News

SRINAGAR:The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has declined to quash Goods and Services Tax (GST) showcause notices issued to dozens of traders involved in the crossLine of Control (LoC) barter trade, ruling that the tax authorities acted within their jurisdiction and that the petitioners must pursue the statutory appellate route. A []

SRINAGAR: A multi-vehicle collision occurred on Saturday morning near Ghat No 25 on the NishatDalgate road axis in Srinagar after freezing water on the roadway created extremely slippery conditions, officials said. A police official said that three vehicles heading from Nishat toward Dalgate collided with one another after losing control on an icy stretch near []

SRINAGAR: A fire broke out in the OPD building of JVC Hospital Bemina in Srinagar early Saturday morning, causing damage to several rooms, officials said. An official said that the blaze erupted around 5:00 am, affecting five rooms, including the faculty rooms, Orthopaedics office, and Ophthalmology office, besides other office sections. Fire and Emergency Services []

SRINAGAR: A demolition drive in Jammu has snowballed into a major political controversy after the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) levelled the home of 72-year-old Ghulam Qadir Daing, father of local journalist Arfaz Ahmad Daing, triggering sharp reactions across Jammu and Kashmir. The incident, which unfolded in Nawal, Transport Nagar on Thursday, has drawn political leaders, []

SRINAGAR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed Prosecution Complaint (PC) against Abdul Momin Peer and his wife, Syed Sadaf Andrabi, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), linking the case to a narcotics-related FIR from Handwara police station. According to the statement, Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Srinagar Zonal Office has filed a Prosecution Complaint []

SRINAGAR: Minister of Education Sakina Itoo Friday said that the government will act tough against all those private schools that are violating the orders and norms issued by the concerned authorities. Itoo while speaking to the reporters said, The School Education Department has already notified the rules and norms to be followed by the private []

SRINAGAR: The Chief Proctor of Kashmir University, Professor Imtiyaz, on Friday night said that the black bear sighted earlier on the campus is no longer present inside the university premises. He informed that the Wildlife Department has confirmed the bear has moved towards the Habak area and that the campus is now safe. Students need []

SRINAGAR: Panic gripped the girls hostels of Kashmir University on Friday late evening after a black bear entered the campus, forcing students to remain indoors and prompting an emergency response by university authorities. Eyewitnesses said the bear was first spotted near the Sadrabal side, walking along the footpath as stunned commuters looked on. A group []

SRINAGAR: A 65-year-old man died after being hit by a truck in Satpakhren, Khrew Pampore area of South Kashmirs Pulwama district this evening, officials said. Tthe accident occurred when a truck bearing registration number JK05C-0676 struck a pedestrian on the roadside. The pedestrian, identified as Ghulam Mohammad Mir, a resident of Ismail Colony Satpakhren, sustained []

SRINAGAR: Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has announced a series of scheduled power shutdowns across several areas in north, central and south Kashmir for maintenance works between 30 November and 7 December. According to the Chief Engineer, Distribution, the 132 KV AmargarhKupwara transmission line (circuits 1 and 2) will remain shut from 09.00 AM []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday accused the Lieutenant Governor administration of hollowing out the authority of the elected government and running Jammu and Kashmir from Raj Bhawan by empowering officers without accountability. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the National Conference Working Committee, Abdullah said key institutions remain outside the control of []

SRINAGAR: The Pulwama district administration has intensified its crackdown on illegal mining, seizing 53 vehicles this month during coordinated enforcement drives carried out by the Department of Geology and Mining in collaboration with Police, Revenue and Flood Control authorities. Acting on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Dr Basharat Qayoom, joint teams have stepped up []

SRINAGAR: The Working Committee of the National Conference, which met on November 27 and 28, 2025, unanimously passed a series of key political resolutions, reaffirming its demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs special status and immediate reinstatement of full statehood. In its first resolution, the Committee reiterated its unwavering commitment to the restoration []

SRINAGAR: Joint teams of 180 Battalion CRPF and SOG Awantipora on Friday arrested a village nambardar and recovered explosive material during a sweep search and ADP operation at Naner Gujar Basti under Police Station Awantipora in Pulwama district. Police said the joint teams launched a cordon and search operation in the area on specific inputs []

SRINAGAR: A Hindu family from Jammu has gifted a five marla plot of land to a Muslim journalist whose house was demolished a day earlier by the Jammu Development Authority. The land was donated by Kuldeep Sharma, who handed over the ownership documents to the victim through his daughter. A video of the moment has []

SRINAGAR: Srinagar Police have attached a double storey residential house along with four marlas of land worth approximately Rs 75 lakh under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act as part of its intensified drive against drug trafficking in the district. The property, located at Usmania Colony in the Badamwari Lal Bazar []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday lashed out at Raj Bhawan over the ongoing demolition drive in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that officers deployed under its authority were deliberately acting without the consent of the elected government to malign his administration. Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said that field staff and revenue officials []

