Greater Kashmir

Jammu, Sep 18: In a major public-safety initiative, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) on Friday ordered a survey of dilapidated, dangerous and structurally unsafe buildings across the city, with particular attention to Old City and institutional buildings where many people reside or gather. JMC Commissioner Devansh Yadav said the corporation had been receiving complaints about ageing and unsafe structures in the Old City for some time, with risks becoming particularly acute during the monsoo

Srinagar, Sep 18: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday approved the construction of a modern Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports Hall in Ganderbal district at an estimated cost of Rs 6.17 crore, an official spokesperson said. He said the government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has accorded administrative approval for construction of the 60 metre x 40 metre sports hall at Ganderbal, the constituency represented by Abdullah himself. The facility will be equipped with modern sporting amenit

Ujjain, Sep 18: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said India's understanding of the concept of 'dharma' was distinct from Western notions of religion, asserting that the country has not discriminated among different faiths and this was its understanding of secularism. Addressing around 1,700 Gen Z participants at the 'Yuva Dharma Sansad' here, Bhagwat said he was happy to see youngsters discussing 'dharma' at a time when some considered it an old people's affair. Our state has always been interm

Jammu, Sep 18: General Officer Commanding (GOC) White Knight Corps Lieutenant General P K Mishra on Friday reviewed the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Brattal area of Udhampur district, officials said. They said the Army commander visited the general area of Brattal, Udhampur and reviewed the evolving security environment, operational dynamics and measures to sustain relentless operational tempo, ensuring a swift, coordinated and decisive response to emerging threats. During his visit,

New Delhi, Sep 18: Gold staged a sharp comeback on Friday, rising Rs 1,600 to Rs 1.56 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital as retreating crude oil rates eased inflation concerns and gave investors room to return to bullion after the recent sell-off. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity appreciated Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,56,600 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from Thursday's closing level of Rs 1.55 lakh per 10 grams, according to local traders. Silver also joined the rebound, climbing R

Srinagar, Sep 18 : From battling unemployment and financial uncertainty to navigating the upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic, Kashmiri engineer Qasim Afzal has had to overcome more than his share of setbacks. He chose to confront each challenge head-on, and today, his perseverance has taken his company to Sheikh Zayed Road, one of the prominent business corridors in the UAE. From working on major infrastructure projects to navigating the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic and eventually build

An 18-month-old in Karachi died after an alleged sexual assault. A three-year-old girl in the same city was raped and murdered. In Haripur, a five-year-old girl was raped and killed. These are not statistics. They are children. Against this horrifying backdrop, a video of Pakistani preacher Mufti Tariq Masood has resurfaced in which, while discussing marriage, he jokes about a four-year-old girl as a possible bride. Masood has since defended the remark as a joke taken out of context. But there a

Inaugurated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on September 7 at Srinagars SKICC, the maiden International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir brought world cinema to the valley. Organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the festival drew over 300 global delegates, screened 135 films from 40 countries, and offered Rs 96 lakh in prize money across nine categorie

Kupwara is known for its mountains, forests and murmuring waters. But there is another Kupwara, quieter and deeper, hidden in the memories of its people. It is the Kupwara of saints, sages, shrines and sacred placesa land where faith has often inspired people to cultivate respect beyond religious differences while remaining rooted in their own traditions. The district has produced and preserved the memory of many saints and sages. Their stories are woven into the cultural landscape of its villag

God is the one who created us all. It is His prerogative to give life, and take it back. None on this earth has the right to inflict death on anyone else. If we go through the religious literature, across historic and cultural distinctions, we find that life is considered as supreme. All the moral, ethical, and legal codes are designed to safeguard life. The story of Abel and Cain tells us the eternal lesson of what it means to kill a soul in the sight of God. Referring to the same story God emp

When Dr Masood Choudhary assumed responsibility as the Founder Vice-Chancellor of BGSB University, he did not inherit a flourishing institution. There was no established academic ecosystem, impressive infrastructure or accumulated institutional reputation upon which he could build. He began virtually from scratch, on a rugged and inhospitable stretch of land where even ordinary vegetation struggled to grow. It demanded persistence, personal sacrifice, networking, persuasion and an almost emotion

Some meetings are arranged. Some meetings happen by chance. But there are meetings that the heart has been waiting for years to experience. The recent Milan of the 1995 batch of Sub Inspectors of Jammu & Kashmir Police, now spanning the journey from young Sub-Inspectors to DySPs and senior officers after nearly 32 years of service, was one such meeting. It was much more than a reunion. It was a homecoming. A homecoming of friends who had once marched together, run together, trained together, str

