KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: In a major crackdown on an alleged visa fraud racket, the Special Crime Wing (SCW) of Crime Branch Jammu on Saturday conducted searches in RS Pura after obtaining warrants from the competent court in connection with FIR No. 10/2025 registered under Sections 420 and 120-B IPC at Police Station Special Crime Wing Jammu. A []

SRINAGAR: Eight persons sustained injuries after a cab travelling from Srinagar to Jammu met with an accident near Sherbibi on Saturday, officials said. An official said that the vehicle, an Ertiga bearing registration number JK01AW-4650, was carrying seven members of a family from Padshahbag, Srinagar and one passenger from Pulwama when it reportedly lost control []

SRINAGAR: Authorities on Saturday finalised a comprehensive traffic plan, including a strict one-way regime for the Gulmarg bowl, to ensure smooth vehicular movement during the Khelo India Winter Games scheduled for 2026. An advisory issued by the Traffic Police Rural Kashmir stated that a rigid one-way traffic system will be enforced on a designated route []

SRINAGAR: A man was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer on duty in the Trikuta Nagar area of Jammu and Kashmir, according to a report by Daily Excelsior. The action followed a viral video of the incident and a written complaint, which prompted immediate legal proceedings and an investigation, a police spokesman said. On []

SRINAGAR: Security forces on Saturday busted a militant hideout in the Hari Budha Bowl area of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, following specific intelligence inputs, officials said. Troops of the White Knight Corps launched a search operation in the area and recovered one pistol, two magazines, clothing, eatables, and other logistical material from a []

SRINAGAR: Power supply to several areas of south Kashmir will be suspended from 08:00 am to 2:00 pm on February 24 and 26, 2026 due to scheduled maintenance works, officials said. According to the Chief Engineer, Distribution, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited, the shutdown will affect the 33 KV AchabalCherpora tap line and the 33 []

SRINAGAR: A private employee sustained multiple injuries after falling from an electric pole while carrying out repair work in Sanat Nagar area of Srinagar on Saturday. Sources said the incident occurred opposite the CRPF camp gate when the worker was repairing an electric wire. During the process, he reportedly lost balance and fell from the []

SRINAGAR: A Special Mobile Magistrate (Traffic) Court in Srinagar convicted a Budgam resident after a minor was found driving a vehicle, holding the guardian liable under Section 199-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The case, titled UT of JK through Traffic Police, Rural Kashmir, was instituted and decided on February 18, 2026, by the []

SRINAGAR: The government on Saturday informed the Assembly that 1,808 families from the Dal and Nigeen Lake areas have been rehabilitated at Rakh-i-Arth Housing Colony in Bemina, with free land and compensation provided under a multi-crore rehabilitation scheme. The Rakh-i-Arth Colony was developed to facilitate the permanent relocation of Dal dwellers from the lake and []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Mechanical Engineering Graduates Association (JKMEGA) on Saturday urged the government to reorganise the Mechanical Engineering cadre and expand its presence in the Jal Shakti Department, citing an outdated structure that hampers service delivery. At a meeting chaired by its president Er Firdous Ahad Bhat at the M and HED Complex []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has outlined a series of housing and urban planning initiatives across Kashmir, including a proposed mass housing colony in Pulwama and the finalisation of key master plans, the details of which were placed before the Assembly. The Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board has proposed to develop a Mass Housing []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday informed the Assembly that Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats are being provided to eligible houseless and landless families with an annual household income of up to Rs 3 lakh under the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) vertical of the Pradhan Mantri Awas YojanaUrban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0). The []

SRINAGAR: Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma on Saturday accused the ruling National Conference (NC) of betraying the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, alleging political deceit, double standards and governance failures, particularly on employment. Speaking at the BJPs Mega Joining Programme at SKICC, Srinagar, Sharma said the NC had misled voters during []

SRINAGAR: A controversy that erupted over an administrative order regulating donation drives during Ramzan in Kishtwar appeared to subside on Friday after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Assembly that the decision had been taken at the request of local Muslim religious leaders. The order, issued by Kishtwar District Magistrate Pankaj Kumar Sharma under Section []

SRINAGAR: Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma on Saturday asserted that Article 370 is buried forever and challenged the chief minister Omar Abdullah led National Conference (NC) to define its demand for a special status within the constitutional framework. Addressing a BJP joining programme at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) []

SRINAGAR: In the wake of the constitutional reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, a substantial stock of printed legal and administrative material has been declared obsolete and is now being processed for auction, the government informed the Assembly. The development follows the repeal of Article 370 and the conversion of the erstwhile State into []

by Dr Mehnaz Rashid On International Mother Language Day, the author urges balanced bilingualism, embracing English for opportunity while preserving Kashmiri as a living source of identity and cultural continuity As the world observes International Mother Language Day, the 2026 theme, Youth Voices on Multilingual Education, invites us to reflect on the languages we inherit, []

