SONAWAR
It made big news last week when Rolling Stones, an American magazine considered to be the ultimate in music, reviewed Kashmir’s rapper Roshan Illahi, popularly identified as MC Kash. In less than 500-words, reviewer Anurag Tagat introduces Illahi to a larger community. Illahi has told magazine that commoner’s voice in Kashmir is always strangulated and that he feels relieved after his latest album Rebel RepubliK that he produced and released for free after crawling for two and a half years. Magazine sees the 10-track album full of disappointment, anger and frustration while singling out at least two tracks as rhymes about peace and liberation. MC Kash who is currently in Goa for a performance is finally on musical radar.
MENDHAR
It happened yet again. Soldiers near the LoC fencing in Balakote last week detained members of a marriage party for hours. Shahid Khan, son of a police head constable, was being taken to his in-laws for getting the bride and the marriage party had more than 50 members. She lived in a village between the LoC and the fence. As they reached the spot where they had to enter the properly gated and locked fence, they produced I-cards. But the sepoys and their officers did not permit them in. Finally when cops came to rescue, it was a delay of five hours. They were permitted and got the bride too but this marriage became another historic reference. A similar incident took place in Uri. Army has spoiled four weddings last week by deciding who can and who cannot attend the wedding.
REASI
Suffering from Neurofibromatosis, a condition causing lumps to grow on the coverings of nerves apparently by a mutation in one of the genes, Latif Khatana has been a favourite for British tabloids. Dubbed faceless because lumps have covered him from all sides, they extensively covered his marriage. His only source is to beg in Kashmir. This fall when he became proud father of a daughter on November 10, the tabloids ran larger stories. Khatana’s wife Saleema was with just one foot and they married in August 2008.
JAMMU
It can happen only in J&K. Ruling NCs disgraced lawmaker and transporter Tarlochan Singh Wazir was arrested last year in the brutal Chopra family murder case. While he is in jail for more than a year and all his efforts to get a bail are blunted, the state police continued having security at his residence. His house was secured when he was member of upper house. After he was sent to jail, who is being secured and at whose costs? Is somebody in the government so keen to know everything that might be happening in Singh’s house?
SRINAGAR
Most of the 
detainees in Srinagar’s central jail have fallen ill, apparently after consuming sub standard food. Apart from gastric issues, they have skin disorders. Indications suggest that they are being fed as per the jail manual and the supplies are seriously sub-standard. Even the healthcare is highly questionable. A team of judicial, police and civil administration officers has visited the jail and is submitting a report to the government. Of the 477 inmates, 80 are termed indisposed for last two weeks.
KATRA
For many years, it was talked about in whispers. But gradually it is getting louder. A gang usually being referred as zahar khurani gang has been operational in the pilgrim spot that gets more than one crore pilgrims a year. It targets very special pilgrims which are visibly wealthy. They feed them biscuits which force a momentary unconsciousness. As the pilgrims lose senses momentarily, they flee with their belongings. It struck last week when a pilgrim Chain Singh became the victim. Police has launched a manhunt to arrest the gangsters.