Social media has transformed the way Kashmiri is written, spoken and circulated. Facebook pages, Instagram reels, YouTube videos and memes have created new spaces for a Kashmiri to flourish. This expansion of the language online is worth celebrating. But it also raises an uncomfortable question: what happens when disability becomes a source of humour, insult and ridicule in Kashmiri digital content? One does not have to look far to encounter disability-related language being used casually to des

Srinagar, Sep 17: Acting on orders from Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday attached 15 kanals of land and two residential houses in north Kashmir's Kupwara belonging to notorious terrorists operating from Pakistan, officials said. Sh Nalin Prabhat, DG-P, has ordered the attachment of properties belonging to notorious terrorists, now operating from Pakistan, a police spokesperson said in a press statement. As per an order issued by DG-P Nalin Prabha

Jammu, Sep 17: Two Pakistan-based proscribed outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were killed, and an alleged over-ground worker was detained in a remote high-altitude area in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, officials said on Thursday. The joint operation by the Army, police and CRPF was conducted in the dense Brattal Sohan and Khubban forests of Majalta bordering Kathua district amid heavy rain, they said. Army confirmed the killing of two militants in the operation. In a joint intell

Srinagar, Sept 17: Fresh snowfall was witnessed at Kabul Gali in north Kashmirs Gurez Valley on Thursday, while widespread rain lashed Kashmir, with several areas of south Kashmir receiving heavy showers, officials said. Srinagar recorded 8.2 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, while Qazigund, Pahalgam and Gulmarg received 13.4 mm, 13 mm and 13.2 mm, respectively. Heavy rainfall was also recorded in parts of the Jammu division, with Udhampur receiving 117.8 mm, Jammu 112.9 mm and Katra 45.2 mm

United Nations, Sep 17: The United Nations chief urged global competitors in artificial intelligence on Wednesday to cooperate in addressing threats from the technology, warning that the world cannot afford a race to the bottom on AI safety. Secretary-General Antnio Guterres said concerns raised by those on the frontlines of AI technology that its development is racing ahead of our understanding of the risks can't be ignored. Governments must assume their first responsibility to protect civilian

Srinagar, Sep 16: Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday sanctioned free public transport services for differently-abled persons in the Union territory, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's office said. Fulfilling a key Budget announcement made in March this year, the Government has sanctioned free ridership for differently-abled persons in public transport, the CMO said in a post on X. It said the facility will cover Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation services as well as e-Buses operated

New Delhi, Sep 16: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Wednesday said the work of police and the work of the courts form one continuous chain in the administration of justice. Speaking at the launch of a book written by former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer O P Mishra, titled Beyond the Uniform: Duty, Discretion and Public Trust, the CJI said an FIR recorded with care or an investigation conducted with fairness strengthens the possibility of justice being done in court. Conversely, n

Rajouri, Sept 15: A man was found dead near the National Highway at Lamberi in the Nowshera area of Rajouri district on Tuesday, officials said. An official said that the body was spotted by passersby, who informed the police. A police team subsequently reached the spot and took the body into custody. He said the body has been kept for identification, while further legal formalities are being carried out. Meanwhile, police have appealed to people who may have information about the deceased to co

Kashmiri businessmen are out to scale new heights and contribute towards Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of making Bharat Viksit by 2047. A consortium backed by a top-notch businessman of the Valley, Mushtaq Chaya recently won Sangarmal land auction for Rs 421.75 crore. One of the biggest bids won by a group backed by a local entrepreneur in the present times. The winning of Sangarmal bid was much more than a real-estate transaction. It represented a significant vote of confidence in Srinag

In Indian culture, both Spring and Winter are celebrated with great enthusiasm and gaiety; Spring almost all over the country and Winter in the warmer regions south of the Himalayas. However, there is another season, the advent of which is a harbinger of happiness and hope ... and that is the rainy season, or the Monsoon as it is also known. It brings happiness because it cools down the troublesome summer heat, and hope because water, especially cool water, on dry earth is always a symbol of ho

Kashmir has produced generations of professionals: doctors who now run hospitals across the country, engineers who have built exceptional architecture, civil servants who occupy some of the most consequential offices in the administration. What it has not produced, in any meaningful number, is economists. This is not a complaint about missing celebrities. It is a statement about the absence of a discipline, an entire way of thinking about scarcity, policy and human behaviour, from the intellectu

