BATAMALOO
For the last many years now, dogs ensure they stay in the news. As their population goes up, their actions speak. Kashmir is India’s dog capital given the number of dog bites reported per million. However, what is tragic is that children continue to be the most vulnerable group. The latest incident is yet another tragedy. Ahmad Bin Javaid, 10, lost his life after a long gruelling battle in the ICU. On May 28, while playing with his friends, Ahmad was chased by a pack of dogs. He fled and stumbled into a drain, suffering severe injuries. Ahmad was immediately transferred to the children’s hospital where he remained on a ventilator for nearly two weeks. Ahmad, however, succumbed to his injuries on June 8, 2023.
More than 28,000 government employees in Jammu and Kashmir, including 8,000 police and paramilitary force personnel, are under the scanner of the Income-tax department for claiming bogus refunds worth crores of rupees while filing their ITRs.
BANDIPORA
Moulana Rahmatullah Mir Qasmi, a respected Muslim scholar, spent some time at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Srinagar office last week. As the head of Darululoom Rahimya, one of the largest Kashmir seminaries situated in Bandipora, Rahmatullah was questioned about a funding case that is being investigated in Pir Panchal Valley. Officials suggested the investigations are about illegal funding for unlawful activities and the radicalisation of youth. The summoning, however, raised concerns within the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU), an amalgamation of religious scholars. Media reports made a special reference to his recent comments attacking a BJP leader’s interventions in matters of faith.
Bhadewrwah produced 1500 litres of Lavender Oil in 2022, making a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore.
RAINAWARI
For a change, Rainawari in Srinagar looked like a patch of erstwhile Karnataka after the management of the Vishwa Bharti Higher Secondary School barred almost 18 female students from entering the premises unless they stop donning Abhaya, a long all-over cloak that young Muslim females wear as part of their press. The young girls led by the school toppers protested. As the tensions mounted and almost everybody reacted, the school principal backtracked and apologised. This was despite the fact that Awkaf’s chairperson supported her move. The now-withdrawn dictate was being seen as an intervention in the religious affairs of the students.
JKP is set to project demand for additional 300 paramilitary companies for the 62-day Amarnath yatra starting July 1 as 200 companies will be mobilised internally.
RIYADH
Kashmir is busy flying the Hajj pilgrims to Mecca through a direct flight system. This year, more than 13,500 Muslims are going on a dream journey. These include 452 from Ladakh, 12079 from Jammu and Kashmir (through Hajj Committee) and an estimated 1000 through local and non-local tour operators. This essentially means the Hajj is emerging now a more than Rs 700 crore sector.
6147482 domicile certificates have been issued in Jammu and Kashmir so far.
SRINAGAR
Sometimes even teachers can be caught for crimes. Last week, the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested Shabir Ahmad Mir, the principal at Government Higher Secondary School in Gund Hassi Bhat, Srinagar, on charges of molestation of a girl student. Quickly, he was placed under suspension. The arrest followed after the recording of a phone call went viral. Police said Mir had a similar case registered against him in another police station and the investigations are going on.
SKIMS receives 10 patients with a drug-induced liver injury every month.
POONCH
In the first of its kind, Government Model Higher Secondary School, Saujiyan (Mandi) introduced biometric attendance for students thus pushing the farm master to history. School staff also marks its attendance through the same set-up. Anwar Khan, the school head said that 275 students of 9th to 12th standard are covered under this attendance system. The school management is sending the pdf file of the attendance to the parents on a monthly basis.
Ever since its inception, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has seized 124 properties allegedly used for funding militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
JAMMU
Balaji Mandir was formally inaugurated at Majeen Sidhra on the outskirts of Jammu. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam invested Rs 30 crore for the temple which is spread over 62 acres of land. It is expected to become one of the largest temples in the Jammu region and is expected to boost religious and pilgrimage tourism. It is the sixth Balaji Temple constructed outside of Andhra Pradesh, with the TTD having previously built temples in Hyderabad, Chennai, Kanyakumari, Delhi and Bhubaneswar. Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy participated in the formal inauguration of the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple along with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and Dr Jitendra Singh. “The temple at Jammu will carry the message in the world that Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India is one,” Reddy said. “This will be a centre of spirituality and Sanatan traditions. The ancient civilization is being revived under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” TDD also funded the revival and reconstruction of Mata Sharda Devi temple at Teetwal which was visited by Sri Sri Vidushekara Bharathi Shankaracharya of Sringeri last week.
The temple was inaugurated within days after the formal foundation laying of an Amarnath Yatri Niwas that was funded by ONGC with a Rs 51 crore CSR grant.
In 2022, Jammu and Kashmir produced 2.8 lakh tonnes of walnuts.
BENGALURU
Jammu and Kashmir’s 5-time Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah flew to Bengaluru where he met former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and urged regional parties to come together in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This he said while denouncing the divisive films like The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story. “My message to everyone is India is unity in diversity. Let us protect the diversity,” Dr Abdullah was quoted as having said. “It will protect the unity of the country.” Abdullah’s statement has triggered interesting debates about the fate of PAGD that he heads back home!
Gulmarg Gandola reported a glitch forcing the managers to rescue 250 tourists from the cable cars dangling overhead
SRINAGAR
In pre-tap-water Srinagar, it was the Jhelum that would be the main source of cleaning and washing. The river had a lot of ghats on its two banks where the people would come for ablutions, washing clothes, bathing and, earlier, for quenching their thirst. Since women would dish-wash on these ghats, these had become the yarbal as well. Now the Smart City planners are keen to go back in past and revive these ghats. Work is going on and as many as 19 ghats are nearing completion. This is being done to revive the heritage of the river. Reports said a Vitista festival is in the pipeline. Meanwhile, Junior Culture Minister Meenakshi Lekhi visited the University of Kashmir and called for writing history with “fresh perspectives and build a comprehensive and complete narrative”. She told scholars at a 3-day conference: “When people from different disciplines like archaeology, economics, genetics, culture, ancient DNA etc. work together, we are able to build a complete narrative because the gaps get filled by people from other disciplines through evidence, which needs to be collaboratively brought together.”
Forest Department seized 400 kgs Bhoot Keshi in Bhalessa. A minor forest produce, it is used to treat high blood pressure and sleeping disorders.
KASHMIR
The freak weather impacted two major early spring crops of Kashmir – strawberry and cherry. Both crops have a short shelf life and require quick transfer to markets post-harvest. Growers said the crops, despite being bumper, suffered losses. While rains impacted the strawberry, the hailstorm ran havoc with cherry, damaging almost half of it in north Kashmir and upper Srinagar. Kashmir produces eight cherry varieties – Makhmali, Siya, Mishri, Jaddi, Italy, Dabal, Vishkan, and Stela. Four of them – Mishri, Jaddi, Makhmali, and Dabal are hugely in demand. Last year, Mishri was exported to Dubai but it was not immediately known if it was exported this season too. Officially, Kashmir produces around 12,000 metric tonnes of cherry of which around one-fourth is exported to markets in plains.
Jammu and Kashmir is reporting increased load shedding as the power distribution company has reportedly reduced its purchases by 25 per cent.
KATHUA
Authorities have put a senior municipal officer under suspension for the demolition of a huge shopping complex. An inquiry has been ordered to investigate if it required demolition. Interestingly, post-demolition, the owner of the two-storey property went mysteriously missing. Identified as businessman Mohinder Pal Mahajan, he was traced by police in Katra. He was driven home and handed over to his family.
