It was a gathering of nearly 200 thousand people on either side of the International Border in Ramgarh sector to witness the day long Baba Chamliyal festival.
It is the grave of a saint that is located on this side of the border and every year Pakistanis send a chaddar and accept in return sharbat and shakkar for the residents. A Pakistani team of Rangers actually crosses over to this side. The festival is being celebrated on either side of the divide. This year it was a Lt Col and as Assistant Commissioner who lead the Pakistani team to the saint’s grave.
KATHUA
Kirpal and Radha, both 18 and residents of Dharamkot were classmates. They were in love but their families were not supportive. The duo went missing from their respective residences on June 20 and five days later their bodies were found lying in the forest adjoining the village. Post autopsy, they were handed over to their respective families for last rites. Apparently they had committed suicide by consuming insecticide, an empty bottle of which was found near their bodies.
MUMBAI
Actress of Haunted 3 and Lanka fame, Tia Bajpai is expected to shoot in Kashmir for a film titled Identity Card. “Our film revolves around the sensitive issue of the identity of Kashmiris in the valley. So far, films made on Kashmir have tackled the issue of terrorism but in our film, the very topic has taken a back seat. It primarily deals with what is the situation of a common man in Kashmir and of course, his thoughts,” Tia was quoted saying. “The film is about how Kashmiris are always in constant fear and have to carry their identity cards to avoid hassles if caught in a bad situation which is so unlike in any other city of our country.” Directed by Rahat Kazmi, the film has Saurabh Shukla, Raghuvir Yadav and Vipin Sharma in lead roles.
SRINAGAR
Apart from playing host to more than half a million tourists, Srinagar played host to a destination wedding last week. There were more than 500 guests of whom 200 flew in a charter from Lucknow to Srinagar. Apart from Taj Viventa and Lalit Grand, the families, boy from UP and girl from Delhi, had hired a number of three star hotels besides more than 100 vehicles for three days. Groom Mayank started from Grand and bride Palavi from Taj Viventa, the marriage was solemnized in the lawns of SKICC. A Mumbai based troupe performed to a packed audience in SKICC lawns. It was a maiden experience for the agencies involved locally because they spent almost five crore – including the charter costs, in three days. The families choose Srinagar over Mauritius because Kashmir has cool windy evenings!
DELHI
The Instrument of Accession (IoA) that was once alleged to have lost in records is available for public scrutiny at the National Archives of India. Home Ministry has transferred it to the Archive in 2010. The information was revealed in response to a lawyer’s RTI. Treaty of Amritsar signed between British and Gulab Singh on March 16, 1846 is also at the National Archives.
ISLAMABAD
Police was accused of detaining a minor when a team of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was in town. Identified as Aishan Amin, a ninth grader, parents accused police of framing him. He was arrested among a large group soon after the protests broke out on the day Umat-e-Islami observed the death anniversary of its founder Qazi Nisar Ahmad. Born on October 31, 1998, Aishan, a student of New Public Senior Secondary School, Sarnal, is less than 14 years old. The arrest was reported when a three member NCPCR delegation is on a 5-day visit to take stock of the “gaps in Kashmir’s juvenile homes”.
