated condition with 28 upper middle schools without any building at all, while 52 primary institutions lack drinking water and toilet facility.

 Likewise, 541 middle schools, 125 high schools and 101 higher secondary institutions lack drinking water and toilet facility, while 68 high schools and 7 government higher secondary institutions are being run in rented buildings.

 It further reveals that only 75 per cent teachers at primary level in the state are trained as against national average of 89 per cent. 

 The report also reveals that as per the NCERT Report (2003) on assessment of Class-V student achievements, the learning achievement in Mathematics and Language at primary level in J&K is 36.3 per cent and 49.6 per cent respectively as against the national average of 46.5 per cent in Maths and 58.57 per cent in Language.

 About 51 Model Cluster Schools have been made functional while out of 79 sanctioned Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidhlyas (KGBV), 78 have been made operational till date.

 The survey says that though with the expansion in educational facilities the number of literates has increased but the rate has not been able to keep pace with the increasing population. “In absolute terms, the number of literates has increased from 3.93 lakh in 1961 to 45.16 lakh in 2001 and further to 61.65 lakh in 2008,” survey says.

 Analysis of the progression of the Literacy Rate during 2001 census and 2008 survey results reveals that Urban Males have highest literacy rate (83.15 per cent) while rural females are least literate (52.70 per cent). “The analysis also shows that during these years the literacy among females is at a disadvantageous position than their counterparts. It is also prevalent that urban areas have much literacy concentration than rural areas.”

If it was Ranbir Kapoor last month seen shooting in the famous tourist resort Pahalgam, the Oscar winning Music Director AR Rahman has too chosen the serene but chilly environs of the ski-resort in south Kashmir for composing his number for the movie Rockstar in which Kapoor is playing the lead role.

In Gulmarg the atmosphere was no less electrifying. Famous cricketer turned coach Jhonty Rhodes arrived on a week-long visit to the resort in north Kashmir to test his snow boarding skills and enjoy winter sports.

“He (AR Rahman) is on 2-day visit to Valley. He visited Pahalgam early during the day for composition of his song. And later returned to Srinagar where he is putting up in a houseboat in Nigeen Lake,” sources said. 

Talking to media persons at Pahalgam, Rahman was reported as saying, “Kashmir is a paradise and a boon to Bollywood."

On his arrival, Rhodes, the former South African cricketer, on Sunday drove to the Royal Springs Golf Course in the city. Sources said he relished Kashmiri Wazwan, particularly Kababs and later drove uphill to Parimahal where he stayed for sometime.

“Before leaving for Gulmarg yesterday he had an interaction with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,” sources said. 

Jhonty is on week-long visit to enjoy snow-boarding and other winter sports in the slopes of Gulmarg.

“They (Rahman and Rhodes) are global figures. Their presence in Kashmir is good news and will definitely send good signals and attract more and more tourists to the valley,” said Director Tourism, Farooq Ahmad Shah.

The celebrities, he said, have come to Kashmir on their own. “But the department will be extending all the assistance and facilities for making their stay comfortable,” Shah said.   

While Bollywood celebrities have been frequently visiting the Valley--once a favourite destination for film shooting--the international cricketers have too started to choose Kashmir as a holidaying destination. 

Last year Rhodes’ former team-mate and the present coach of Indian cricket team, Gary Kristen, had also visited Gulmarg.

 The poverty graph, according to the ES, has however shown constant decrease. As per the ES the poverty was 30.34 per cent (Rural) 9.18 per cent (Urban) and 25.17 per cent Combined (R+U) in 1993-94. 

 “The poverty ratio during past years has decreased by 14.06 per cent (3.54 percentage points) from the base year 1993-94”, the ES reads. But the absolute poverty has shown an increase from 19.05 lakh (R), 1.86 lakh (U) and 20.92 lakh (C) in 1993-94 to 22 lakh, 2.21 lakh and 24.21 lakh respectively till in 2007-08.

 On the state level, the data tabled by the government, says that in rural areas the Kashmir division with 26.58 per cent has more BPL population percentage as compared to Jammu division with 25.61 per cent. While Jammu division at 8.19 per cent has more urban poverty percentage as compared to that of Kashmir division with 7.81 percent.

 In Jammu division, the total estimated BPL population is 10.59 lakh with a dispersion of 9.69 lakh persons in rural areas and 90 thousands in urban areas.  “Degree of poverty becomes more visible and pronounced among the people who live away from the urban business centres and district headquarters”, the report reads.

"All superintendents of police and station house officers as well as security forces have also been authorised to take cognisance and initiate action in case of rabid and mad dogs," an official spokesman said. 

Divisional commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon asked deputy commissioners to direct the officials to issue the orders to deal with the menace. 

The measure has been initiated by the government to ensure the safety of the public after recent incidents in which two persons died due to dog bites in Uri and Pampore towns, the spokesman said. 

He said the shoot-at-sight orders are only applicable for mad and rabid dogs. 

The government is also planning a sterilisation drive of all male stray dogs to curb the growing numbers of dogs in the Kashmir Valley. 

