DOGRIPORA
Feroz Dar’s killing was widely condoled but it triggered a controversy with police announcing contributing a day’ salary to 16 bereaved families of 2017. In reaction, police officers used whatsApp to denounce the idea and demanded one crore rupees to each family. They said that they are not fighting their own battle so why should they fight, die and contribute for the fallen ones? Compensation has emerged as a debate within the police with the comparisons being made. J&K pays Rs 10 lakh compensation to the fallen cop’s family as compared to Rs 1 crore by Delhi government, Rs 65 lakh in Bihar, 56 lakhs in Uttar Pradesh, 54 lakhs in Chhattisgarh and 44 lakhs in Andhra Pradesh. Even if government accedes to the demand, it is bound to create more controversies with the question: how much a human life costs in Kashmir. Last week, the government put a price tag of Rs 2.5 lakh on every civilian head that rolls during field firing and artillery practice. For 100 percent disability, a civilian will get Rs 2 lakh. In J&K, an innocent killing gets a compensation of Rs 1 lakh and a class-IV job or Rs 5 lakh.
DELHI
JK’s women cricketers had an interaction with Australian cricketing legend Adam Gilchrist as they played an exhibition match against a team from the Jesus and Mary Convent at the Australian High Commission. In Delhi University where they played the match, reports suggest they faced questions that disheartened them. They were asked for whom they cheered in the just concluded India-Pakistan match. The other question was: What will you say to people who are living in India but cheering for Pakistan.
ASHTENGOO
Individuals who die in diverse situations are not so uncommon in Kashmir. But what happened in this village last week was strangely coincidental. Naseer-ud-din Sheikh, 26, was killed by SSB in Rangreth Srinagar while Shahzad Ahmad Sofi, 28, a cop, fell victim to militant bullets in Hyderpora, same evening. They belonged to same Bandipore village. When their body bags landed in the village, the residents made no distinction between the two. They treated both of them martyrs, gave them a decent send off and laid them to rest in the same cemetery.
LONDON
Of all the separatists, Mirwaiz has somehow tried to stay connected with sports. The young man was last time seen encouraging a cricket tournament. Last time after his series of tweets triggered a major controversy, the people acknowledged his love for sport. After Pakistan’s win pushed Kashmir into instant celebrations, a huge group of youth left with a load of crackers to his residence, burst them, and got him out despite that he was under house arrest. It was 11 PM and it was only after he came out, scaled the high wall of his house, waved to the jubilating crowd that he was permitted to go back. But he pleaded with the boys that they must stay safe and reach home.
SRINAGAR
As the capital infusion of Rs 532 crore, the government’s shareholding in &K Bank’s has gone up to 59.23 percent, up by 5.67 percent. Within days after engaging M/S Delloitte as the consultants, J&K Bank on its last AGM appointed new independent directors including former CMD of Bank of India Mrs Vijayalakshmi R Iyer, member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Dr Sanjiv Agarwal, economist Dr Pronab Sen, chartered accountant Sunil Chandiramani, a company secretary D K Pandoh and businessmen Rahul Bansal. Bank CMD Parvez Ahmad reassured the shareholders that the bank is working over time to come out of the tensions and has actually recovered Rs 800 crore in recent days. This, he said, was despite the focus being on cleanup and consolidation. The bank is also trying to get its bit of emerging businesses. It has already got the sole authority to collect GST.
RIYADH
Kashmiri Stags, a cricket team of Kashmiri worker and traders in Saudi Kingdom has lifted a trophy emerging the winners of Jotun Paints Cup. The 9-week tournament was managed by Jeddah Cricket Association (JCA). They won against Riyadh Foods. Off late, the Kashmiris working off shore have started organized sports to get into count. Kashmiris living in UAE have organized impressive sports events in football and cricket. Now it is Saudi Arabia, the second major country in Middle East that is getting into organized sports.
