KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has disposed of a batch of petitions related to the contentious Gulmarg land lease issue after petitioners, primarily hoteliers, sought to withdraw their pleas and pursue an administrative resolution with the government. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal allowed the []

SRINAGAR: Afghanistan on Wednesday announced the sighting of the Shawwal crescent, declaring Thursday as Eid al-Fitr, even as Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a temporary ceasefire during the festival following one of the deadliest escalations in their recent conflict, according to reports by Anadolu Agency and AFP. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Supreme Court []

SRINAGAR: A Power Development Department (PDD) lineman died after suffering an electric shock during duty in central Kashmirs Budgam district on Wednesday, officials said. The deceased has been identified as Ali Mohammad Malik, a resident of Sonpah Beerwah. According to local sources, the incident occurred while he was carrying out routine work when he came []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday urged people to organise daily or weekly evening aartis in towns and villages along riverbanks across Jammu Division in collaboration with local communities, emphasising the need to preserve cultural and spiritual traditions. Speaking at the Shri Raghunath Ji Jammu Aarti organised by Shri Raghunath Ji Ki Jammu Aarti []

SRINAGAR: Israel intensified its campaign against Irans leadership on Wednesday, with Defence Minister Israel Katz announcing the killing of Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib in an overnight strike, a development later confirmed by Iranian state television. The assassination marks one of the most high-profile targeted killings in the ongoing war and signals a deepening escalation []

SRINAGAR: The Chief Engineer, Distribution, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), has announced a series of scheduled power shutdowns across several parts of Kashmir between March 22 and 28, 2026 due to maintenance works on transmission lines. According to officials, power supply to Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh, Mehjoor Nagar, Soiteng, KP Bagh and adjoining areas will []

SRINAGAR: In a sharp and unexpected reversal, winter-like conditions have returned across Jammu and Kashmir, with widespread rain in the plains and fresh snowfall in higher reaches, dragging temperatures well below normal and disrupting daily life ahead of Eid. After an unusually warm February, the region is now witnessing what meteorologists describe as a delayed []

SRINAGAR: Social media platform X was down for thousands of users in the United States and other parts of the world on Wednesday, according to outage tracking website Downdetector. More than 14,000 users in the US reported issues with the platform as of 10:59 a.m. Eastern Time, Downdetector data showed. The service, which compiles user-submitted []

SRINAGAR: Authorities in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Shawwal was not sighted, confirming that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Friday, March 20. With the non-sighting of the Shawwal crescent, the holy month of Ramadan will complete 30 days, officials said, adding that Thursday will be the []

SRINAGAR: The Directorate of Rural Development Kashmir on Wednesday suspended Layla Khalid, a Panchayat Inspector presently holding additional charge as Block Development Officer (BDO) Newa, pending an inquiry into alleged misconduct. According to an official order, she has been attached to the office of the Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Ganderbal, with immediate effect. The order further []

SRINAGAR: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Narendra Modi, has approved the Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme for the period 202627 to 203031, with a total outlay of Rs 2,584.60 crore aimed at adding around 1,500 MW of capacity across the country. The scheme targets small hydro projects ranging between 1 MW and 25 MW, []

SRINAGAR: An expert committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday carried out an on-site inspection of the Sukhnag stream in the Sail area of Beerwah in Budgam district to assess damage caused by alleged illegal riverbed mining. The panel, comprising senior scientist Sandeepan Mukherjee from the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment []

SRINAGAR: The mastermind behind the 2018 rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Kathua does not deserve the concession of suspension of sentence at this stage, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has said while dismissing a plea from former temple caretaker Sanji Ram. Ram, who was caretaker of the devasthanam (temple) where the crime []

SRINAGAR: Police in south Kashmir have seized a Swift car valued at approximately Rs 6.8 lakh, alleging it was purchased using proceeds from illegal drug trafficking, officials said on Wednesday. The vehicle, bearing registration number JK13J-3347, belongs to Ishfaq Ahmad Koka, son of Abdul Majeed Koka, a resident of Melhura Zainapora in Shopian district. Police []

SRINAGAR: A major admission fraud has come to light in Jammu, where several parents were allegedly duped of lakhs of rupees on the pretext of securing seats for their children in professional courses such as MBBS and B.Tech, police sources said. According to sources, the Cyber Police Station Jammu has registered a case against Vidya []

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed ul Rehman Para on Wednesday accused the National Conference (NC) party of shielding the elite while the poor continue to face the brunt of demolition drives, as the political dispute over land rights intensified in Jammu and Kashmir. Reacting to NC leader Tanvir Sadiqs remarks, MLA Para criticized []

SRINAGAR: The Food Department (FSD), in collaboration with Tehsil Administration Keller and Police Keller, on Wednesday conducted a market checking drive in Keller town and adjoining areas of PP Berthipora. During the inspection, officials imposed a fine of Rs 3,100 on several violators for failing to adhere to norms. Authorities also destroyed rotten vegetables and []

