Kashmir Reader

LEH/JAMMU: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Tuesday visited the remote high-altitude village of Stakmo in Leh district and assured residents that a water body under the Him Sarovar project would be developed soon to address the areas chronic water scarcity. Situated at an altitude of over 13,000 feet, Stakmo has been facing acute []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) must evolve beyond administrative units and emerge as centres of innovation, equal opportunity, sustainable development and public trust, asserting that grassroots governance will play a decisive role in realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a developed India. Addressing the Seva Se Samriddhi: []

JAMMU: A mock drill involving multiple security and disaster response agencies was conducted at the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here on Tuesday as part of preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, officials said. The 57-day-long Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to commence on July 3. The exercise at the sprawling complex commenced at 8 am, witnessing []

Rajouri:The ongoing anti-terror operation Operation Sheruwali in the Dorimal-Gambir Mughlan area of the Manjakote sector in Rajouri district has entered its 32nd day. Officials said that the Security forces, including the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, are continuing extensive search and cordon operations in the forested and mountainous terrain. The operation was launched []

WASHINGTON: National Guard members and US Park Police patrolled the deck around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday as President Donald Trumps administration faces a self-imposed deadline to fix a botched renovation before the nations 250th anniversary celebrations. The patrols came two days after Trump said authorities had made multiple arrests of people he []

Thousands of devotees throng Tulmulla shrine; LG, CM, Mehbooba join celebrations; locals extend warm hospitality Sheikh Anees Ganderbal: Amid an atmosphere of devotion, spirituality and communal harmony, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits from across the country gathered at the revered Mata Kheer Bhawani shrine at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district on Monday to celebrate the annual Kheer []

Ganderbal: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday paid obeisance at the revered Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple at Tulmulla in Ganderbal on the auspicious occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami and offered prayers for peace, prosperity and the well-being of the people of Jammu Kashmir. The LG extended his greetings to devotees and wished that the blessings of []

Washington: The United States authorized Iranian oil sales on Monday, easing decades-old sanctions as it pushes toward a final peace deal with Tehran in return for commitments on nuclear inspections and free transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The general license, announced by the Treasury Department, allows the sale of crude oil and petrochemical and []

KMDA warns of supply disruption, asks public to reschedule weddings; seeks govt intervention Srinagar: The Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association (KMDA) on Mondayannouncedsuspension of fresh livestock imports into Jammu and Kashmir and advised the public to reconsider marriage and other event schedules in the comingweeks.It declared that no vehicle carrying livestock would be loaded for the []

Woman electrocuted to death; vehicles submerged; residents seek accountability Srinagar: A spell of heavy rainfall lasting nearly two hours on Monday brought large parts of Srinagar to a standstill, exposing what residents described as the failure of the citys drainagesystem, whilea 65-year-old womanlost her life after being electrocuted amid the downpour in the downtown area. []

Srinagar: Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu & Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat, on Monday chaired a comprehensive Security Review Meeting (SRM) to assess counter-insurgency measures and security arrangements for the forthcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2026 (SANJY-2026). The meeting was attended by senior officers of all formations deployed in South Kashmir, including Victor Force, Central Reserve Police []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday felicitated brilliant students of class 10th and 12th during Amar Ujala Medhavi Chhatra Samman Samaroh in Srinagar today. He also honored the educators who have made immense contributions. Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor emphasised on the change required in the classrooms to meet the future challenges. []

Srinagar: The Indian Wushu Team, led by National Chief Coach of India and Dronacharya Awardee, Kuldeep Handoo called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here on Monday. The team is scheduled to depart for China on 23rd June 2026 to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Wushu Championship in Hubei Province, followed by a one-month []

Srinagar: Stressing that sleep is a biological necessity rather than a luxury, a leading public health expert from Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar has urged people to prioritise adequate and timely sleep, warning that chronic sleep deprivation can have far-reaching consequences on physical health, mental wellbeing, and overall quality of life. In a public health []

Srinagar: A 65-year-old woman died after receiving an electric shock in the Naid Kadal area of Srinagar on Monday, officials said. An official said that the woman came into contact with a live electric current after touching an electric pole during heavy rainfall in the area. He said she sustained critical injuries and was immediately []

