The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A junior commissioned officer (JCO) Officer of Assam Rifles posted in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district died of ‘cardiac arrest’, sources said.

Unnamed sources quoted by the news agency KNT said that a JCO of 26 Assam Rifles posted at Paribal Thikri Army camp complained of chest pain after which he was evacuated to 92 Base Hospital Badamibagh where doctors declared him brought dead.

The deceased has been identified as Vivekanandu Daniyal, a native of Uttarakhand state of India.

Meanwhile, Police Post Aloosa Bandipra has started proceeding under CrPc 174 in this regard.

KUPWARA — A soldier died at his camp in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district after falling unconscious during his duty.

Unnamed official sources, quoted by the news agency KNT, said that Subedar Jitendra Kumar from 17 Gharwal in Chowkibal Kupwara fell unconscious at his unit and was taken to the military hospital Drugmulla, where doctors declared him dead.

The victim was a native of Uttarakhand. Police Post Drugmulla have started proceedings under section 174 CrPC in this regard.

JAMMU — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra reached Ramban, the last district of Jammu on the National Highway, after covering 120 kilometers. The Yatra will resume from Bathi, Maitraand and stay in Banihal for a night while march for Kashmir will begin after Republic Day, where it is scheduled to culminate on January 30.

Sources, as per the news agency KNO, said the Yatra will resume from Ramban as per the scheduled 8:00 AM and stop at Forest Check Post near Hotel Usman.

It will resume from Kharpora, Banihal and cover Gund Adalkoot-Banihal Market-Transit Camp-T Chowk-Railway station, they said. "The Yatra will make a night halt at Lamber Truck yard Banihal where corner meetings with delegates are also scheduled," they said.

Earlier, the scheduled foot march started from Nagrota, Jammu. The foot march continued for a few kilometers but after advice from security forces, Rahul Gandhi boarded the car and reached the venue where a few delegations including the people of Ladakh apprised him of their grievances.

A delegation from Uttarakhand also highlighted the plights of the sinking Joshimath during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. A delegation from the hill state Uttrakhand joined Rahul Gandhi on the Jammu—Srinagar Highway near Udhampur and sought his intervention to save the hills town from sinking further.

Led by former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, the delegation raised placards “Save Joshimath—Save Uttrakhand” and participated in the foot march with the former Congress president, who also picked up one of the placards.

The team urged Gandhi to raise their voice in Parliament and other forums as the historical mountain town was fast sinking and might vanish soon.

Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani, Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar, former Congress Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and Member Parliament Ravneet Singh were also among the attendees along with several social activists of Jammu and Kashmir.

PAHALGAM — The body of a 26-year-old Kashmiri tourist guide who drowned while trying to save a non-local trekker in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam was retrieved from local Ladarwath Nallah on Thursday.

Divulging information about the incident, Tehsildar Pahalgam, Muhammad Hussain said that 11 tourists along with two local guides and a ponywala were crossing a make-shift foot-bridge at Tarsar Lake, 11 kilometres away from hill station Pahalgam.

While crossing the bridge, one of the tourists identified as Dr Mahesh from Uttrakhand slipped and drowned in the lake. One of the guides, Shakeel Ahmed Thekeri son of Ghulab Thekeri, a resident of the Gagangeer Gund area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, tried to save the Uttrakhand tourist and during the attempt, he himself drowned in the lake.

“After the incident, 12 persons were evacuated safely while an operation was launched to retrieve the bodies of the local guide and the non-local tourist,” Tehsildar said.

Some of the people evacuated include Rajesh Roshan (50), Prof. DVR, of Uttrakhand, Mukhan Kumaiya (private teacher of Bangalore), Dharam of Nanital Uttrakhand, Jai Ram of Bangalore, Sukumar Dhandapani of Tamil Nadu, Vikas Krishan, Kanchan of Uttrakhand (Prof. H/W), locals Muhammad Ishaq Lone of Pahalgam (tourists guide) and Parvaiz Ahmad (ponywala).

“Today, the body of the young tourist guide Shakeel Ahmed was retrieved from Ladarwath Nallah in Pahalgam while efforts are on to trace another body,” he said, adding that an advisory had already been issued to trekkers not to trek on rainy days.

After the completion of medico-legal formalities, the body was handed over to the family for last rites.

One of the relatives of the slain tourist guide said that Shakeel Ahmed was in the tourist business for the past decade and he was an expert trekker.

Two dead bodies including one of a missing girl recovered

Jammu and Kashmir Police have recovered two dead bodies at two different places in Srinagar and Kulgam districts.

The dead body of 20-year-old youth identified as Adil Ahmed Sheikh son of Shabir Ahmed of Parimpora has been recovered from Shalteng Bund.

J&K Police in this regard has registered a case at the Police Station Parimpora area of Srinagar.

Another dead body was retrieved from Veshaw Nallah near Bethpora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

A police official said that the girl had gone missing after the incessant rains and today, her dead body was recovered. She is the local of Nasnoor village of Aharbal.

In this case also, the police have registered a case and started an investigation.