Last month, a leopard was found outside the residence of Chief Minister. This month a leopard cub was caught in the courtyard of his relatives, the owners of Nedu’s Hotel on the M A Road.
The wildlife is finally on the prowl in the heart of the city and conflict between the man and the best is up. By the end of December, 27 persons were killed in wildlife attacks in 2011 and 407 survived injured. For the last few years now the government has extended the standard ex-gratia rate of one lakh rupee a head to the victims of wildlife as well. Injures also get some help for medication.
NAIDKHIE
For all these years, this belt was overcrowded with soldiers and garrisons, to the extent that they had erected a gate on the road that would remain locked between dusk and don. As the situation started easing a bit, the police’s Indian Reserve Police (IRP) – 14 Bn, started constructing its camp at a place that once was occupied by RR and Ikhwanis. Restive locals say they failed to understand the wisdom of having an IRP camp where there are three army camps already. However, their major concern is that the IRP is raising permanent constructions on a piece of land that the villagers had donated to the government for construction of a major hospital. They went to court and got a stay against the construction. Police says they are abiding by the order but locals say there is breach.
SHOPIAN
In an incident that would surprise the voters, police last week arrested a Panch and his accomplice for their alleged involvement in scooter lifting in south Kashmir Shopian district. Identified as Abdul Rashid Sheikh, an elected panch from Durpora (Zainpora), he was arrested for motorbike thefts in the area. Police recovered three scooters from the possession of Sheikh and his friend. They were rounded up and were interrogated in the lock up for more clues to many other thefts. Earlier as well, police arrested many elected panchs in various offences including rape.
SRINAGAR
Javed Ahmad Mir is one of the most known faces of the ‘rebellion’. Once, he was the JKLF but when the ‘real masters’ came to the stake the claim for the party, he was out. In fact, he was in and out many times. Initially, he joined hands with the faction that had Amanullah Khan as their remote leader. It did not help so he created a fall back system when some of his erstwhile colleagues joined hands to create a parallel JKLF. Last week, reports suggested he is out of that as well as is now part of JKLF (Real). But why is he out. Many think it was punishment for one of the statements he issued that was “real”.
HABAKADAL
Authorities are planning converting the erstwhile building of Lal Ded Memorial School at Ganpatyar into the museum-cum-heritage centre. Built with classical Western European architecture, the building constructed during Hari Singh’s reign, served as the office of the Srinagar Municipality before it was converted into a school by poet Deena Nath Nadim in 1947. The building was partially demolished in 2008 to pave way for construction of a shopping complex but the Tourism Department acquired it. Currently the restoration process is on. It will house a photo and object gallery depicting different historical facets of Srinagar and a craft bazaar.
JAMMU
Non state subjects managing permanent resident certificate (PRC) in Jammu is an old story. The latest is that now even soldiers are doing it. Retired Lt Col Rajeshwar Singh stands booked by the state police crimes branch for managing a PRC and becoming a proud resident of Sainik Colony in Jammu. The investigations were the outcome of a complaint that a resident S S Jamwal lodged with the police. The fake PRC stands issued on February 20, 1960 by Tehildar Nawshehra. Singh is basically from Ladodi village in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
