SRINAGAR
Last year there were six Bollywood crews shooting in Kashmir and this summer it is expected to be more. In fact some of them are shooting in Kashmir right now. But the allegedly negative portrayal of Kashmir in the plots has sent Kashmir government in tizzy and forced them to be innovative. If the reports appearing in media are taken at face value, state’s tourism department has suggested a penal that will approve the scripts before they are permitted to shoot. It sounds slightly more than bizarre because even censor board has the post-production approval. The idea that tragically came at time when the government had flown in a score odd filmi people to Srinagar, can damage Kashmir more than the films. Anybody listening?
ISLAMABAD
After more than 18 years when four soldiers from 4-RR gang-raped two women (including a virgin) on March 19, 1996, High Court detected a gynaecologist’s questionable medical opinion that the convicted were using as their defence. Dr Masooda Jan Shahmiri had issued a medical report that was contrary to the physical evidence and an alternative opinion of male gynaecologist Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Matoo. Army, however, took the court martial route, proved the crime, dismissed Naik Rajvinder Singh, Lancenaik Onkar Singh Chib, sepoys Surrinder Kumar and Sanjay Singh and sent them to 10 years jail. Now the four accused invoked Shahmiri’s opinion to prove the case wrong. Though a single bench upheld acquitted Kumar and gave Chib benefit of doubt, the army went to a division bench against it. High Court restored the court martial findings and passed strictures against Dr Shahmiri.
SRINAGAR
In an interesting expose, it was recently revealed that most of the books missing from the 125 years old Shri Partap Singh Library in Srinagar have been taken by officials from the secretariat and the Raj Bhawan. The interesting is that even interlocutors loaned books. They, however, have not returned the same. Some of the rare books are missing. This is the same situation that has already been seen in the University of Kashmir and most of the college and public libraries. So what is the way-out? An academic Task Force, many think!
MAHARAJGUNJ
This border town of UP witnessed arrival of another group of Kashmiris from Pakistan via Nepal. Arrested by SSB at Sonauli check-post, this group comprised 18 persons – four men, five women and nine children. They told the security men they had left Kashmir between 1989 and 2009 and are returning to avail state government’s rehabilitation policy. They are driven to Delhi and handed over to the state police’s intelligence wing for necessary de-briefing. They were identified as Sanaullah Dar (Baramulla), Mushtaq Ahmed Dar (Kupwara), Farooq Ahmed Malla and Mohammad Shakeel Shah (Sopore). Interestingly, the group is accompanied by Wursa Gohar, a resident of Moori in Rawalpandi who is not related to any of the four erstwhile militants.
KATRA
It sounded interesting last week when the civil administration arranged transport for most of the 900-odd migrant families and drove them home in Reasi and Udhampur. These families basically from Arnas, Prankote, Tulibana-Mahore and Chassna are living in Talwama and Gran Morh for more than 16 years now. Getting them back home has remained a major political issue. Debates apart, the process has consumed a good amount of resources. When it came to poling, the government ensured them they exercise their right at their home booths. Why not use this practice for Kashmiri Pandits too. Please! Meanwhile Red Cross used 13 buses to ferry 114 centenarians and 1389 physically disabled to cast votes.
BANDIPORE
Saira, the 30 year old Pakistani woman who came to Kashmir with her husband Javed last year, is yet another casualty of the state government’s rehabilitation policy. A mother of three, she died of 96 percent burn injuries last week triggering massive protests by fellow Pakistani women who accompanied their husbands to the valley. While these families lack the basics including education of their children, they are desperate to get return documents and go home. A few families have gone actually back. Earlier, wife of Bashir Ahmad in Kreeri has also committed suicide. This is in addition to Bashir Ahmad Bukhari who has also committed suicide last year and left behind his wife and five children.
J&K Bank stocks are creating new record. A Rs 10 share is now worth Rs 1750.
For Udhampur-Doda LS constituency, 72% of 14.55 lakh voters 10.43 lakh cast their votes despite the inclement weather. The record polling is 27% more than the 2009 participation.