New Delhi, Sep 14: The BRICS Summit took place in the backdrop of a very polarised world and we forged a consensus in the midst of it, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday, as he described the mega event hosted under India's chairship a success. Interacting with mediapersons here, he also spoke about what was definitely the toughest issue of the day, the West Asia conflict, saying, We were able to get out a statement to which everybody agreed. The BRICS members adopted a joint N

Jammu, Sep 14: The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, on Monday visited forward areas in the Akhnoor sector here to assess the existing security dynamics and review the operational readiness of the units, the Army said. The Army Commander commended the troops for their relentless resolve and formidable spirit in safeguarding the Nation, the Northern Command said in a post on X. Lt Gen Sharma encouraged all ranks to pursue excellence in operational capabi

Ramban, Sep 14: The Salal Power Station authorities have issued an advisory to the general public of Reasi district and villages located upstream and downstream of the Salal Dam, warning of a likely rise and fluctuation in the water level of the Chenab River due to the opening of the dams spillway gates for reservoir silt flushing. According to a public notice issued by the Office of the General Manager (Incharge), Salal Power Station, Jyotipuram, the spillway gates of Salal Dam will be opened f

Jammu, Sep 14: In a first for Jammu railways division, cement has been loaded and transported from one station to another, marking a significant milestone in internal freight traffic in Jammu and Kashmir. The first consignment was dispatched on Monday from Shaheed Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary Kathua railway station to Anantnag goods shed following sustained efforts by the business development unit (BDU) of Jammu division, officials said. Around 66 tonnes of cement, comprising approximately 1,32

New Delhi, Sep 14: In a significant crackdown on attempts to circumvent Indias prohibition on imports from Pakistan, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), has seized more than 362 metric tonnes of Pakistan-origin dry dates. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted 13 containers of dry dates imported by a Mumbai-based firm at CFS Ambad, Nashik. The consignments had arrived from Jebel Ali, UAE, with import documents declaring the UAE as the country of origin. Preliminary

Jammu, Sep 14: The Jammu and Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA) has extended its ongoing peaceful protest/strike for another 72 hours across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, beginning September 15. In a formal communication addressed to the Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K, the Association said the decision had been taken due to the continued pendency of its long-standing demands and the absence of a concrete, time-bound resolution from the aut

Ramban, Sep 14: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma accompanied by BJP District President Neelam Langeh, and other senior leaders, met several delegations from Ramban as part of the BJPs ongoing mass public outreach programme across Jammu & Kashmir. During the interactions, Sharma held detailed discussions with representatives from different sections of society and patiently heard their grievances, concerns and demands. He assured t

Leh, Sep 14: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved draft recruitment rules for 129 junior scale posts across 15 departments and services of the UT administration, opening new avenues for promotion and career progression for serving government employees, officials said. The proposed rules provide a structured pathway for eligible officers in feeder cadres to move to junior scale posts after completing the prescribed qualifying service, they said. The rules cover posts in the general

New Delhi, Sep 14: Gold began the week on the back foot, falling Rs 500 to Rs 1,55,400 per 10 gram in the national capital on Monday as a sell-off in global markets gathered pace amid a sharp rise in crude oil prices and the US dollar. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity had closed at Rs 1,55,900 per 10 gram on Friday. However, silver bucked the trend and held steady at Rs 2,34,600 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes), according to local traders. Globally, spot gold declined USD 57.22, or

Srinagar, Sep 14: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (JKACB) on Monday trapped and arrested two field officers of J&K Women Development Corporation for demanding and accepting bribe against release/disbursement of a sanctioned loan amount of Rs 3 lakh under the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) scheme. The spokesperson said that Anti-Corruption Bureau received a written complaint alleging that Owais Ahamd Khan, a Field Supervisor of the Jammu & Kashmir Womens Development Corporation (J

Banihal, Sep 14: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of Opposition (LOP) in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, visited Ramban district on Monday and extended his support to striking National Health Mission (NHM) employees and dailywage workers, assuring them that their long-pending grievances would be raised in the Legislative Assembly. The visit came as the indefinite strike by NHM employees entered its sixth consecutive day in the district, severely aff

Poonch, Sep 14: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, accompanied by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Zone Tejinder Singh, reviewed the ongoing security and counter-terrorism operations in Poonch district, with particular focus on the threat posed by Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists. According to a post shared by District Police Poonch on X, the senior police officers took stock of the ongoing operations being conducted in the district and reviewed th