SRINAGAR: Five persons sustained injuries after a private car met with an accident near Railway Chowk in Banihal area of Ramban district on Saturday. Sources said the vehicle bearing registration number UP20CY5823 was travelling from Jammu towards Srinagar when the driver reportedly lost control near the busy highway junction, leading to the mishap. Soon after []

SRINAGAR: A suspicious object was detected on the Safapora-Ganderbal road in central Kashmir on Saturday, sources said. Police sources stated that security forces immediately rushed to the site and cordoned off the area as a precautionary measure. Further details regarding the nature of the object and any subsequent action are awaited. Authorities are closely monitoring []

Increased hygiene awareness and demand for chemical-free products encourage new women-led ventures, retail outlets and online sales, revitalising Kashmirs small but growing soap industry, reports Tehreem Parviaz For more than the last three decades, Haji Abdul Rashid, 63, has been running his shop, Modern Kashmiri Soap, from Shehr-e-Khaas near Khanqah. A dedicated, skilled man, he []

SRINAGAR: Seven personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were injured in a road accident in the Dagpora area of Srinagar on Saturday, officials said. The accident occurred at Umar Hair on Dagpora Road in Ahmad Nagar when the driver of a BP bunker vehicle lost control, causing it to skid off the road []

SRINAGAR: Food adulteration and enforcement gaps came under discussion in the Assembly as the government laid detailed data on food sampling, prosecutions, laboratory infrastructure and border surveillance mechanisms in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. According to the figures tabled, a total of 9,046 food samples were lifted during 202324, of which 34 were []

by Asad Mirza In 2026, Christianitys Lent and Islams Ramadan begin on the same day for the first time in 33 years, highlighting shared traditions of fasting, reflection, and devotion. The two largest religions of the world, Christianity and Islam, started their most important period of fasting in a year on the same day in []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in coordination with officials from the Geology and Mining Department, seized multiple vehicles involved in illegal extraction and transportation of soil and minerals across Baramulla district. During routine patrolling and checks in the Authoora area of Kreeri, Police Station Kreeri seized a JCB and a tipper bearing registration number []

SRINAGAR: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved new and increased Postgraduate Super-Specialty (DM/MCh) seats for Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir for the Academic Year 2025-26. According to a notice issued by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the National Medical Commission vide No. M-19011/13/2025/NMC/PGMARB (e-file No. 8337538) dated February 20, []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Friday underlined the collective responsibility of legislators, senior citizens, intellectuals, community members and religious leaders in combating drug abuse across the Union Territory. Replying to a clubbed question in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the Minister detailed initiatives by the Health Department, including mandatory []

SRINAGAR: The first leg of the budget session of the Jammu Kashmir Assembly concluded on Friday, with the House scheduled to reassemble on March 27 to pass the Appropriation Bill for the 2026-27 budget. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather announced that House will reassemble on March 27, when it will reconvene to pass the Appropriation Bill-a []

SRINAGAR: Pakistani forces violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district on Friday, according to multiple media reports. The incident took place around noon at TMG (Toot Mar Gali) in the Nowgam sector, when posts across the border in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) fired small arms at Indian positions, officials said. The []

SRINAGAR: The Chief Engineer (Distribution), KPDCL, has announced scheduled shutdowns of key 33 kV lines, affecting power supply across several districts. On February 23, 2026, the 33 kV Bemina-Fatehkadal and Bemina-Barbarshah lines will be offline, disrupting electricity to KK Mohalla, Nowpora, Bohrikadal, BB Shah, Babademb, Bishembarnagar, Gousia Hospital, Naisarak, Barbarshah, Exchange, Basantbagh, Car Parking, Maisuma []

SRINAGAR: The Government on Friday informed the House that the proposal for enhancement of stipend for MBBS/BDS interns is presently under examination in the Finance Department. Replying to a question tabled by MLA Hasnain Masoodi, the Health and Medical Education Department said that a committee constituted vide Government Order No. 538-JK(HME) of 2023 had recommended []

SRINAGAR: A brief but sharp exchange took place in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Friday after National Conference MLA Hilal Akbar Lone objected to a demand raised by PDP legislator Aga Muntazir Mehdi regarding opening of a JK Bank branch in Sumbal. During the proceedings, Aga Muntazir raised the issue of establishing a []

SRINAGAR: In a significant administrative reshuffle, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered the transfer and posting of 22 IAS and JKAS officers across Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect. As per Government Order No. 230-JK(GAD) of 2026 issued by the General Administration Department, senior officers have been assigned new responsibilities across key departments and district administrations. []

