SRINAGAR
Sheikh Owais Ahmed, IPS-JK cadre 1987 has been appointed as the first director of newly constituted Vigilance Organization. His appointment was finalized after a high level committee recommended his name for the post last week. The committee comprised of Chief Secretary, Chief Vigilance Commisioner, Administrative Secretary, Home, and Administrative Secretary, GAD. Shiekh is the first KPS who became Additional Director General of State Police. A recipient of President’s Police Medal and Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal, Sheikh joined police service in 1977 and was posted with Governor BK Nehru.
JAMMU
In a state faced with the shortage of water and electricity supply, the government is planning to add one more Agusta 109, a twin engine helicopter, to its air fleet. The state already owns a fleet of one fixed-wing aircraft (King Air- 350), two helicopters (Bell 407 and Agusta-109 E). The Agusta-109 purchased in 2005 from M/s Agusta Westland had cost Jammu and Kashmir a whopping 44,11,500 US $. This time, the cost is expected to be higher. A formal proposal has been formulated by the Civil Aviation Department headed by Omar Abdullah. Agusta Westland was recently in news for its fishy deals with India’s former Air Chief, SP Tyagi.
KHARAGPUR
They can be counted on fingers but they have decided to shoulder a responsibility of mammoth proportions. Aiming to increase the presence of Kashmiri students in IITs across India, three IITians – Saood Nazir, Imbesat Ahmed and Saif Khan, are planning to provide a free of cost coaching class to at least 90 IIT aspirants in Kashmir this summer. Saood, hailing from Shopian, who is pursuing M Sc Physics, has roped in Imbeshar and Saif from Patna, Bihar for the project. They will provide intensive two month coaching to Class 11 and Class 12 students who are appearing for IIT-JEE examination. Each batch will comprise of 30 students. The project is sponsored by J&K Bank and is supported by IITians of Kashmir.
PUNJAB
First the board approves the film. Then they discover wisps of ‘sedition’ in their content. And they ban their screening. It has happened again, but not with a film on Kashmir. Scores of Sikhs moved out on streets in Kashmir and expressed their solidarity with their community across India who protested against the ban on a Punjabi movie ‘Sadda Haq’. The Sikhs in Kashmir protested under the banner of ‘Institute of Gurmat Studies’. The film was scheduled to be released on April 5. It is based on real events that took place in Punjab between 1980 and 1990. The film portrays the human rights violations committed by Punjab Police in the state to crush a separatist insurgency.
KISHTWAR
The state government has floated fresh tenders to attract the attention of international and national players interested in the extraction of world famous Kashmir sapphire mined in Kishtwar belt of the state. Sapphire from Paddar Valley in Kishtwar is famous for its unique peacock-blue colour. Previously, when the government had come out with a similar tender, it had failed to generate a good response. Only one major company had submitted the proposal for extraction. Where the resources generated will be used is a matter of further debate!
BIHAR
The border on Nepal, it seems, is a new hunting ground for agencies. A group of 12, including five children and three women, hailing from Pakistan administered Kashmir were detained from Madhubani district on Indo-Nepal border after they failed to produce their travel documents. They were travelling in a bus which they had boarded from Jankpur bus stand after entering Indian territory. The detainees were trying to come to J&K from Kathmandu where they were staying from past 12 years.
Jammu and Kashmir Mineral Ltd holds a mine lease over an area of 6.65 sq km on GT Sheet 52/C at Paddar, at a height of 4,327 m.
In past more than two years, littered explosives, shells and live ammunition led to the death of more than 29 persons and caused grievous injuries to 26 people across Jammu and Kashmir.
