MUHARRAM
Jammu and Kashmir government permitted Muharram 8 mourning procession in Srinagar after three decades. The procession starts at Guru Bazar and concludes at Dalgate after passing through Lal Chowk. The permission followed a controversy when Imran Ansari walked out of an LG led meeting after Chief Secretary took an exception to his reference to Amarnath Yatra when the Ashura was under discussion. The 2-hour, hugely secured procession was incident free and Divisional Commissioner, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri gave credit to a ‘peaceful environment’. Everybody thanked the government for the permission. Omar Abdullah said since the situation has improved hugely, it is high time that the Friday prayers are permitted in Jamia Masjid and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq is set free from house arrest.
DAL LAKE
Efforts are underway to convert lake waste (read weeds) into organic manure. The Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) has initiated the process of acquiring necessary machinery and equipment for the high-end conversion after it entered in collaboration with Clean Effentech International Pvt Ltd (CEF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED). The CEF’s waste processing plant with 20,000 tons capacity will be established in Srinagar. This is the first major LCMA initiative after it gave up its LAWDA identity.
In the first three weeks of July, Kashmir received 27 per cent excess rainfall in comparison to last year as 15 cloudbursts were reported.
SRINAGAR
Jammu and Kashmir Bank pocketed Rs 326.45 cr profit for the first three months of fiscal 2023-24, which is nearly double of Rs 165.97 Cr recorded it recorded in April-June of last fiscal. Bank announced Net interest income (NII) of Rs 1283.30 cr. Bank’s core operating profit reached Rs 528.05 Cr. “For the last six quarters we continue to strengthen and stabilise key operational parameters,” the Bank spokesman quoted his CEO and MD, Baldev Prakash saying. “The idea is to keep strengthening the core to ensure continuous and sustainable growth going forward.” He put the bank’s gross non-performing assets (GNPA) at 5.77 per cent and the net NPA at 1.39 per cent. Bank’s NPA Coverage Ratio stands at 87.55 per cent. Bank’s deposits stood at Rs 121297 crore against a loan book of Rs 84475.63 crore.
The government says they have received 5973 proposals worth Rs 80122 crore from industrial houses based in India and abroad. So far, 1767 stand approved with an investment of Rs 24,729 crore
BOLLYWOOD
Bollywood diva, Sara Ali Khan is an unconventional actor, who seemingly is in love with Kashmir. Her frequent jaunts to Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and other places and the resultant photography has given Kashmir more publicity as a tourist destination than most of the Bollywood put together. Last week, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke actor went on Amarnath Yatra and found time to click a lot of photographs with Kashmir’s nomadic Bakerwals. One picture showed the daughter of actors Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh playing with children, while another showed a beautiful panorama of Kashmir. She was also saying praying around shrines and temples. Another clip showcased Sara Ali Khan sitting inside a cosy tent, caressing a healthy goat.
In Budgam, police have arrested 83 persons in 57 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) cases in the last seven months.
KULGAM
Jammu and Kashmir Police said it busted a militant recruitment module by arresting three suspects including a PhD scholar in Kulgam. Offering details that they were chasing a person code-named Dr Sabeel and ended up locating him in a vehicle JK18B-4852. The person came out to be Dr Rubani Bashir of Ashmuji Kulgam. He was arrested. During questioning, police said he used to work for Hizb-ul-Mujahideen or Jaish-e-Mohammad behind the curtain. On the disclosure, according to police, they arrested over-ground workers Fazil Ahmed Parrey of Ashmuji Bhan and Tariq Ahmed Naikoo of Check Wattoo Aharabal.
By November, Smart City Limited is introducing 100 all-weather electric buses having cutting-edge spacious interiors, easy onboarding and de-boarding, effective heating and cooling systems and CCTV cameras.
DRASS
Celebrating the 24th anniversary of the Vijay Diwas, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Indian forces did not cross the LoC during the Kargil war because India is peace-loving. “We could have crossed the LoC, we can cross the LoC and will cross the LoC in future if need be,” Singh said. “I would like to reiterate that we could have crossed the LoC, we can cross the LoC, and will cross the LoC in future if the need arises. I assure the countrymen about this.” He insisted: “Earlier, the nation lacked political will, which has now been provided to the Armed Forces by our government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We stand firm with our forces. The people and Parliament have full faith in our soldiers.” He presided over the impressive function that was also attended by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan, three Service chiefs Gen Manoj Pande, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and Admiral R Hari Kumar, Lt Governor of Ladakh Brig (Retd) BD Mishra, Gen Ved Prakash Malik, who was Army chief during Kargil war, Northern Command chief Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi. Rajnath laid a wreath at the memorial to pay tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1999 Kargil War. Singh said the Kargil War was imposed on India.
