AWARDED: DGP ordered commendation medals and certificate to 209 officers and personnel of state police for their services in public service during the year 2012.
ACQUITTED: Dr Mohammed Qasim Faktoo, a Muslim league leader has been acquitted by a local court in a case registered against him in 2002 under 13 Unlawful Activities Act in FIR 11/2002 at Police Station Soura. Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar Rajeev Gupta has said that he has found nothing incriminating on record against Faktoo. Pertinently, Faktoo is serving a life sentence for murdering a Kashmiri Pandit human defender.
BANNED: State High Court has issued a notice to the state government for responding to a PIL seeking ban on manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of gutka, panmasala and other forms of chewing tobacco containing nicotine ingredients in the state. The PIL is filed by Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health and Development Association seeking ban on tobacco products in the interest of public health.
BANNED: Union home ministry has banned journalistic activities by foreigners visiting India on tourist visa. The action came after the government found that Roger Bilham, a geophysicist at the University of Colorado, has been visiting India since 1967 multiple times on tourist visa and was engaged in journalistic activities.
CRASHED: Seven persons, including a pilot and 6 pilgrims, were injured when a chopper, Pawan Hans, made a crash landing near Katra, base camp of Vaishno Devi cave shrine. Director General Civil Aviation has initiated a probe in the incident. For now it is believed to be a technical snag.
DIRECTED: The Committee on Estimates (EC) of JK legislative assembly directed the officers of estates department to ensure eviction of illegal occupants of the government quarters in a time bound manner. The EC met under chairmanship of MLA Ch. Mohammed Ramzan has also asked the estates department to immediately identify all the unauthorized occupants.
DAMAGED: Three residential houses were damaged in three separate fire incidents at Khanyar, Rainawari and Dardpora, Kupwara. In Khanyar and Darpora, houses were completely damaged while as the house in Rainawara was partially damaged.
INNOVATIONS: In order to make people aware about the traffic rules, the traffic department has organized a ‘Traffic safety Week’. The department is organizing different rallies and street plays to sensitize people about traffic rules and regulation.
ORGANIZED: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) organized an event ‘Kashmir Expo’ in New Delhi. It is organized to boost the heritage cottage industry of Kashmir, the KCCI members say. The event would be used as a platform to craftsmen, artisan and entrepreneurs to exhibit their handicraft products.
PROTECTED: The ancient Satbaran caves, the seven doors of carved stone, in Kupwara district has been declared a state protected monument by the government. The officials considering declaration of Kalaroos cave as a state protected monument. Kalaroos cave, tunnel-like long caves and giant rock-sculptures, is located between Lashtyal and Madhmadu villages in Kupwara district.
REVEALED: State home ministry in one of its reports revealed that militants have triggered over 12,000 explosions and killed 1,770 people while injuring 15,725 persons during 23 years of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
RECOVERED: The body of Zahoor Ahmed Sheikh alias Auf Sheikh of Warpora, Sopore in suspicious circumstances in the compound of government health centre, Warpora. Police have started investigation under section 174 CrPC in this regard.
RAPED: A 13 year old girl has been allegedly abducted and raped by Shabir Ahmed Wani, 32. Both belong to Zaoora Shopian. As per the reports the victim was made unconscious and was taken to Wani’s home where she was raped.
STARTED: GB Pant hospital, Children’s hospital, has now started out patient consultation in paediatric surgery. The consultation has started after Dr Rashid’s recent appointment in the hospital. Dr Rashid was earlier posted in SKIMS for two years. “This will be first step towards establishing a state of the art paediatric surgical facility in the largest hospital for children in the state,” said the hospital official.
