SRINAGAR
A serious controversy erupted after the authorities permitted the shooting of Huma Qureshi’s web series Maharani Season 3 in Jammu and Kashmir’s erstwhile legislative assembly, which has literally in disuse since 2018 summer. “The true face of “the mother of democracy”, where once elected representatives of the people from all parties, religions, backgrounds & parts of J&K legislated on matters of great importance now actors & extras use it as a set for TV dramas,” an angry Omar Abdullah wrote. “What a shame that the BJP-driven government in J&K has reduced the symbol of democracy, where they once sat & governed, to this sorry state of affairs.” The initial response came from filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who defended the filming. Much later, an unmade government spokesman asserted that no illegality occurred as permission was granted following the prescribed procedure. The assembly complex has been dormant since its dissolution in December 2018. Shooting a flick in a lawmaking body in India has not ever happened. Before creating a daring precedent in once the most empowered assembly in India, climax scenes of the Bollywood film Shool were shot in the abandoned state assembly in Bhopal. Also, a few sequences of film One, featuring actor Mammootty as a Kerala Chief Minister, were recorded at the Kerala Assembly’s old complex. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has applied for permission to shoot her upcoming film Emergency inside the Parliament premises but has been denied permission.
To deal with the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPSA) cases, four special courts are being established in Jammu and Kashmir.
GUJARAT
Home Minister Amit Shah urged Gujarat industrialists to extend their businesses to Kashmir. “I would like to tell Gujarati industrialists, in case they want to expand towards the north, then please invest in Kashmir,” Shah said. “By doing so, please support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative in mainstreaming Kashmir.” Lt Governor Manoj Sinha echoed the call, signing multiple MoUs for investment in Jammu and Kashmir and emphasising the state’s transformed conditions. The summit, themed Gateway to the Future, attracted significant international participation. The Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir Economic Growth and Development Dialogue (LEAD) Director, Sunil Shah, facilitated meetings between Gujarat industrialists – Astral Company, Zydus Hospital, Shalabh Hospital, Hocco Ice Cream, Shivalik Builders, CREDAI, GESIA, and Meghmani Group, and Sinha administration officials, paving the way for a delegation visit. Notable entrepreneurs, including Ajay Patel, engaged in discussions, leading to MoUs with Welspun and Kiri Industry. At the summit’s conclusion, LG Sinha, showcased the region’s investment potential, inviting industry players to invest in Jammu and Kashmir, with Rs 3,000 crore commitments received. Sinha highlighted the state’s competitive advantages, including low crime rates and unique incentives, fostering a positive investment climate.
Kashmir Regional Transport Office (RTO) has issued more than 2200 road permits this year including 1200 in Srinagar.
JAMMU
The Enforcement Directorate continues to seize properties in cases it is investigating. At the latest, the fixed deposits and land valuing Rs 36 crores belonging to two private companies were attached in Jammu by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), as a part of the money laundering probe linked to an alleged insurance scam in Jammu and Kashmir. The two companies Reliance General Insurance Private Limited and Trinity Reinsurance Brokers Private Limited, are under probe following a CBI FIR on the recommendation of Satyapal Malik, the former governor of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state. He claimed to have been offered bribes for clearing files, including awarding contracts for a group medical insurance scheme for Government employees. In another case, ED invoked the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and provisionally attached the properties worth five crore rupees belonging to Muhammad Akbar Bhat, Fatima Shah, Altaf Ahmad Bhat, Qazi Yasir, Syed Khalid Geelani alias Khalid Andrabi, Muhammad Abdullah Shah, and Muhammad Iqbal Mir. They have already been charge-sheeted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police for selling admissions in Pakistani medical colleges. They had charged Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh per head and the money was taken into their bank account for al-Jabar Trust, the ED has found out.
In 2023, Jammu and Kashmir recorded the arrival of 2.12 crore tourists, LG Manoj Sinha said.
BARAMULLA
To promote sports infrastructure in North Kashmir, the authorities plan to build three new stadiums, including one International Association Football Federation (FIFA) approved football ground, a cricket stadium and a track and field facility. Two stadiums will be established in Baramullah and one in Sopore. A proposal to establish a Khel Gaon in Baramulla is also underway. Officials said that around Rs 10 crore would be spent on the astroturf for football at the Sheikh-ul-Alam Stadium Azadganj; the eight-lane synthetic athletic track surface at Tulibal in Sopore and the blow moulded chairs for General Bipin Rawat Stadium.
