RECOVERED: Around 5000 Kalshinkov bullets manufactured in China were recovered from Sabjian forests in Poonch from an under-ground militant hideout. Though the use of Chinese grenades in J&K is a routine, this is for the first time that China made AK bullets have been recovered during an anti-militancy operation.
CELEBRATED: Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits celebrated Mela Khirbhawani last week. Though the Kashmiri Pandits had come from all the places in Jammu, Delhi, and elsewhere, the rush was lesser as compared to last year. However, separatist leaders were missing because most of them were either detained or under house arrest in connection with the agitation triggered by the incidents in Shopian.
SUSPENDED: The government placed under suspension the services of four engineers after a newly constructed 80-ft tall overhead water tank collapsed at Ploura (Jammu). A class contractor M/S Janak Raj Gupta of Jammu is also being blacklisted. Constructed at a cost of Rs 15.49 lakh the 100 thousand gallon capacity tank was supposed to service areas like Ploura, Ploura Top, parts of Buta Nagar and Lower Roop Nagar. The tank reported leakages initially but after minor repairs the engineers started filling it. It collapsed after it was half filled.
POLLED: Nearly 20 percent electorate of Hazratbal assembly segment cast their votes in the by-elections that has National Conference’s Dr Musfata Kamal and PDP’s Asiya Naqash as main contenders. There were no reports of violence or mobile voters but there were a few incidents of booth capturing. By poll to this segment was necessitated following the election of NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah to the Rajya Sabha. The bye poll was cancelled twice, once because of irregularities at RO level and later because of Khirbhawani mela.
DETAINED: Mohammad Abid, a visitor from PaK was detained for two days when he went to Poonch town for exchanging the currency notes. Meanwhile only three J&K residents crossed over from Chaka da Bagh in Poonch last week breaking its zero crossing record of preceding week. At least three PaK residents had their excess money confiscated in Poonch. Authorities do not permit money beyond Rs 5000 per person.
EXEMPTED: TADA Court has finally exempted JKLF leader Yasin Malik and eight others from appearance in the case of kidnapping of Dr Rubiya Sayeed and killing of five Air Force personnel. The defense pleaded that they cannot appear because they were under house arrest in Srinagar. Incidentally, Dr Sayeed was in Srinagar last week with her businessman husband. They had flown in for holidaying from Chennai.
DIED: Kashmiri Pandit meteorologist, Kuldeep Wali, who worked with India Meteorological Department in Antarctica died on Monday. He suffered Massive Acute Myocardial infection. He was deputed to Antarctica as a member of the winter team of the 28th Indian Scientific Expedition in November 2008 and was expected to return by November 2009. He is survived by his wife Rita Wali and daughter Ranshu Wali. The Wali family lives in Najafgarh, Delhi.
