Rejecting Pakistan’s efforts to create a false narrative about the abrogation of Article 370, hundreds of Gujjars, Bakarwals and other Kashmiri sightseers from Kupwara, Tangdhar and Handwara on Wednesday celebrated Bangus Awaam Mela to commemorate the first anniversary of the scrapping of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Annual Fair saw participation with great fanfare for two days since it kicked off on Monday.
Rustic games like horse racing, sheep herding, Tug of War and Wood Chopping competitions were organised on the first day in which the Gujjar, Bakerwal communities from various Bhaiks living in the meadows during the summer months actively participated.
On the request of senior community members, a veterinary and medical camp was also organised by the local Rashtriya Rifles unit. A total of 679 patients including 49 children were given treatment, advice and free medicines by the doctors. The veterinary camp provided medical aid to 135 livestock in addition to surgical assistance to the wounded.
It was organised by the unit of Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, who was among five security forces personnel killed during an encounter with terrorists in north Kashmir. Ashutosh Sharma was the second Commanding Officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles who lost his life while combating terrorism in May this year.
On the second day of the festival on Tuesday, the audience enjoyed folk songs by the Gujjar community, patriotic songs by local children, dances and a Karate Display by the Handwara Kudo Association in addition to the finals of the village games.
The event culminated with the National Anthem and a vote of thanks by the community elders to the Army for their support.
Meanwhile, terrorists on Tuesday evening shot and critically injured a panchayat member, reportedly associated with the BJP, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, ahead of the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370.
Identified as Arif Ahmad from Akhran Mir Bazar in Kulgam, he was rushed to the hospital and a manhunt was launched by the police to nab the attackers.
In another incident, two policemen were injured in a grenade attack by terrorists in Pulwama district.
According to details, terrorists lobbed a grenade on a police party at Wanpora Pulwama, leaving two personnel with splinter injuries. Both are said to be in a stable condition.
A two-day curfew was been imposed in the Kashmir Valley since Tuesday.
The sources said the decision was taken following specific inputs that separatists and Pakistan sponsored groups were planning to hold violent protests which could endanger public order.
Medical emergencies and government staff holding valid identity cards and passes have been exempted from these restrictions imposed under section 144 CrPC.
Earlier, district authorities had imposed curfew in Srinagar district citing similar reasons.
Covid in J&K
Three hundred ninety people tested positive in J&K on Tuesday as the total Covid-19 infections count rose to 22,396 in the union territory.
A statement issued by the information and public relations department said 390 people tested positive on Tuesday including 152 in the Jammu division and 238 in the Kashmir division.
On Tuesday 824 patients were discharged from different hospitals after they recovered while 10 patients succumbed to Covid-19 in different hospitals of Kashmir division taking the number of people killed by the deadly virus to 417 in J&K.
So far, 14,856 patients have completely recovered since the outbreak of the pandemic in J&K.
There are 7123 Covid-19 positive cases now out of which 1901 are from Jammu division and 5222 are from Kashmir division.