Feature
Pulwama bomber’s father regrets loss of lives but warns of more militant attacks
Srinagar: The father of suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar, who rammed explosive ridden car into CRPF convoy killing 49 paramilitary personnel, regretted loss of lives in terror attack but warned that more dangerous militant attacks can take place if Kashmir issue not resolved.
Ghulam Hassan Dar, the father of 19-year-old Jaish suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar said, “I regret the loss of lives caused by the suicide bombing of my son. Precious lives have been lost. Whether a militant, a civilian or force personnel is killed, ultimately a precious life is lost. Last year, over 250 militants were killed by forces.”
While speaking to newspaper at his home in Gandibagh village of Kakapora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the elder Dar said, some 5 kms from the spot, where the suicide bombing took place. Adil rammed his explosive ridden SUV into 59-seater CRPF vehicle, which was part of a 70 vehicle CRPF convoy coming from Jammu to Srinagar, at Lehpora area, some 20 kms south of Srinagar on Thursday afternoon.
Ghulam said that the CRPF men, who were killed in his son’s suicide bombing had families and his son too has a family. “I am pained over the killing of my son. My dreams were attached with him. Similarly families of the CRPF men, who were killed in the blast, also have families and they too would be pained over the killing of their family members,” he said.
Father of terrorist regrets loss of lives but warns of more dangerous militant attacks:
Dar asked the Indian government to give up rigidity on Kashmir and take measures in addressing and resolving the Kashmir issue. “It would be better if the Kashmir issue is resolved so that no youth is pushed to the wall and forced to take up the gun to fight for freedom,” he said.
Adil had joined militancy in March last year. “After he went missing and joined militant ranks last year, he did not contact us,” said Ghulam. “He did not tell us when he left home to join the militancy,” he said. Dar said the family had no information about his son and infact was sleeping at his home yesterday afternoon when police called him to inform him that his son had carried out the suicide bombing on CRPF convoy. Dar said although he does not support violence but warned that there can be more dangerous militant attacks than his son’s suicide bombing if Kashmir issue is not addressed and resolved.
Asked whether other youth who have gone into militancy can follow the path of his son, Dar said, “I am an illiterate. I think they should not think on these lines. The government should think over it. It should take necessary measures including holding talks to resolve the Kashmir issue. The government should take measures to prevent loss of precious lives in Valley,” he said. Asked why his son joined militancy, he said, “The situation is pushing youth to the wall. My son was less educated but why did PhD scholar like Mannan Wani join militancy. The non-resolution of the Kashmir issue and excesses committed by security forces is acting as a trigger for youth to join militancy,” he said. People in large numbers from the Gandibagh village and its adjoining hamlets were visiting the Dar’s house to express condolences with his family.
A large tent had been set up in a compound of the house, where young and old men were visiting. The chants of pro-freedom slogans were renting the area. People also offered funeral prayers in absentia for deceased Jaish suicide bomber after Friday prayers amidst chanting of pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Earlier, the funeral prayers in absentia for the deceased Jaish bomber was held last night and a large number of people attended the funeral prayers.
The State Scores Extra High on Gaming-Friendly Industry Index
Meghalaya scored 92.85 out of 100 possible points in a Gaming Industry Index and proved to be India’s most gaming-friendly state following its recent profound legislation changes over the field allowing land-based and online gaming, including games of chance, under a licensing regime.
The index by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) uses a scale of 0 to 100 to measure the level of legalisation on gambling and betting achieved by a state based on the scores over a set of seven different games – lottery, horse racing, betting on sports, poker, rummy, casino and fantasy sports
Starting from February last year, Meghalaya became the third state in India’s northeast to legalise gambling and betting after Sikkim and Nagaland. After consultations with the UKIBC, the state proceeded with the adoption of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 and the nullification of the Meghalaya Prevention of Gambling Act, 1970. Subsequently in December, the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021 were notified and came into force.
All for the Tourists
The move to legalise and license various forms of offline and online betting and gambling in Meghalaya is aimed at boosting tourism and creating jobs, and altogether raising taxation revenues for the northeastern state. At the same time, the opportunities to bet and gamble legally will be reserved only for tourists and visitors.
“We came out with a Gaming Act and subsequently framed the Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021. The government will accordingly issue licenses to operate games of skill and chance, both online and offline,” said James P. K. Sangma, Meghalaya State Law and Taxation Minister speaking in the capital city of Shillong. “But the legalized gambling and gaming will only be for tourists and not residents of Meghalaya,” he continued.
To be allowed to play, tourists and people visiting the state for work or business purposes will have to prove their non-resident status by presenting appropriate documents, in a process similar to a bank KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure.
Meghalaya Reaches Out to a Vast Market
With 140 millions of people in India estimated to bet regularly on sports, and a total of 370 million desi bettors around prominent sporting events, as per data from one of the latest reports by Esse N Videri, Meghalaya is set to reach out and take a piece of a vast market.
Estimates on the financial value of India’s sports betting market, combined across all types of offline channels and online sports and cricket predictions and betting platforms, speak about amounts between $130 and $150 billion (roughly between ₹9.7 and ₹11.5 lakh crore).
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Delhi are shown to deliver the highest number of bettors and Meghalaya can count on substantial tourists flow from their betting circles. The sports betting communities of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are also not to be underestimated.
Among the sports, cricket is most popular, registering 68 percent of the total bet count analyzed by Esse N Videri. Football takes second position with 11 percent of the bets, followed by betting on FIFA at 7 percent and on eCricket at 5 percent. The last position in the Top 5 of popular sports for betting in India is taken by tennis with 3 percent of the bet count.
Local Citizens will Still have Their Teer Betting
Meghalaya residents will still be permitted to participate in teer betting over arrow-shooting results. Teer is a traditional method of gambling, somewhat similar to a lottery draw, and held under the rules of the Meghalaya Regulation of the Game of Arrow Shooting and the Sale of Teer Tickets Act, 2018.
Teer includes bettors wagering on the number of arrows that reach the target which is placed about 50 meters away from a team of 20 archers positioned in a semicircle.
The archers shoot volleys of arrows at the target for ten minutes, and players place their bets choosing a number between 0 and 99 trying to guess the last two digits of the number of arrows that successfully pierce the target.
If, for example, the number of hits is 256, anyone who has bet on 56 wins an amount eight times bigger than their wager.
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