IBTimes

Displaced Kashmiri Pandits across the world are observing September 14 as Balidan Diwas to honour those who lost their lives during decades of terrorism in Kashmir, with special tribute being paid to BJP leader Tika Lal Taploo, who was assassinated on September 14, 1989. The occasion also brings renewed focus on the community's long-standing demands for rehabilitation, employment, relief and a separate homeland.

With the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly's autumn session set to begin on September 21, the post of Deputy Speaker remains vacant nearly two years after the Omar Abdullah-led government assumed office. The BJP has been demanding that the post be offered to the principal opposition party in line with legislative convention.

Sonam Wangchuk says padyatra will be revived if the Centre talks fail to deliver substantive progress on statehood, the Sixth Schedule safeguards and other key demands.

A six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the alleged sexual assault, illegal termination of pregnancy and death of a 12-year-old tribal girl and her stillborn child in Kishtwar's Chatroo. Meanwhile, the Tribal Gujjar Bakarwal Welfare Foundation has demanded protection for the victim's family and strict action against those allegedly attempting to hush up the case.

The JERC's decision to raise electricity tariffs in Jammu and Kashmir by an average 6.83 per cent from September 1 has triggered a political storm, with opposition parties accusing the National Conference government of betraying its promise of 200 units of free electricity. BJP, Apni Party, Peoples Conference and PDP leaders have criticised the hike, while trade bodies have warned that it could add to the financial burden on consumers and further strain the region's economy.

Punjab Police has busted an alleged arms-smuggling module in Amritsar, arresting two suspects and recovering 10 sophisticated pistols, magazines and live ammunition. The action comes amid an NIA probe into suspected Pakistani and Australian links to a June drone-based arms drop near the Punjab border in June this year.

The NIA on Saturday conducted simultaneous searches at five locations in Kupwara and Anantnag districts of J&K as part of an ongoing probe into a suspected Over Ground Worker (OGW) network and possible links between drug trafficking and terror financing. The searches led to the seizure of electronic devices, including a mobile phone, as investigators examined suspected links to the wider terror-support network.

At least five people were killed after a Mahindra Scorpio skidded off the road and plunged into a deep ravine in the Dachhan area of Kishtwar district on Saturday. Rescue teams recovered five bodies, while authorities continued efforts to ascertain the exact number of people travelling in the vehicle and the cause of the accident.