No TRACE!
Even more than a week has passed after an acid attack on a female student in Srinagar, the attackers seems to be much ahead of Jammu and Kashmir Police, as it has failed to nab the culprits. While the J&K police had constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter and questioned many, there has been no significant development in the case.
The incident took place last Thursday when some car-borne youth spilled acid on the face of a 22-year-old law student outside her college in Nowshera area of Srinagar outskirts. The girl has suffered more than 40 per cent burns and her right eye was reportedly damaged.
According to eyewitnesses, some three-four youngsters came in a car and attacked the girl outside her college and left in haste. The eyewitnesses told Police that the attackers were in a white Maruti Suzuki car which had “MANSA” pasted on its rear screen. While the girl was hospitalized locally after the attack she was shifted to Chennnai for specialized treatment.
Widespread reactions had poured in from different quarters of the society including some of them demanding “hanging” of the attacker(s). Students from different educational institutions including University of Kashmir protested against the incident and demanded arrest of the attackers.
The incident took a political turn when Dr Samir Kaul, a noted surgeon and National spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) offered free medical assistance to the acid victim. Refuting the offer, the family termed it as a mere “eyewash and an election stunt.”
Unwell FAROOQ
Remaining out of electoral scene since his first ever defeat in 2014, National Conference patron and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah underwent a successful kidney transplant surgery in London on Sunday. 77-year-old NC veteran Farooq found his new life after his London-based wife Mollie Abdullah donated her kidney to him.
Coincidentally, the fourth phase of polling in state assembly elections in which Farooq’s son and chief minister of the state Omar Abdullah is also in fray, also took place on Sunday. Expressing his happiness on Twitter, Omar wrote: “Dad & mum’s surgery was a success and the new kidney has started functioning. My family joins me in thanking all of U for yr support & prayers (sic).”
Farooq’s London based daughter Hinnaa also tweeted after the successful surgery of her father. “My mother donated a kidney to my Dad today. Both surgeries were successful but it’s still early days. Please keep them in your thoughts,” tweeted Hinna, who was attending him and Mollie in the hospital.
Son of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Farooq won his first election and became chief minister in 1982. His recent term as a cabinet minister for New and Renewable Energy in UPA II ended on 26 May 2014.
BJP GONE?
As the fourth phase of elections came to an end on Sunday evening, total of 5169 Migrant Votes (MV) were polled in all the eight assembly constituencies of Srinagar district.
With Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) eyeing to open its account in Kashmir region by banking on migrant Pandit votes, mostly in Habba Kadal, the details given by Election Commission officials suggest the end of BJP’s dream of winning a seat in valley.
Giving details of migrant voters, CEO J&K, Umang Narula, said that there are total of 31000 migrant voters but only 9638 persons had filled ‘M-Forms’. “Out of 9638 votes, 5169 migrant voters cast their ballot,” he said.
The BJP which swept Lok Sabha polls in mainland India in summers and won in two states thereafter has put all its efforts to open its account in Muslim dominated Kashmir with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Miniter of State Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh holding rallies in Srinagar and other areas one after the other, besides running a multi-million rupee PR campaign.
The BJP was eyeing the boycott factor majorly in Habba Kadal segment which witnessed a polling percentage of 11.62 in 2008 and 21.01 per cent on December 14, 2014, with an increase of around ten per cent. However, only 2817 migrant voters cast their ballot in the segment clearly showing that the BJP’s march to Kashmir comes to an end with this phase of elections.
Constituency Migrant Votes Polled
Hazratbal 360
Zadibal 77
Eidgah 68
Khanyar 290
Habba Kadal 2817
Amira Kadal 837
Sonwar 236
Batamaloo 484