SRINAGAR: Amid rising tensions in West Asia, Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel, according to the judiciarys Mizan News Agency. The individual, identified as Kurosh Keyvani, was, according to Mizan News Agency, convicted of allegedly sharing images and sensitive information about key locations in Iran with Israels intelligence agency, Mossad. This []

SRINAGAR: A major financial fraud has surfaced in the Jammu Central Cooperative (JCC) Bank Ltd, with employees at the Head Office allegedly siphoning off crores of rupees from depositors accounts through fraudulent digital transactions, sources told Jammu newspaper Daily Excelsior. According to official sources, embezzlement amounting to approximately Rs 1.77 crore has so far been []

SRINAGAR: Security forces on Wednesday launched search operations in parts of Rajouri, Doda and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir following reports of suspicious movement, officials said. The operations were initiated after inputs about possible movement in forested and remote areas, prompting joint teams of police and security forces to cordon off locations and begin []

Before Mearsheimer, before Huntington, before Allison, there was one man who looked at the wreckage of two world wars, the Holocaust, and the collapse of the European liberal order, and drew the only conclusion the evidence would support. Hans Morgenthau did not theorise about power. He had lived through what happens when nations forget it. []

Abdul Rashid Shah (June 1948 March 2026) Senior Kashmiri editor Abdul Rashid Shah, founder of the Urdu daily Nidai Mashriq, passed away in Srinagar on March 7 after a prolonged pulmonary illness, bringing to a close a career that spanned decades of turbulent political and media history in Kashmir. Shah began his professional life in []

SRINAGAR: Iran has confirmed the death of its national security chief Ali Larijani, hours after Israel claimed responsibility for killing him in an airstrike. The Iranian president also mourned his death and vowed retaliation. The pure souls of the martyrs embraced the purified soul of Gods righteous servant, Martyr Dr Ali Larijani, Irans Supreme National []

SRINAGAR: Residents of the Kanidajan area in Charar-e-Sharif in central Kashmirs Budgam district have alleged a complete disruption in LPG supply, saying households are facing severe hardship due to the unavailability of cooking gas. Locals said there has been zero supply of LPG cylinders in the area for several days, forcing families to struggle with []

SRINAGAR: A newly constructed double-storey residential house collapsed suddenly in Baliharan Singhpora area of Pattan in north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Tuesday, officials said. The house, belonging to Fayaz Ahmed Wani, was reduced to rubble after the structure caved in without warning, flattening completely to the ground. Officials said no one was present inside the []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday criticized Education Minister Sakina Itoo over her remarks on the qualifications of private school teachers, calling them unfortunate and raising concerns over their impact on the education sector. In a statement, PDP spokesperson Syed Tajamul said such comments risk creating divisions within the teaching community []

SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has clarified that biometric Aadhaar authentication (eKYC) is not compulsory for all LPG consumers, countering reports suggesting a blanket requirement. In an official statement, the ministry said the ongoing eKYC drive is part of routine measures to enhance transparency and is not a newly introduced rule. It []

SRINAGAR: Meta has announced that it will discontinue end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) messaging on Instagram from May 8, 2026, effectively rolling back a privacy feature introduced in late 2023. The company said the decision marks a shift in its messaging policy, though specific reasons for the move were not immediately detailed. End-to-end encryption, which ensures that []

SRINAGAR: Joseph Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned with immediate effect, citing his opposition to the ongoing conflict in Iran. In a letter to Donald Trump, Kent said he could not support the war, arguing that Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the United States. He also criticised the decision []

SRINAGAR: The Northern Railways Jammu Division has decided to attach an additional sleeper coach to the KolkataJammu Tawi Express in view of the expected surge in passengers during the Navratri festival, officials said on Tuesday. The additional coach will be attached to Train No. 13151/13152 (KolkataJammu TawiKolkata Express) from March 20 to April 2 to []

SRINAGAR: Er Rashid, Member of Parliament from Baramulla, on Tuesday raised a wide range of issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir in Parliament, focusing on religious freedoms, development, employment and public sentiment. Opening his remarks, Rashid questioned what he described as shifting narratives, referring to the release of Sonam Wangchuk and asking when individuals earlier labelled []

SRINAGAR: LG Manoj Sinha on Monday warned that any individual or group attempting to disturb peace, law and order, or endanger civilians in Jammu and Kashmir will face strict action, asserting that such acts will be met with the full force of the law. Addressing the passing-out parade of constables at the STC Talwara in []

SRINAGAR: Delhi Public School Srinagar has announced the recipients of the Kiran Dhar Sports Scholarship 2026, recognising two student-athletes for their outstanding performance and dedication in sports. The scholarship has been awarded to Tarahum Sadiya, a Grade 11 student excelling in badminton, and Mehran Zargar, a Grade 7 student specialising in mixed martial arts. According []

