Kabir Puraskar award conferred on a Kashmiri

Srinagar, Oct 3 (UNI) The Government has decided to confer ''Kabir Puraskar'' for the year 2008 on Ghulam Ahmed Bhat, a resident of the central Kashmir district of Badgam.

''Kabir Puraskar'' is a national award instituted by the Central Government of India for recognizing the acts of physical and moral courage displayed by a member of one caste or community or ethnic group in saving the lives and properties of the members of another caste community or ethnic group. It carries a cash amount of Rs 50,000.

Officials said here today Mr Bhat, son of Mohammad Akbar Bhat resident of Hokletri Khansahib, Budgam, a social worker, had shown tremendous courage in March 1997 when militants attacked village Sangrampura Budgam in which seven Pandits were killed.

Mr Bhat reached the spot even before the police and stood guard for the whole night to the rest of the victims' family members.

On the day following the incident, he, along with other members of the majority community, cremated the deceased without caring for his own life.

He helped the family members of the deceased in the completing legal formalities required for getting the compensation.

Mr Bhat is said to have great respect for human values and for maintaining communal harmony in the State.

UNI BAS SBC KN1808