Jahangeer Ganaie
Shopian, Aug 27: Keeping the age-old bond of communal harmony and brotherhood alive, Kashmiri Mulsims performed the last rites of a Pandit woman in Pargochi village of South Kashmir’s Shopian district amid incessant rains.
Hundreds of locals assembled at the residence of pandit woman Uma Devi, wife of late Prem Nath, who passed away after a brief spell of illness at village Pargochi, Shopian this morning.
Muslims arranged all what was needed to perform the last rites of the deceased. Elders, young and children were among villagers who made last rite preparations, locals said.
Vicky Pandit , a close relative of the deceased said that Muslims have been part of “our community since a long time but mostly since 1989 when most Pandit families were forced to leave the valley.”
“We never felt we are living in a minority here. We are living here with them with love, keeping alive our decades old bond of brotherhood and harmony,” he added.
He thanked his Muslim community members for always helping them and remaining with them especially in odd times.
Javaid Ahmad, a villager said that they helped the relatives of deceased pandit woman in performing her last rites and that they have been doing the same when members from the pandit community marry. “We live together and share each other’s pain and joy,” he said.
“In the mourning, there were only ten relatives of the deceased, rest were all muslims.”
Muzaffar Ahmad, another local resident, said religion should not become a barrier in humanity and friendship. “We ensured that last rites of the deceased are performed as per their religious rituals and all was done as per the Hindu religious rituals,” he said. (KNO)

Mansar offers huge potential for tourism: Jitendra
Need to explore potential tourist destinations: Advisor Baseer
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 27: The government of Jammu and Kashmir has decided to promote Mansar as a major tourist destination under the Comprehensive Mansar Rejuvenation and Development Plan.
This was stated at a video conference chaired by Union Minister of State, Jitendra Singh to discuss the draft Comprehensive Development Plan for Mansar.
While chairing the meeting, Jitendra Singh said that there is great potential for developing Mansar as a major tourist destination.
He said Mansar has a huge potential for attracting religious and non-religious tourists while offering an added advantage of connectivity.
MoS further asked the concerned to align the things in order of priority and asked them to rope in other departments in rejuvenation and development of Mansar. He also asked them to include a wellness centre in the proposed interventions for the development plan.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Baseer Ahmad Khan while speaking on the occasion said that Mansar offers a great potential for development and we need to exploit and explore potential tourist destinations for attracting tourists.
He said Mansar has emerged as an important tourist destination in Jammu region and a large number of tourists and visitors throng this lake.
He said that Comprehensive Mansar Rejuvenation/Development Plan will cater to the influx of tourists and give a big boost to the tourism sector. He said that in North India, pilgrimage tourism is a major attraction and Jammu is one of the major pilgrimage tourist attractions in the whole country. While asking the concerned departments to work in close coordination and prepare a detailed project report, he assured them that he will personally intervene in the matter so that the different interventions are carried out in due course of time.
In the next three to five years, the government wants that destination shall emerge as the most sought after tourist place, with easy access and availability of the basic requirements ideally desired at a tourist spot. This shall also ensure better conservation & management of the wildlife area.
Under the ambitious plan the proposed interventions include development of tourist infrastructure in the form of facilitation/view points/ floating jetties etc. upgradation of roads/ existing pathways around the lake, ensuring access to different hamlets around the lake periphery.
The plan also includes restoration of the heritage buildings and reinforce the existing infrastructural facilities, besides encouraging eco tourism and boost economy the department also proposes developing the destination for water sports activities, musical water fountains, water cascade works.