CHAMLYAL
Perhaps for the first time, the yearly Baba Chamlyal Mela festival falling on the India Pakistan border in Ramgarh witnessed participation of seven serving judges from Pakistan. Traditionally sweets and fruits were exchanged along with Sharbat and Shakker. The bonhomie was exhibited even when the rival sides were engaged in firing on each other in Poonch sector. Sector Commander from Sialkote Brig Wasim was leading the delegation of nearly 40 Pakistanis. It was BSF Sector Commander from Samba DIG Varinder Singh who led the Indian side. For the first time, Pakistani media was seen covering the event and for the first time Indian media was not permitted. The fair is celebrated on the last Thursday of June every year.
BANIHAL
People watching the train inauguration were shocked to see Prime Minister, UPA president and other Congressmen assembling to click a group photograph and their host Chief Minister Omar was missing. All of a sudden, as the CCTV relayed pictures showed, Sonia started asking Omar to join, which he did in the second row. Insiders in the government said the “exclusion” was voluntary and it had started on day one of the high profile visit. As the Prime Minister drove to BB Cant to see injured jawans, both Omar and his governor N N Vohra were stopped by SPG because their names were missing in the list. They were later permitted and this was the reason why Omar was staying away from a group photo-op. Some people have advised Omar to send a protest letter to PM.
KOTA
Kashmir is flocking its youth outside Kashmir for tuitions and coaching and the new destination is Kota in Rajasthan where 300 Kashmiri students including females are studying. The trend started a few years back when a few students enrolled for coaching and it led to rise in numbers – from 250 in 2012 to 300 in 2013 and 100 more on way. They are coaching for IIT and medical colleges.
SRINAGAR
It must shock the policymakers in Srinagar. In twenty-first century, people will die of rabies. Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Sofi of Botshah Mohalla, Lal Bazar was cart-puller and had apparently skipped routine anti-rabies dosage midway. He developed hydro-phobia and died within a month of being bitten by the stray dogs. This is not the first rabies death in Srinagar. Ever since the first baby died of rabies at the peak of 2008 agitation – for non availability of the drugs, there have been many deaths. While Sofi is no more, officials must investigate why he abandoned taking medicines?
NEELUM
A scholar at the Quid-e-Azam University’s Taxila Institute of Asian Civilization (TIAS) Ms Rukhsana Saeed has claimed the Neelum Valley on the other side of the LoC in Kupwara was home to an old civilization, traces of which she has been tracing for last few years. She has collected old coins belonging to various ancient periods and identified a number of rock slabs carrying inscriptions about dresses and other items. The scholar has also stated that access to silk route has made this belt a hub of activity for various faiths whose sites are still traceable in the region.
BANKURA
This West Bengal district village witnessed the unprecedented. A husband and wife were consigned to flames together. Husband Aditya Nandi was killed in the militant ambush in Srinagar. As the news reached his home in Talgandra village, his 21 years old wife Piu Nandi set herself afire. She was rushed to hospital where she died after having 85 percent burn injuries. The two were married for 18 months and Nandi had spent a month at home and had barely resumed duties a week before he fell to the militant attack.
JAMMU
A new sensation is on way to Bollywood. Anjali Abrol is 22 and has bagged her debut Bollywood project. She will act in Anil Sharma’s movie Singh Saheb the Great starring Sunny Deol. Born on December 16, 1990, Anjali was last seen in Life OK’s Mahadev and Star Plus’s Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat as Rani. In the upcoming film, she will be Simran, a bubbly College going girl who is Deol’s sister. Others in the cast line are Ameesha Patel, Amrita Rao, and Prakash Raj. Earlier, Jammu has produced TV actors Vivan Bhatena and Pariva Pranati in Aamir Khan’s Talaash.
Of the 365 days of 2013, government employees would enjoy 106 off days including the Sundays and for secretariat employees add 52 more plus curfews and shutdowns.
2342 primary schools in Kashmir lack drinking water facility.