SRINAGAR: Authorities on Friday ordered the closure of Chadoora bridge in central Kashmirs Budgam district for traffic movement after experts declared it unsafe due to damage by recent floods. The bridge is a crucial link connecting Chadoora with Charar-i-Sharif, Yousmarg and Pulwama, and also provides vital access to three sub-district hospitals Chadoora, Nagam and []

SRINAGAR: PDP leader Waheed Parra on Friday said that the PDPs Land Bill titled The Regularisation and Recognition of Property Rights Bill was drafted to protect the dignity of the poorest families in Jammu and Kashmir and to recognise that those who have lived on State, Kahcharai, Common and Shamilat lands for over twenty years []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has granted bail to Khalid Hussain alias Munna, who has spent more than seven years in custody as the sole surviving accused in the 2018 Karwanda Talab murder case. The Court held that continued incarceration would amount to persecution, especially when the prosecutions entire case rests on circumstantial []

SRINAGAR: The Wildlife Protection Department, South Division Bijbehara, captured two black bears alive in separate swift operations carried out in Anantnag district on Friday, officials said. The first bear was captured by the Control Room Achabal from Soyan Sagram, Kokernag, following repeated sightings that had created panic among residents. In a separate operation, officials from []

SRINAGAR: As reported exclusively by Jammu-based newspaper Daily Excelsior, the Home Affairs Ministry has withdrawn major delegated financial powers from the Lt Governor of Ladakh, Administrative Secretaries, Deputy Commissioners and senior engineering officials, placing the approval of projects squarely under the Ministrys direct control. An order issued by Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta, based on instructions []

SRINAGAR: Srinagar Police along with personnel of 132 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force and the Mahila Company of 213 Battalion CRPF on Friday early morning carried out a joint cordon and search operation and conducted surprise verification drives in the Lalchowk area of the city. Officials said that the operation focused on hotels, guest []

SRINAGAR: Pulwama Police launched a major operation against illegal mining activities in the district and seized a large number of heavy machines and vehicles from two locations, SIDCO Lassipora and Gund Achan Panjran. Police officials said special teams conducted targeted late-night checking based on credible inputs about unauthorised extraction and transportation of minerals in the []

SRINAGAR: As the school education department conducts enrolment drives in Kashmir to attract more students to government schools, several institutions in Tral sub-division of south Kashmirs Pulwama district are grappling with staff shortages and poor infrastructure. Many government schools in Tral continue to reel under severe infrastructure deficiencies and acute staff shortages, leaving hundreds of []

SRINAGAR: Kashmir witnessed its harshest end-November cold spell in nearly 18 years on Friday as minimum temperatures plummeted across the Valley, breaking records last seen in 2007 and signalling an early onset of severe winter conditions. Srinagar city recorded a minimum of minus 4.5C, while the airport reported an even more severe minus 6.4C. Pampore []

SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet before the Court of the Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Anantnag, against two individuals accused of fraudulently mutating disputed land and preparing forged documents in violation of a court order. The chargesheet names Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat of Babapora Qazigund, a former Patwari of Halqa []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a major Disproportionate Assets (DA) case against Malik Tahir Gani, Director State Motor Garages, following a secret verification that reportedly uncovered massive properties, bank holdings, and commercial assets allegedly far exceeding his known sources of income. The official said that based on a specific input, a []

SRINAGAR: A series of shallow earthquakes struck the Indian Ocean on Thursday, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported, raising concerns of potential aftershocks due to the low-depth seismic activity. According to the NCS, the strongest of the quakesmeasuring magnitude 6.4occurred at 10.26 am IST at a depth of 10 km, with its epicentre located []

SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir Police on Thursday conducted a series of coordinated searches across the Valley at multiple residential and commercial premises linked to individuals and institutions allegedly associated with Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), as part of an ongoing security exercise to maintain public order. Officials informed that the searches formed part of a continuing effort to identify []

SRINAGAR: A Delhi court on Thursday permitted Baramulla Member Parliament (MP), Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Engineer Rashid, to attend the sixth session of the 18th Lok Sabha while remaining in custody. The court said that the permission is subject to conditions imposed previously. Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma clarified that the cost of []

SRINAGAR: Days after the Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association warned of a fresh price hike over alleged extortion and harassment at Punjab checkpoints, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday assured swift action with a joint high-level committee scheduled to take up the matter with Punjab authorities after the December 2. Mehraj-ud-Din Ganai, General Secretary []

SRINAGAR:The Jammu Kashmir Pavilion at the 44th India International Trade Fair 2025 concluded on a highly successful note, registering on-the-spot sales of approximately Rs 13.50 crore and generating more than 6000 business leads for participating exhibitors. The impressive turnover has reinforced the strong market response to the Union Territorys diverse product range and the growing []