Panchayat polls are due to be held in October-November as the last Panchayats were constituted on January 10, 2019.
SRINAGAR
Kashmir hosted yet another International Sufism Conference in SKICC that Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan presided. Highlighting the peaceful nature of Kashmir, Khan said unfortunate events unfolded as a result of mischievous activities from across the border. He emphasised the dhikr. Speaking to the Conference, he invoked the invaluable contributions of Lal Ded, Nund Rishi, Sufis and Saints from Jammu and Kashmir in strengthening the spirit of unity and oneness. Speaking on Sufism, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said Kashmir’s troublemakers stand decimated and their supporters neutralised as a result of which peace and harmony have been established. “Harmonious relationships among all sects, individuals and a relationship with the whole existence without distinction is real Sufism,” he said, asking people to embrace the Rishi-Sufi traditions and eliminate all traces of communal divide to strengthen unity. “Now, people go shopping at Polo View market at 10 pm or the kids go for an ice cream along the Bund of (river) Jhelum while some played guitar or sing a song. I think the wait of people of Srinagar and rest of Kashmir (for peace) has ended,” he said.
At Rs 5 lakh per kilogram, Kashmir’s saffron beats silver varq in the price race. The latter sells for Rs 80000 per kg.
ANANTNAG
Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested a young man for allegedly stabbing his own mother. Identified as Javid Ahmad Dar, a resident of Batengoo, he left Hajra Begum, his mother, critically injured. Evacuated to a local hospital, she was later referred to GMC Anantnag for advanced medical care. Shocking, the incident has dismayed the local community. Though the police are investigating the case, it is still not known why the incident happened.
BARAMULLA
Gender barriers are getting crossed very fast. Police apprehended two pickpockets, including a woman, at the GMC Baramulla. Identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Gojree, from Drangbal, and Manesha, a resident of New Plot Jammu, operating from Drangbal Baramulla, they were taking advantage of the large number of patients and their attendants visiting GMC Baramulla and stealing money from them. Some stolen cash was also recovered.
LOLAB
The intense rains and cloudbursts wreaked at many places across Jammu and Kashmir. It was Hyhama in Kupwara that became news as the massive rains triggered huge discharge in the fast-flowing rivulet and it seriously damaged a key bridge that is the sole link for Lolab to the rest of Kashmir. The vast belt including Zirhama, Kalaroos, and Hyhama witnessed a flood-like situation. In certain areas, the water was flowing through the village roads. Even in Srinagar, most of the roads remained inundated at least for one night, especially in areas where the smart city works are at various stages of implementation. Interestingly, some shops in Kashmir’s modern ‘wireless’ Polo View market had a lot of water seeping into their basements.
SKIMS
Kashmir’s premier tertiary care hospital, the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) is going generic. Recently its management endorsed a circular by the Director General of Health Services, Government of India that insisted the doctors recommend no branded medicines and banned entry of medical representatives into the hospital. While the doctors may be able to save a lot of time by not meeting MRs within the premises, many believe the insistence on the use of generic medicines may impact patient health.
SRINAGAR
Srinagar witnessed the emergence of a sports prodigy, Aadil Manzoor Peer, whose exceptional achievements have placed him in the spotlight. Hailing from the Halmatpora village Kupwara, Aadil’s prowess in martial arts and rugby was already well-known. However, it was his unexpected foray into Ice Stock that catapulted him to stardom, eventually earning him the captaincy of India’s national team. Aadil’s tryst with Ice Stock was a stroke of luck when the sport was introduced in Kashmir in 2012. In 2018, Aadil made his international debut at the prestigious International Ice Stock World Championship in Austria. Despite being a newcomer on the global stage, he demonstrated unparalleled skills and determination, securing an impressive tenth position. His dedication and hard work bore fruit in 2019 when he achieved a commendable seventh rank at the fiercely competitive World Ice Stock Championship held in China. However, the pinnacle of Aadil’s achievements was being appointed as the captain of India’s Ice Stock team. Looking ahead, Aadil has his sights firmly set on the 2026 Winter Olympics.