A Baramulla family was left shell-shocked as the KPDCL served them an electric bill of Rs 46,000 for two months.
RAJOURI
Shockwaves were sent across Jammu and Kashmir, when the news of a father raping his daughter, broke. The unfortunate incident took place in Panglar village Rajouri, where a 17 years old girl was allegedly raped by her father Mohammad Bashir Chowdhary. Following a complaint lodged at the Police Post Teryath, the father was arrested. This incident has triggered widespread condemnation and demands of punishment. The accused is currently facing legal charges under FIR No 08/2024, charged with sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with sections 4/6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The Government transferred over 2183 kanals of land to the Industries and Commerce Department in Kathua for creating new industrial estates.
JAMMU
The LG administration is locating the issues of corruption and violation of set systems and investigating cases. Two major probes were announced last week. A high-level probe was ordered into the violation of the Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) in the prison’s department. It followed the revelation that irregularities were committed during the installation of a power fencing system across ten prisons in Jammu and Kashmir. The violation was committed by jail staffers who entered into AMC, making huge payments to the firm reportedly instead of cuts, a few years ago. Now a 3-member team is probing the case. In another case, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) has come under the radar, after the Central Government ordered an inquiry against it, under the Companies Act. The inquiry order was signed by Syed Haamid Bukhari, the Inquiry Officer. The company has been asked to furnish documents before the Inquiry Officer within 15 days.
SRINAGAR
After LG Manoj Sinha announced the launch of an all-out operation to wipe out militancy, the Srinagar-based commander of 15 corps, Lt General Rajiv Ghai stated that there is still some distance to cover on the anti-militancy front in Kashmir. “Kashmir is moving ahead and there are bright days and a very bright future ahead for the youth of the Valley,” he said while talking to reporters in Baramulla. In Lucknow, Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande said that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is under control. H however, he said there has been a rise in terrorist activities in the Southern region of Pir Panchal and Rajouri-Poonch over the last few months.
SRINAGAR
As many as 47 employees from the Jammu & Kashmir State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development (SCARD) Bank approached the court against the order issued on December 22, 2023, by the Managing Director stating that only 40 per cent of salary should be paid to the employees of the Kashmir division till the condition of the bank revives. The High Court stayed the order. “There shall be no deduction concerning the salary of the petitioners or for that matter of other employees of the respondent No 4 of Kashmir division,” the court ruled. “This order is, however, subject to objections from the other side.”
SRINAGAR
Bollywood’s newest production Fighter actors Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan were seen struggling to shoot for their song, Heer Aasmani in the chilly weather of Kashmir. The masala flick’s production crew recently shared the behind-the-scenes video of the song, showing the two actors shooting for the song. The movie is directed by Siddharth Anand and is scheduled to release on January 25.
KUWAIT
The Kashmiri handicraft products like Sozni embroidered Pashmina Shawls, Kani weave, stoles, and scarves, are all set to be shown in an overseas exhibition. The cultural collaboration between Sadu House in Kuwait and the Kashmir Loom Company of India recently came together to host this five-day exhibition of Kashmiri Textiles in Kuwait City. The exhibition is expected to strengthen the trade relations between the two countries of India and Kuwait.
KISHTWAR
The Chenab Valley Power Projects Ltd (CVPP) crossed a milestone by starting the diversion of the Chanab River, which will pave the way for working on the dam of the 540-MW Kwar Project. CVPP is a joint venture company between NHPC and the JKSPDC, a 100 per cent fully owned company of the Jammu and Kashmir Power Department. The JKSPDC has only 49 per cent shares in the CVPP after the NHPC purchased the two per cent shares of the company from the Power Trading Corporation. It is implementing three major Chenab basin projects including Kwar. The Rs 4500 crore Kwar project is being implemented in Padyarna village, almost 28 km from Kishtwar. It envisages the construction of a 109 m high dam, an underground powerhouse with 4 units of 135 MW each. Diversion of the Chenab discharge marks the completion of a 685-meter-long diversion tunnel that can manage 1041 cumecs of water. With the river diverted, the work will start on the main dam structure of the project.
ANANTNAG
In a heart-warming development, specially-abled cricketer, Amir Hussain, 34, who is also the captain of Jammu and Kashmir’s para cricket team, was praised by the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. The former batsman was impressed by watching his video displaying his playing skills. Amir is a resident of Waghama village in Bijbihara and was left disabled after an accident. The cricketer also received praise from industrialist Gautam Adani, who also assured of providing all the support to the cricketer. After a long time, Amir said he was happy.