SRINAGAR: Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, Member of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday raised serious concerns in Parliament over Indian nationals stranded in Gulf countries, including workers, businessmen, pilgrims and students from Jammu and Kashmir studying abroad. He urged the Government of India to take immediate steps to ensure their safety and security and to []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday said they have arrested, a meter reader posted in PDD Rajouri, after catching him red-handed while accepting a bribe of rupees 30,000 from a complainant in exchange for reducing an inflated electricity bill. In a statement, a spokesperson said the JK Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a case against []

SRINAGAR: Kashmiri poet Ali Shaida has been selected for the 2025 Sahitya Akademi Award in Kashmiri for his poetry collection Najdavaneky Pot Aalav, according to official communication from the Sahitya Akademi under the Union Ministry of Culture. The award, among Indias most prestigious literary honours, is conferred annually on outstanding works in 24 recognised Indian []

JAMMU: In a major digital governance milestone, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday informed the Assembly that 4,061 offices and 21,968 users across all districts have been onboarded onto e-Office 2.0, making file movement at the Tehsil and Block level fully digital and paperless. The disclosures were made during discussions on the Demand for []

SRINAGAR: The administration of Ladakh on Tuesday ordered a series of transfers and postings of officers in the interest of administrative functioning. As per Order No. 139-LA (GAD) of 2026 issued by the General Administration Department Ladakh, Sachin Bali (JKAS) has been appointed as Deputy Registrar Cooperatives, Leh, and will also hold additional charge as []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed the preventive detention of a Bandipora resident under the Public Safety Act (PSA), holding that the order was based on vague grounds and lacked proper application of mind. The judgment, delivered by Justice Rahul Bharti, directed the immediate release of the detainee, Ehtsham-ul-Haq []

SRINAGAR: A joint rescue operation was launched in Uri area of Baramulla district after a woman reportedly jumped into the Jhelum river, while a Navy MARCOS commando sustained critical injuries during the search effort, officials said. The middle-aged woman, identified as a resident of Lagama Uri, is reported to have jumped into the river from []

From a Rajasthan jail cell to the bombed cities of Iran, Kashmiri students are paying the price of a valley that has never invested enough in its own young, reports Maleeha Sofi On a warm winter Sunday, a group of young men noticed a middle-aged man in Srinagars Pratap Park wandering restlessly from one bench []

SRINAGAR: A 31-year-old man died after sustaining injuries during a fire incident in the Pahalgam area of south Kashmirs Anantnag district during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, officials said. Officials said a fire broke out at Asal Resort in the Rangward area, damaging multiple structures. The deceased has been identified as Manjeet Singh, []

SRINAGAR: On the eve of Shab-e-Qadr, regarded as the holiest night in the Muslim calendar during the month of Ramazan, Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of carrying out a devastating air strike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul. The attack, Afghan officials say, has caused massive civilian casualties and intensified the already escalating conflict between []

SRINAGAR: European leaders have pushed back against a demand by United States President Donald Trump to join a naval coalition aimed at securing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, as the expanding war between the United States, Israel and Iran intensifies across the Middle East, global media reported. The call from Washington comes as the conflict, []

SRINAGAR: A man accused of firing at former Farooq Abdullah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, was on Monday remanded to seven days police custody after being produced before a court, sources said. Sources said that the accused, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, was produced before the court and was granted seven days []

SRINAGAR: Thousands of people staged simultaneous peaceful protests in Kargil and Leh on Monday, demanding full statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, in response to a joint call by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Apex Body Leh. Despite observing fasts during the holy month of Ramadan, []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the stock position of petroleum products, LPG and other essential commodities across Jammu and Kashmir, directing the administration to maintain strict vigil against hoarding, profiteering and artificial scarcity amid the ongoing West Asia crisis and the approaching festivals of Eid al-Fitr and []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday ordered the transfer and posting of two in-charge Superintending Engineers and assigned additional charge to two in-charge Executive Engineers in the Jal Shakti Department in the interest of administration. According to Government Order No 49-JK(JSD) of 2026 dated March 16, Kulwant Singh, in-charge Superintending Engineer who was []

SRINAGAR: Indian students fleeing Iran are facing a chaotic homeward journey, with nearly 70 stranded at Dubai airport after flight cancellations, and another group blocked at the Azerbaijan border for two days running. Parents are accusing the government of failing to facilitate even the basic logistics of their return despite leaving families to bear all []

SRINAGAR: Shab-e-Qadr (Lailatul Qadr), one of the holiest nights in Islam, will be observed tonight with an ocean of devotees expected to spend the night in prayers, remembrance of Allah and recitation of the Holy Quran at Masjids and Shrines across Jammu and Kashmir. The revered Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar is likely to witness the []