BAKHSHI STADIUM
Apart from unfurling the tricolor and the top executive taking the salute at the ceremonial march past, the August 15 function is invariably dominated by the cultural events. Boys, men and women perform on the occasion and usually it is the women who steal the limelight. If the rehearsals of the event, carried out on a day when intense security blanket was imposed on the capital city and was captured by Bilal Bahadur, Kashmir Life photo chief, is any indication then the artists are expected to set the stadium ablaze with their performances. The added event for this year was J&K police’s women cops displaying a Daredevil segment in which a number of them rode a bike like hawks together. JKP have a few women battalions and this is for the first time they will do something beyond nach ghana. Finally police’s women power has a postcard picture.
TRENZ
Amid high-voltage violent activities in south Kashmir, there was a mysterious event – a bomb was placed in the premises and once somebody touched the pot, it exploded. The villagers were returning home after wee-hour Fajr prayers and 10 of them were injured. As Muzaffarabad based Hizb boss denied any militant involvement in the hit and run instance, lawmaker Engineer Rashid wants probe. To which direction is Kashmir heading? Any answers.
RAMBAN
Right-wing reportage on Naveed’s capture had suggested Village Defence Committee was behind the bravery. That never was the case. But the VDC actions came alive a few days later when Beer Singh, one of its members, was arrested for murdering his colleague Tirath Chand of Chothan Senabhathi. He used the police provided rifle in Paristhan mountainous for the murder. After killing him, Singh had rumoured that bear killed him but autopsy proved it otherwise. VDC men killing their relatives is an old trend.
BUDGAM
BJP ideologue and parliamentarian Tarun Vijay’s suggestion seemingly has been taken seriously. Rajya Sainik Board, an institution tasked to manage the affairs of the ex-servicemen, has submitted a proposal to the state government seeking a Sainik Colony on a 21-acre piece of land near the Srinagar Airport. Defence authorities have prevented an industrial estate near the airport and now a housing enclosure is being talked about. State government, however, is unlikely to approve the proposal.
CHENNAINI
Rakesh Sharma and Vikramjeet, two youth who are also relatives, were finally given cops’ jobs in state police. Taken hostage by fleeing Pakistani militant, they overpowered and disarmed him and handed him over to the police. The rewarding windfall included Rs 50,000 and an IAY house each. They have also been recommended for Shaurya Chakra Award. But the windfall has triggered tensions. Kuldip Kumar of Ansi Top (Batote) says he was not given anything despite single-handedly arresting Lashkar leader Sher Khan on March 27, 2012.
KISHTWAR
It must be pretty serious. In Kishtwar’s Chogan grounds, the venue of the August 15 function, troops saw two “females” walking suspiciously. Confronted they fled. Caught and they turned to be males. Interestingly, they were Jabbar and Karim, the two surviving brothers of slain Lashkar militant Habib Gujjar. Investigation is still unable to establish if the two were there for sabotage or they are mentally sick.
MAHORE
Tragically, it is true. An unidentified girl student who lived with her mentally sick mother was exploited by her teacher, also her relative in Mahore, Reasi. She conceived and he bartered her abortion for financial help. Only later, she approached police. The teacher is still going to school!
6684 Muslims from J&K slated to perform Hajj through state run Hajj Committee.
On the upcoming 179 kms long “composite bundh” on the international border in Jammu, there would be 180 fighting bunkers for troops.
Rs 158.76 crore is the profit that J&K bank pocketed in the Q1 of 2015-16
