The Kashmir Pulse

PULWAMA — During his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with locals at the Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir event in Srinagar, where he interacted with Nazim Nazir Dar, a Pulwama-based beekeeper and beneficiary of the Viksit Bharat programme.

Nazim, who caught the prime minister's attention, recounted his journey from a small-scale beekeeper to a successful entrepreneur.

He informed PM Modi that he initially received a 50 per cent subsidy for 25 boxes of bees in 2019. Since then, his beekeeping business has flourished, with the assistance of the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), which provided him with Rs 5 lakh. This support enabled him to expand his enterprise, leading to significant growth.

"In 2023, I sold about 5,000 kg of honey along with 2,000 honeycombs," Nazim shared with the prime minister, highlighting his remarkable progress in the apiculture sector. He also mentioned his efforts to involve others in beekeeping, with 100 individuals currently engaged in his business.

Impressed by Nazim's achievements, PM Modi shared a photo with him, referring to Nazim as his "friend" and commending him for the "good work" he is doing.

Modi expressed his admiration in a tweet, saying, "A memorable selfie with my friend Nazim. I was impressed by the good work he’s doing. At the public meeting, he requested a selfie and was happy to meet him. My best wishes for his future endeavours."

Nazim's journey from humble beginnings to entrepreneurial success serves as an inspiring example of the transformative impact of government initiatives and individual determination in fostering economic growth and empowerment in the region.

PULWAMA — Ravinder Raina, the president of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir, paid a visit to the family of deceased sub-inspector Farooq Ahmad Mir on Monday at Samboora village in the Pulwama district of south Kashmir.

He showed sympathy for the grieving family members as he recalled Farooq as a courageous Jammu and Kashmir Police officer.

He denounced the murder of the police officer as a 'cowardly' crime. He remarked, "He was an honest and courageous officer. He used to help the poor, impoverished, and the needy."

"He was an innocent man, and it is unacceptable to kill an unarmed person," he stated.

When Raina raeched the residence of the slain sub-inspector, some emotional scenes were witnessed. The father and other family members of the murdered police officer sobbed hysterically.

It is in place to mention here that Ravinder Raina was accompanied by Sunil Sharma (J&K BJP's General Secretary), Ataf Thakur (J&K BJP's spokesperson), Sajjad Raina (J&K BJP's District President Pulwama) and other leaders.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday claimed to have worked out the case involving killing of Sub Inspector Farooq Ahmad in Samboora Pampore by arresting three persons including the cousin brother’s son of the deceased.

“Police have solved the case of SI Farooq Ahmad’s killing by arresting three accused persons involved in the commission of crime,” a police spokesperson said in a statement. “Incriminating material including a pistol was recovered from their possession.”

He said during the course of investigation of case (FIR No. 71/2022) of Police Station Pampore pertaining to killing of SI Farooq Ahmad at Samboora Pampore, several suspects were called for questioning. However, he said, the three suspects were “zeroed in and whose role in the case was proved”.

Subsequently, they were arrested in the instant case and have been identified as Arsalaan Bashir alias Faisal son of Bashir Ahmad Dar, Tawkeer Manzoor son of Manzoor Ahmad Mir and Owais Mushtaq son of Mushtaq Ahmad Ganie, all residents of Samboora Pampore.

“During the course of investigation, it was revealed that the accused trio had hatched a criminal conspiracy with one (militant) namely Majid Nazir Wani of Ladhoo (killed in Tujjan Pulwama operation on June 21, 2022) and had extended corroborated support to (him) in execution of the murder,” he said, adding, “All the three accused involved in the killing are very close neighbours of the SI Farooq Ahmad. While as accused Tawkeer Manzoor is Mir’s cousin brother’s son.”

He said “incriminating materials, one Pistol and other ammunition have been recovered from their possession.” Further investigation into the matter is in progress, he said.

IGP Kashmir appreciated the role of Awantipora and Pulwama Police for jointly solving this case, the spokesperson added.

PULWAMA — The body of Farooq Ahmad Mir, a J&K Armed Police Sub-Inspector will be buried in the evening once her daughter arrives home.

His daughter is pursuing Medicine (MBBS) in Dhaka Bangladesh. Mir is survived by another daughter and teenage son besides his wife and ailing-aged father.

Mir was abducted and later shot dead by militants and his bullet-ridden body was recovered from nearby paddy fields, descending gloom in the area. Wails and heart-wrenching scenes were witnessed at the Samboora residence of Mir.

"She has left Dhaka and we expect her arrival by evening," family and relatives said. “Burial will take place only after she has the last glimpse of her murdered father.”

The slain police officer’s family said Mir left his home at around 8 PM on Friday. “He told us that he was going to irrigate his fields from the nearby stream, but he did not return,” the family said, adding that it brought worries to them and that something was going wrong.

“Once we reached the fields, we found his bullet-ridden body in the stream from where he used to divert water for irrigation of paddy fields,” they added.

The elderly wailing father of the slain cop Abdul Gani Mir, while exclusively speaking to Srinagar-based news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) at his Samboora residence in a frail voice said, “My son had no animosity with anyone, nor was he involved in any such activity, which could have made him a potential target of anyone.”

Taking sighs, Abdul Ghani said, “He wanted to know why his son was murdered in cold blood, who will now look after me and his children. His wife has undergone surgery very recently. She is not in a state to look after her small children and her elderly parents-in-law.”

“We are totally devastated and do not know what will be the future of the family,” he said. “Why did they kill him?” was Abdul Ghani’s frequently asked question.

He termed the act as totally un-Islamic and condemnable and said that the killers will be answerable here and hereafter for killing an innocent person.

Demanding a probe into the killing of the Sub Inspector Farooq Ahmed Mir, his nephew Suhail Ahmad Mir whose father is also serving in the police department said a high-level probe should be ordered to unmask the killers of his uncle.

“Such innocent killings are unacceptable and this mad spree should stop forthwith,” he said. “Authorities should take concrete and serious steps to unearth the killers behind these killings.”

PAMPORE — A bullet-riddled body of police officer was found under mysterious circumstances in Pampore area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Source told news agency KDC that the body of police sub inspector identified as Farooq Ahmad Mir son of Abdul Gani Mir, resident of Samboora Pampore, was spotted in paddy fields of his native village.

Police accordingly rushed to the spot and took body into their custody. "A wound of bullet-like mark was found near his heart and police has started investigation in this regard," they added.

it is in place to mention that the police officer was posted as OSI at 23 Bn IRP at Lethpora Pampore.