Jammu, Sep 14: Displaced Kashmiri Pandits on Monday observed 36th 'Balidan Diwas' here, paying homage to members of the community and security personnel who lost their lives to violence and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The community reiterated its demand for legal recognition of the violence against and displacement of Kashmiri Pandits as genocide and called for the establishment of a separate homeland in the Valley under direct Union protection. The programme was organised by Panun Kashmir,

Srinagar, Sep 14: The 10-day autumn Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, beginning here on September 21, is expected to be stormy as opposition parties plan to corner the Omar Abdullah government over issues like job outsourcing, rising unemployment, and the ruling party's failure to fulfil electoral promises. The BJP, the main opposition party in the J-K Legislative Assembly, said the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government has failed on all fronts. We

New Delhi, Sep 13:Prime Minister Narendra Modi held 15 sit-down bilateral meetings with heads of states or heads of governments in the last three days on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. Government sources said on Sunday that in addition to these bilateral deliberations, the prime minister also had pull-aside meetings with various world leaders and leaders of international institutions. The leaders with whom Modi had the bilateral meetings included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese Pre

New Delhi, Sep 13:Prime Minister NarendraModi on Sunday sought to project BRICS as a platform through which the Global South can have a greater voice in shaping international solutions, saying the grouping's credibility had grown because the experiences and concerns of developing countries were being heard and addressed collectively. From my personal experience, I can say that the Global South countries confidence in BRICS has grown, because within BRICS: Their voices are heard. Their experience

As we are aware that India, Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa came together in 2006 to form BRICS & since then, the grouping has emerged as an important stage for some of the worlds fastest-growing and most influential countries. Spread across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, these nations bring together vast populations, large economies, rich natural resources and considerable geopolitical stature. Their growing role reflects the broader shift in global economic and political power

The success of Indias BRICS presidency should not be measured merely by the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration. Declarations are important diplomatic instruments, but their real value lies in what they enable beyond the conference hall. For India, the larger dividend of its BRICS leadership lies in diplomacy, security, bilateral engagement, economic opportunities, institutional reform and, importantly, in strengthening its voice in shaping the emerging international order. India assumed the B

I was a college going student in Delhi in 2012 when the Hindi film Jab Tak Hai Jaan had hit the cinema theaters. There was visible excitement in the air among the audiences because it was a Shah Rukh Khan film directed by the legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra. However, what had caught my attention then was that the film had been partly shot in Kashmir because the legendary filmmaker had a deep and undeniable love for the valley. I had not visited Kashmir then and my forays into Kashmir were mostly

Jammu and Kashmir is beginning to face a construction-material crisis at a time when demand for roads, bridges, housing, hospitals, schools, drainage systems and other infrastructure is rising. Restrictions on quarrying operations and curbs on the extraction, lifting and transportation of mining material have created difficulties for ongoing development works. The Government has valid reasons for tightening control over the extraction of sand, gravel, stone and other minor minerals. The regions

Surrounded by forests and dotted with water bodies, Jammu and Kashmirs summer capital Srinagar was known for fresh air till few years ago. In 2023, Srinagar ranked 4th in a city-wise survey on air quality across the country. In the latest Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026, Srinagar has obtained 26th rank as per new parameters for measuring air quality. Though it is a matter of concern, it throws a challenge for improving air quality. Srinagar scored 162.6 points while Delhi, which has been topping the

New Delhis turn at hosting the BRICS summit has arrived at an unusually fraught moment, and the joint declaration that emerged from Bharat Mandapam on Saturday reads less like a routine communiqu and more like a document straining to hold together a bloc pulled in several directions at once. Between a war in Ukraine that refuses to end, an Iran conflict that has drawn in the United States and Israel, and simmering hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, the leaders gathered in India ha

Srinagar, Sep 13: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone Sujit Kumar today visited District Baramulla and Police District Sopore and chaired separate review meetings to assess the prevailing security scenario, counter-terrorism grid, law & order preparedness, crime situation and overall operational preparedness. IGP Kashmir was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General of Police, North Kashmir Range, Dr Vinod Kumar. During the first leg of his visit, IGP Kashmir visited District Baramulla,

Leh, Sep 13: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday launched a mega project to revive the rapidly drying Tso Kar Lake by channelising 320 million litres of water per day from a glacier-fed stream at an altitude of 18,000 feet into the water body, which has lost nearly 70 per cent of its water in the past decade. The initiative comes after the successful channelisation of 90 million litres of water from the Stok Glacier into canals serving Igoo-Phey and Chuchot villages, helping