Briefing

SOPORE

Police built Jamia Masjid in Srinagar District Police Lines witnessed probably the first major Quran recitation and special prayers session last week after four of their colleagues were gunned down by militants in a Sopore village. Those who attended included IGP AG Mir, DIG Syed Afad-ul-Mujtaba, SSP SAH Buhkari and scores of others. Within two hours, the entire Quran was recited for the eternal peace of the slain cops. Prior to the prayers meeting, the officers visited the families of the slain: Abdul Rahim (Kockgund, Ganderbal), Mudasir Ahmad Bhat (Noorbagh, Srinagar), two SPOs Gulshan Ahmad (Kanispora, Baramulla) and Mudasir Ahmad Parray (Kreeri). Militants had kidnapped a Sarpanch and lured the police to an ambush using his phone.

SRINAGAR

For tourism, it conveys more than a major publicity campaign. Five Modi brothers who own Rs 20,000 crore Modi empire were in Srinagar last week to celebrate the 30th wedding anniversary of their sister Promila. They had brought around 50 of their relatives with them. Their last family get together in Srinagar was in 1982. Enjoying beauty of Kashmir and getting nostalgic, the brothers started thinking business. But the ideation reported was weird. They want Zabarwan hills converted into SEZ and opened for foreign investment! They would facilitate investment but will not invest themselves. But there is one thing that is encouraging: all the five are flying to Srinagar for two days by May end to celebrate VK Modi’s 70th birthday.

MANSHERA

Liyaqat Shah, the polygamous ‘militant’ who is currently at the core of a controversy has lost one of his three wives: Naseema, a resident of Manshera (PaK). The family says she died of shock. They had a son who is in eighth standard. Now Shah is left with two wives, both residing on this side of the LoC. But it has not impacted the flow of youth returning with their wives from PaK. Forget UP, now the youth are crossing into Madhubani (Bihar) from Nepal. Last week, two former Kashmiri militants were arrested by SSB along with their wives and four children and handed over to J&K Police. As many as 262 former militants have returned to avail the incentive policy in vogue.

KISHTWAR

 Manzoor Ahmad Bhat lost his son Guffran at the age of one. He drowned in a bathtub. It led Bhat to create a T20 Cricket Championship in his memory. For the last seven years, the tourney is being played in Doda and Reasi. This year, Kabul flew 16 of its cricketers to participate in the competition! The team included Khaliqdad Noori and Badshah Hussain who previously played for the Afghanistan national team besides Muhammad Yamin Ahmadzai and Afsarkhan Zazai who are reigning players in the national team. For the ongoing championship, 50 teams are in the race and most of them are non-local. They will all play in Kishtwar which has only one playground!

MAGAM

After a complete month, police finally recovered three-year-old Ajnum who went missing from the house of a faith-healer in Mazhama village. Police raided the house of Rubina Begum in Chattabal and recovered the baby. Begum had shaven the head of the baby completely to get her a different look. Currently under arrest, she told investigators that she kidnapped the baby girl because she had three sons and not a daughter!

–

KUPWARA

 The executive has started acting against the newest elected lot – the Panchayat members. ADC Kupwara disqualified Ghulam Hassan Wani, Sarpanch of Punzwa in Ramhal. Reason: He was a government school teacher and still contesting by faking his documents. In another case, by the way also reported from the border district, Sarpanch Gulam Nabi Mailk of Tikker was arrested for allegedly writing and circulating fake militant posters that threaten elected Panchs and Sarpanchs.

RAJOURI

 A civilian killed in a fake encounter and buried in an unidentified grave far away from his home has been proved through DNA fingerprinting. It was the battle of a widow Bago who, while rearing four orphans, fought a protracted battle for 16 years with the system. Yousaf, her husband, was picked up by Army in October 19, 1997 from his Kotdhara residence. He never returned. Many days later, she was told that he was buried in Keeri sector in an identified grave and the battle started. In 2007, the exhumation took place for DNA fingerprinting. Tragically, the remains were left somewhere in the district hospital and not buried properly till they were exposed by nature recently. The test has already confirmed him as Yousaf. Now Bago wants Yousaf’s remains – kept somewhere in the district hospital, so that she can give him a decent burial.

7120 is the number of Muslims from J&K who will perform Haj this year.

—–

 SERC increased the power tariff by 8.5% for the current financial year.