SRINAGAR
It is in its platinum jubilee year and it is heading towards exceeding its expectations. Yes, J&K Bank Ltd, the state’s only listed company, has pocketed a profit of Rs 289.40 crore in the Q3 ending December last year that pushed the earnings in three months to Rs 805.02 crore. The bank’s target for the profit in the ongoing fiscal is Rs 1000 crore and this target is expected to exceed. The bank has planned a series of activities, mostly about the CSR, to make the 75th year remarkable and historic. The bank’s profit in nine months period has appreciated from Rs 595.13 crore to Rs 805.02 crore, making a 35 percent growth. Total income of the bank stands at Rs 4784.82 crore as the shares were traded at Rs 1399.50 per unit.
KATHMANDU
After his Ocean of Tears was out and positively reviewed in Kashmir context, Bilal Jan faced hell from the champions of ‘freedom of expression’. Cancellation of the maiden screening of the film was forced in the University of Kashmir. Now, Jan must be happy. His film is being screened at the 3rd Nepal Human Right International Film Festival (NHRIFF) in competition category between February 21 and 24. Produced by Rajiv Mehrotra (PSBT), the 27-minute film was evaluated by Suresh Chabria, film professor, FTII Pune, and K Bikram Singh, a film critic and writer.
RAJOURI
It happens, once in a century! Mantu Kumar of Katwari village in Kalakote had gone with the ‘baraat’ to Alaya Glan village to get his bride, the daughter of Bodh Raj. They had their food and once they were readying to return, the groom fell sick and was actually unconscious. He regained consciousness after about half an hour and lost it again within minutes. It proved publicly that Mantu was suffering from fits. The bride refused to go with him and groom came home empty!
SRINAGAR
It is an innovation in its own way. A young lady residing in Lal Ded Colony and working as drafting assistant in Social Welfare Department in Budgam would get her ‘preys’ home. Once they would enter, two cops would appear at the scene. They would blackmail the men, get good money and finally share the booty. Both of them were Cargo based and the same station later laid the trap and arrested the trio. They are in jail for 10 days. Old business, new plot!
JAMMU
A JAKLI soldier was arrested for attempt to murder. But it was an in-house crisis. Suresh Kumar is a resident of Rajouri and is posted at BB Cantt, Srinagar. His in-laws live in Jawahar Nagar, a new plot locality in Jammu. Apparently not finding his wife home, he drove to her father’s residence, got in, took his wife in a room and bolted from inside. His wife cried for help and her brother Balbir barged in after breaking the lock. He was fired at. He was immediately evacuated to hospital and will survive. But what about the marriage and by the way, why he wanted to kill his wife? Anything Bollywood can work on?
DELHI
Leh’s autonomous Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council skipped Jammu and flew in a delegation to Delhi and briefed Congress president Sonia Gandhi about their problems. Accompanied by Panchs and Sarpanchs, they were on an exposure tour to many states. They sought appreciation of daily wages from Rs 131 to Rs 300 for MGNERGA, representation to Badkhe Buddhist in Minority Commission, a tunnel at Prangla (between Lakh and Himachal), a tunnel at Khardongla, incorporation of Bhote language in 8th schedule of Constitution and upgradation of Khalsi Hospital to Sub District Hospital, besides opening of Kailash Mansarover to local people for boosting the tourism sector in the region.