SRINAGAR: Mehbooba Mufti, president of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Friday urged Narendra Modi to safeguard Kashmirs apple industry by excluding apples from the proposed Indo-US trade agreement. Citing reports of potential zero-duty imports of American apples, she warned that such a move would undermine the Valleys orchard-based economy, which supports more than seven lakh []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that three tourism projects have been completed and one is under execution in the Ramgarh Constituency at a total cost of Rs 307.12 lakh under the Capex Budget. Replying to a question raised by Devinder Kumar Manyal, moved on his behalf by Surjeet []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Friday that there has been no increase in electricity tariffs in Jammu and Kashmir since December 2023, stating that billing practices remain rule-based and non-arbitrary. Replying to a question from Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri during Question Hour of the ongoing Budget Session, []

SRINAGAR: Doda Police have arrested an accused involved in the rape of a minor girl within hours of the registration of a case at Police Station Doda. A police official said that a written complaint was received from Ravinder Ray, a resident of Goriyar Purab, Adivasi Rupauli (Bihar), alleging that his 16-year-old daughter was raped []

SRINAGAR: Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma on Friday said that Kashmir would not have survived the 1947 tribal invasion had Sheikh Abdullah not played a decisive role at that critical juncture. Sharma was responding to remarks attributed to BJP-nominated Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana, who had alleged that Sheikh Abdullah and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal []

SRINAGAR: In a major administrative action against alleged corruption in infrastructure projects, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday suspended Er Imtiaz Ahmad, In-charge Executive Engineer (Civil) of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), following complaints about poor quality of macadamization and other developmental works. An official order states that the suspension has been ordered on []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said his government will fill more than 30,000 vacancies across departments in Jammu and Kashmir within the current year, reaffirming a time-bound recruitment drive to bolster public services. Replying to a question from Gharu Ram Bhagat during Question Hour in the ongoing Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir []

SRINAGAR: A total of 41,944 claims have been received across Jammu and Kashmir under the Forest Rights Act, with 28,925 individual forest rights claims and 13,019 community forest rights claims, the Union Territory government informed the assembly on Friday. The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, also known as the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest []

SRINAGAR: MLA Pulwama, Waheed Ur Rehman Para on Friday questioned the non-release of Rs 70 crore under the Marriage Assistance Scheme and Rs 200 crore under the Ladli Beti Scheme over the past three financial years, including the current year. The Peoples Democratic Party legislator criticised the National Conference-led government in Jammu and Kashmir, stating []

SRINAGAR: Acting on specific intelligence, the Food Safety Enforcement wing of the Drug and Food Control Organisation today carried out a targeted inspection in Abanshah area HMT in Srinagar and seized approximately 725 kilograms of honey found stored without any statutory labeling. Officials reported complete absence of mandatory labeling including product name, net quantity, date []

SRINAGAR: Security forces on Thursday night recovered and defused an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Janbazpora area of Baramulla district, officials said. A senior police officer said that the explosive device was detected during routine patrolling, following which the area was immediately cordoned off to ensure public safety. A bomb disposal squad was promptly []

SRINAGAR: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed Chief Electoral Officers of several States and Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, to fast-track preparations for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. An official communication stated that the exercise is scheduled to begin in April 2026 in the concerned regions. []

SRINAGAR: The Government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that employees engaged under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Jammu and Kashmir are working on a contractual basis and are paid a consolidated honorarium as per approved norms. Replying to a question tabled by MLA Surinder Kumar, Health and Medical Education Department Minister Sakina Itoo []

SRINAGAR: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a Head Constable posted at Gharota Police Station on Friday for allegedly accepting a bribe, officials said. The accused, identified as Ashok Kumar, was caught in a trap laid by the agency following a complaint that he had demanded money from an individual in connection with a []

SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Kashmir, under the Jammu Kashmir Crime Branch, has filed a chargesheet against four individuals for cheating and criminal conspiracy in connection with medical college admissions in Bangladesh. The chargesheet, lodged under FIR No. 20/2025 and Sections 420 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, has been submitted before the []

SRINAGAR: The Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has accepted a private members resolution introduced by PDP MLA Waheed-Ur-Rehman Parra, condemning hate crimes against minorities and urging strict law enforcement. The Pulwama legislator moved the resolution in response to a rise in reported attacks and harassment of Kashmiri students and traders across different []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) has announced scheduled power outages across multiple areas of the city on February 20 and 21 due to maintenance work. According to the Chief Engineer (Distribution), Jammu, electricity to Receiving Station Basant Garh will be suspended on February 20 from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. Similarly, residents []

SRINAGAR: Slamming Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for failing to provide employment to youth, Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi saved the lives of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, but the Omar Abdullahled government is taking away their jobs. Speaking during the grants of departments under the []