SRINAGAR
In last 11 months, J&K police were in news four times for its recruits deserting the force and joining rebels. Now it seems it has reduced its mess by half. The SPO who ‘deserted’ the force from old Srinagar has ‘surrendered’. Police deserted Raqib Bashir, the ATM-guard-turned-cop was killed only last week. Now two of its cops are still at large – Naseer Pandith and Shakoor Parrey. Meanwhile police arrested it’s another embarrassment – Mohd Jameel, a cop who left the job and became a ‘pir. He was arrested for cheating people.
SRINAGAR
For some time, Fairview had become apolitical. The family has registered a non-profit – Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Peace Foundation that his cinematographer son Tasduq would head with his sisters Mehbooba and Rubia and his niece Iltija Javed as members. It is too early to comment on what the non-profit would like to do but the fact goes without saying that Mufti personally was committed to peace between India and Pakistan. He has told publicly that J&K cannot remain peaceful unless Delhi and Islamabad remain as friends.
JAMMU
New assignments with new privileges had made the political appointees lot so complacent that they lost the sense of propriety that their boss is not holding the office, they also must go home. Amitabh Matoo and Waheed Parra had done it within hours after Mufti Sayeed died. That is what the governor N N Vohra has told them now, more than a month after. Politicians appointed to coveted position in judicial set up, autonomous boards and commissions have been asked to put in their papers. This is going to be humiliating because they had not done it voluntarily. Interestingly, some of them were attending the meetings of their parties and still holding the positions in the government.
URI
Delhi and Islamabad have facilitated a meeting of cross-LoC barter traders, more than a year after the last interaction at the zero point. In the two-hour meeting, traders exchanged notes, issues, ideas and the possibilities as officials from the two sides were taking note. Reports suggest now the number of trucks per business day would be increased by 10 to 35. Since late 2008, 31567 trucks have changed sides carrying a merchandise of Rs 3700 crore.
SIACHIN
Unlike nine others, Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad was fortunate that he was trapped in an air-pocket while 25 ft under snow and was rescued after six days. He struggled in the ICU but could not survive. The group of 10 was manning a post that was washed away by an avalanche. With the death of 10 soldiers, India’s human loss in Siachen climate has reached 883.
LEH
Creating a new record, India is sending the first Indian women’s national ice-skating team for its debut in March at the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s Challenge Cup of Asia Division 1 in Chinese Taipei. Currently selection process is on in Delhi. Ice-skating has remained a male game with defence establishment funding it and most of the recruits come from ITBP and Ladakh Scouts. Some Ladakh girls have started an initiative with the help of LAHDC and it is crowd-funding and Canadian High Commission helping them hit the target. Leh is expected to make most of the team. Expectations are that Kunzes Angmo, Jigmet Angmo, and Diskit Angmo would be part of the team.
J&K Bank posted a net profit of Rs 117.68 cr for the quarter ending December 2015. Bank’s advances are at Rs 46718.26cr and deposits at Rs 64363.57cr Net NPA is at 2.60%
Omar Abdullah, NC president and former CM, has visited Beerwah 70 times in 11 months
