MOHALI
This is the closet that Kashmiris’ could go. The cricket lovers from Kashmir, normally supporting Pakistani team, travelled in hoards to Punjab for watching the game. Nearly 10,000 of them were reported in Kolkatta. In Mohali, Shahid Afridi announced that Kashmiris have come to support his team against New Zealand. The boys were there in the match against Australia. But the new addition to Kashmir’s support culture is Pakistan’s women team. That is perhaps why Sana Mir, its captain has thanked Kashmiris for their support.
BHADERWAH
Last week, a photograph showing a young girl hanging on a tree went viral on social websites. Though it has emerged into a public issue in Rounta (Bhaderwah), nobody is sure if the girl committed suicide or was murdered. An eighth grader, she was associated with an NGO UMEED. After her mother had rebuked her for being seen with Nasir, she left home, called him for the last time and then was never seen. Police have detained her UMEED colleague, Rukhsana, Nasir, and Babu Gujjar. Though her family has accused Nasir, the police are unable to establish the same.
NAWAKADAL
It is just normal but the abnormal media coverage of Kashmir is making it news. In old city, when 65-year old Doora, wife of Omkar Pajnu died, Muslims of the locality assembled and took her to the cremation ground. It was in response to the announcement that was made from the local mosque.
LOLAB
As efforts were going on to re-stitch the BJP-PDP alliance, Mufti’s only son Tasaduq was shooting. A cinematographer of Omkara fame, Tasaduq was shooting his film Bisma, in Lolab. The film tells the story of an orphan girl from Srinagar who was adopted by Hero motorcycles. It took his team crucial two-day shoot to complete the shoot. The film is directed by Veneet Bagga.
GANDERBAL
Saloora resident Gulzar Ahmad Tantray crossed the LoC in 1990 when he was an eleventh grader. Instead of returning with the gun and wage war, he settled and married. The first wife could not give him a child so he married again. A son was born to him from his second wife. They named him Iftikhar. Some time later, Iftikhar’s mother died. Many years later, Gulzar felt homesick and decided to avail the rehabilitation policy for those who return. His father-in-law suggested him to take Iftikhar with him because his stay with step-mother might not be all right. Back home, he surrendered. He was arrested. But Iftikhar had never lived with father so he also stayed with his father in the lock-up. Pakistani human right activist Ansar Burni broke the story seeking Pakistani 4-year old boy’s release. Publicity led police to somehow get him out of the police station to his uncle.
HAVANA
Kashmir was literally on display when US President Obama had his dinner at Havana, first by an American President since1928. Reason: At the Palace of the Revolution where the state dinner was served, Michelle Obama wore a floral gown made of Kashmiri fabric and embroidery by Naeem Khan, an Indian-American whose origins are in Mumbai. The gown was embroidered with an Indian floral motif. New York Times wrote the gown was lovely, sprightly choice, and less glamorous. It had traditional Kashmiri Ari work.
Rs 858.96 cr has been disbursed to 1,36,173 flood affected persons, by the Deputy Commissioners concerned in a week up to March 21