The faculty of veterinary sciences has deputed six interns to Srinagar Municipality Corporation for conducting sterilisation of stray dogs, he added. 

 As the Government today underscored the importance of preservation of Wullar in the Upper House and maintained that Rs 120 crore have been sanctioned by the Central Government for the endeavor, the constitution of the Wullar Development Authority (WDA) to streamline the lake’s restoration measures, is yet to receive nod from the Cabinet, drawing flak from the environmentalists.

 Till a few decades ago, Wullar acted as a huge absorption basin for the annual floodwaters, maintaining a balance in the hydrographic system of the Valley. The lake with its associated wetlands was an important habitat for migratory water birds within Central Asian Flyway and supported rich biodiversity.

 Due to massive encroachments and siltation, Wullar has been reduced from 273 sq kms to less than 70 sq kms. Official figures state that nearly 70,000 kanals of converted land of Wullar have been occupied illegally, including by various government departments, including Social Forestry. The problem is compounded by continuous influx of silt from nearby catchments which has turned a large chunk of the water body into a land mass.

 After years of dilly-dallying, the Government in January last year decided to constitute the WDA for effective restoration of the lake. The WDA was kept under the direct control of Forest Department. The Government had also prepared a detailed protect report for Rs 386 cr for conservation of the lake.

 The plan envisaged the lake’s water and land resources management, bio-diversity conservation, livelihood improvement and institutional development. The plan also emphasized on eco-tourism as a potential tool to conserve the lake and its rich bio-diversity while providing economic incentives to the local community.

 However, due to inordinate delay in constitution of WDA, the conservation of Wullar has been halted.

 Incidentally, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had been nominated as chairman of the WDA, last year had minced no words in acknowledging the mistakes and non-seriousness of the concerned officials in implementing the Wullar conservation.

 “We should not have any hesitation in acknowledging the fact that least attention was given towards such places of importance in past. While executing Rs 386 crore Wullar Conservation Plan all concerned authorities and agencies should keep in mind the mistakes committed in past with regard to maintenance and preservation of such water bodies and be more vigilant henceforth accordingly. Wullar is not only a historic lake, its eco-friendly importance for the entire Kashmir Valley is of significant importance. Therefore expert groups should be involved in its restoration process,” Omar had stated while chairing a review meeting of Wullar conservation last year.  

 Environmentalists are up in arms against the delay in execution of Wullar Conservation Plan. “Wullar has lost the capacity to regulate water flows due to siltation, encroachments, pollution and extensive plantations. The inordinate delay in restoration of Wullar is bound to raise its levels of ecological deterioration and cost escalation of conservation plan. It is ironical that the despite passing of a year, the development authority for restoration of the lake is yet to become functional. This shows non seriousness of the Government is salvaging the lake of immense ecological importance,” Aijaz Rasool a noted hydraulic engineer told Greater Kashmir.

 Ajaz who is also a member of the Committee of Experts on Wullar, Tso-Morari and Mansar-Surinsar lakes under the Prime Minister’s reconstruction plan of Jammu and Kashmir, recommended the Government to adopt the Critical Path Method to salvage the lake.

 “With each passing moment, we are gradually losing the Wullar. Authorities should on priority remove the willow plantations in the lake as they have firmed up silt deposits hampering the water circulation and navigation.  The deforestation of the Wullar catchments in early ’90s led to heavy influx of silt into the water body. This led to drastic reduction of the lake’s bed and severely affected its flora and fauna,” he said.

 He said winter is the best time for undertaking dredging due to lean water discharge and maintained that simultaneous conservation activities like soil erosion control, integrate grassland management, prioritization of critical micro water sheds can also prove beneficial.

 “There is need for improving the lake’s hydrological connectivity with existing marshes. It will help in water absorption capacity of the wetland system to control flooding and increase retention capacity of Wullar.  The critical path method is appropriate to atleast save the lake from further deterioration. Under this, the works have to be identified, set deadlines for their competition and execute them strictly,” he said.

 The Wetlands International-South Asia, a global organization for conservation of wetlands, has also formulated water management part of the Comprehensive Management Action Plan (CMAP) for restoration of Wullar lake, which has been approved by Central Government for implementation.

 The Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf, said the Government had last year decided to constitute the WDA. “However, the Cabinet is yet to accord sanction to it. We will soon place the matter before the Cabinet. Chief Minister will be the chairman of the WDA,” Altaf told Greater Kashmir. 

 While replying to a question by MLC MY Taing, Altaf today informed the House that Rs. 120 crore has been sanctioned by Central Government under 13th Finance Commission for the conservation of Wullar Lake and reiterated that the WDA will be constituted for taking comprehensive measures for its preservation.

 He said the decision regarding eviction, re-orientation and re-settlement of lake dwellers will be taken after constitution of the WDA. “While as sewerage treatment plants are proposed to be established in the peripheral towns of the lake and also sanitation units are proposed to be given to the population living in the vicinity of the lake,” he said.