SRINAGAR: Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has announced a series of scheduled power shutdowns across multiple parts of the Valley in the coming days, citing maintenance and upgradation works on various 33 KV lines. According to the Chief Engineer, Distribution, the 33 KV ShariefabadNarbal line will remain shut on December 06 from 09.30 AM []

SRINAGAR: A massive forest fire broke out in Forest Compartment No. 89 of Chontihall Chattergul area of Uttersoo in South Kashmir Anantnag district on Thursday, officials said. Officials said that flames were first spotted by locals, following which information was passed to the Forest Department and Fire and Emergency Services. Forest teams, assisted by locals, []

SRINAGAR: Three JKAS officers were transferred on Thursday, with Syed Qamar Sajad posted as Director Tourism, Kashmir. The order issued by the General Administration Department stated that Pankaj Magotra, JKAS, who was awaiting adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Director, Command Area Development, Jammu, against an available vacancy. The government has []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has placed the ongoing selection process for the Jammu and Kashmir Commission for Protection of Child Rights (JKSPCR) under judicial scrutiny, directing that appointments to the posts of Chairperson and Members will remain subject to the outcome of a writ petition filed by Dr Shahid []

SRINAGAR: Police in Shopian on Thursday seized 1.2 kilograms of cannabis from a residential house in Zainapora as part of an ongoing crackdown on narcotics in the district. Police said a case under FIR No. 117/2025 of the NDPS Act was registered at Police Station Zainapora after specific information was received. A search warrant was []

SRINAGAR: Incarcerated Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid has announced a one-day symbolic hunger strike inside Tihar Jail on November 28, alleging that the constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been bulldozed since August 2019. The declaration was made in a handwritten letter addressed to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and released []

SRINAGAR: Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Thursday dismissed Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudharys recent suggestion that he should raise his voice in Parliament instead of seeking the limelight, saying his politics is rooted in principles rather than a pursuit of power. Speaking with reporters, Ruhullah said that those who lack discipline, honesty, loyalty, and []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Finance Department has extended the deadline for submission of Life Certificates or Digital Life Certificates by pensioners and family pensioners till December 15, 25, calling it the final opportunity to meet the annual requirement. Under the Treasury Code, all pensioners drawing benefits through banks and treasuries must submit their Life []

SRINAGAR: Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Thursday said that this was the first time since 2002 that he had not been invited to the National Conferences Central Working Committee meeting, indicating a fresh escalation in tensions between him and the party leadership. Speaking with reporters in Ganderbal, Ruhullah said he had no information []

SRINAGAR: Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Naseer Ahmad Wani on Thursday said that schools currently functioning from rented accommodations will be shifted to government buildings in a phased manner. During a visit to Sopore to review the ongoing board examinations, Wani said the department has begun resolving land-related issues that have delayed the process. He []

byDr Nawab John Dar Incubation centres in Kashmir risk undermining young founders by interrupting pitches, triggering stress that impairs performance, discouraging innovation, and weakening the ecosystem. Respectful listening and domain-relevant evaluation are essential for nurturing early talent A worrying pattern has emerged across incubation centres in Kashmir. Young founders who want to pitch their ideas []

Ladakhs two major bodies have submitted a comprehensive demand for Statehood, Sixth Schedule protections and general amnesty after the September violence, insisting these measures are essential for restoring trust and resuming meaningful talks, reports Babra Wani If consistency and conviction have an address in erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, it is the Ladakh region. After initially []

SRINAGAR: Police in Srinagar have dismantled an alleged narcotics module operating across Nowhatta and Rainawari with the seizure of more than five kilograms of charas-like substance and the arrest of three persons linked to FIR No. 57/2025. Officials said a naka was established at Malkha Chowk by Police Station Nowhatta at about 5:30 pm on []

SRINAGAR: Traffic Police Srinagar on Thursday launched a special drive outside SMHS Hospital to clear the stretch leading to the OPD, which remains routinely congested due to wrong parking despite a designated parking facility in the vicinity. The drive was led by SSP Traffic City Srinagar Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, who told Kashmir News Observer that []

SRINAGAR: Police in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Thursday morning launched coordinated searches at multiple locations, targeting individuals and premises suspected of links to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), which remains proscribed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). An official said that the searches are being carried out simultaneously at several sites based on actionable []

SRINAGAR: At least 44 people have died and nearly 300 others remain unaccounted for after a massive fire tore through a cluster of high-rise residential buildings in Hong Kong, marking the citys worst blaze in almost three decades, the BBC reported. The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon on the exterior of a 32-storey tower []

SRINAGAR: Kashmir experienced a severe cold wave as minimum temperatures dropped sharply across the region, with Srinagar recording its coldest night of the season at 4.4C. Several districts, including Shopian, Pulwama, Baramulla and Anantnag, also witnessed intense sub-zero conditions. According to data compiled by Kashmir Weather, Shopian remained the coldest in the Valley at 6.5C, []