BALTAL
It was just a squabble over the opportunities that the annual Hindu yatra throws up that triggered a huge crisis. A tent-owner resented a lunghar man for selling space that hell broke loose. It was lungharwallas versus tent-wallas. The result of the crisis: 59 injured, 4 lunghars went up in flames besides 110 tents. Yatra was suspended and it took police lot of time to restore order. Incidentally, two CRPF men were found involved in rioting. By the way why cannot all the people associated with the pilgrimage do strictly what they are supposed to do.
KOUSAR NAG
Finally, the last of the major fountainhead of Kashmir is getting consumed by the pollution that is being generated in the name of faith. This time, it is emanating from Katra. It is the district administration of Raesi in Jammu that will be holding a six day pilgrimage for Hindus to Kousar Nag in Shopian. It is starting on July 28. This year, Additional DDC Rajinder Singh Tara said they may consider even introducing chopper service. The government is placing six teams of doctors with medicines and oxygen to help yatris. Army is chipping in with creating tented accommodation throughout the route. Harshu in Mahore is the base camp and the yatra will pass through Salal, Arnas, Dharmari, Mahore, Chasana and Sungri areas of Reasi district to reach Kounsar Nag. The puja will commence on July 30, the day of Nag Panchami. Tara told the state tourism department to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to popularise the spot by erecting hoardings at prominent locations, so that pilgrims after visiting the cave shrine of Vaishno Devi here could be diverted to such locations.
DOORU
It has been more than a year for this old man to get some sort of justice. Finally the High Court has asked the government to ensure that Peer Ghulam Nabi Shah’s family in Batagund is not harassed. A nonagenarian, Shah’s one son Farooq was a militant who was killed in 2000. His other son, Ashraf is in jail for nine years and has been subjected to 13 PSAs. As the family started talking about what befell them, they would usually get harassed. Once, the entire family including women was arrested by police not by CRPF or army. Finally he went to the court and got an order that his family should not get harassed.
TEL AVIV
They denied they have issued any fresh advisory to its citizens against visiting Kashmir. Even if they had done it, it would not mean anything because Kashmir is getting a handful of Israeli tourists and most of them are backpackers, usually college students who fly in to spend their savings from scholarships. Ladakh which has emerged the major destination for Israeli visitors has recieved 2185 last year and so far less than 400 have set their foot on Ladakh. Kashmir hosted 908 Israelis last year and so far 234 have landed here this year.
KANGAN
Amongst few ministers who are facing music for the conduct of their sons, people have started including Omar’s Forest Minister Mian Altaf. Last week, Mir Ali, Gujjar leader’s son created news by storming into the police station to assault a man who had gone to police against three men for beating his wife. Mohammad Sidiq is a Baba Nagri resident whose wife alleged three men beat her. The couple went to the police station against the men working in a stone crusher that Mir Ali owns. Reports said Mir Ali beat Sidiq and took away three accused whom police had rounded up. Police did nothing other than driving Sidiq to SKIMS! By the way, Mir Ali’s crusher housed a state run school before it was converted into a stone grinder.
KOT BALWAL
It is an interesting story involving two murder accused that has already led to suspension of jail superintendent Rajni Sehgal. In June 2012, a murder accused Ravinder Singh noticed another under trial Paramjit Singh appearing as a proxy candidate in an in-house IGNOU examination of Masters of Sociology for the jail superintendent. Later another under trail Kulwant Singh was found appearing for Ms Sehgal in another paper. The leak eventually led to investigations and the lady officer was put under suspension. Now, whistleblower Ravinder Singh is fighting in the high court – while being in jail, to ensure that the influential officer does not go scot free!
Nedus family (relative of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah) were leased 2 kanals and 3 marlas in Gulmarg but they have illegally occupied 101.4 kanals.
Kashmir had 6.65 lakh tourist arrivals plus 2.66 lakh Amarnath pilgrims so far.