TULMULLA (J&K): PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said Kashmiri Pandits should move on and stop being prisoners of the past by investing in a shared future in the valley. Mufti, a former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, visited the Kheer Bhawani temple in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district and interacted []

Jammu: Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, on Monday said the committees visit to Jammu and Kashmir is strictly focused on issues related to India-Pakistan, Chino-Indian relations and the functioning of passport offices, ruling out any review of the prevailing situation in the Valley. Speaking to reporters, Tharoor,said the panel []

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Monday hit out at dissident MPs, claiming voters had rejected NDA candidates in their constituencies and backed the INDIA bloc, but greed led them to shamelessly abandon that mandate overnight. In a post on X, Thackeray further charged that the dissidents loyalty and reputation were up for []

Ganderbal: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Monday extended greetings to devotees on the occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami and said elaborate arrangements have been put in place for pilgrims visiting Kheer Bhawani temples across Kashmir. Speaking to reporters during his visit to the Kheer Bhawani temple, Garg, said the festival is being celebrated not only []

Ganderbal: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday paid obeisance at the Kheer Bhawani temple in Tulmulla area of central Kashmirs Ganderbal district on the occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami. An official said that LG Sinha offered prayers for peace, prosperity and well-being of the people and sought blessings at the shrine. Thousands of devotees from across []

Meets top leaders, MLAs to gather feedback on indiscipline, anti-party activities Srinagar: The Congress enquiry committee is currently in the Kashmir Valley to gather feedback from party leaders regarding indiscipline and anti-party activities, sources disclosed. Sources said that the team, which arrived in Srinagar on Saturday, has met several leaders in Srinagar over the past []

Srinagar: A 35-year-old man from the Rainawari area of Srinagar succumbed to his injuries at a hospital on Monday after suffering an electric shock at his residence late Sunday evening, officials said. An official said that the man received an electric shock while carrying out household work at his home. He was immediately shifted to []

Ganderbal: Thousands of devotees from Jammu and Kashmir and various parts of the country on Monday gathered at the revered Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal, to participate in the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela, celebrated on the auspicious occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami. Devotees began arriving at the shrine from the early hours of the day []

KOTA: Candidates who appeared for the NEET-UG re-exam on Sunday reported that the paper was comparatively tougher than the previous exam, with Physics emerging as the most challenging section. While Biology was generally described as easy and chemistry as moderate, many students said the Physics section was lengthy and time-consuming, and a lower cut-off []

OBBUERGEN (SWITZERLAND): Negotiators expected to work through the night after high-level US-Iran talks on their interim deal to end the war had a tense start Sunday in Switzerland, when Tehran took offence at US President Donald Trumps threat to attack and his warning that Irans president should watch what he says. The comments from afar []

5,440 centres nationwide 13 languages offered 7 lakh officials deployed 10,000 PwD candidates 81 special medical cases Aadhaar, CCTV, jammers used Re-test in 37 days New Delhi: Over 20 lakh medical aspirants took a second shot at the NEET (UG) examination on Sunday after the original test was []

Kota: Candidates who appeared for the NEET-UG re-exam on Sunday reported that the paper was comparatively tougher than the previous exam, with Physics emerging as the most challenging section. While Biology was generally described as easy and chemistry as moderate, many students said the Physics section was lengthy and time-consuming, and a lower cut-off may []

Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that a strong maritime capability is the deciding factor for a countrys economic and strategic influence, and India understands this well and is preparing for it. In his address after commissioning three indigenously built naval ships at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port here, Modi said India does []

12th International Day of Yoga Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha led the Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir in celebrating the 12th International Day of Yoga. He joined thousands of Yoga enthusiasts for a historic yoga session by the Dal Lake. Extending warm greetings to the participants, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted this years theme and emphasised []

Pray for peace, prosperity Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha have extended heartfelt greetings to the people, particularly the Kashmiri Pandit community, on the auspicious occasion of Mela Kheer Bhawani. In his message, the Chief Minister conveyed his warm wishes to devotees participating in the annual pilgrimage at the revered Mata []

Srinagar: IGP Kashmir Zone, V.K. Birdi-IPS, accompanied by DIG Central Kashmir Range Rajiv Omprakash Pande-IPS and SSP Ganderbal Sudhanshu Dhama-IPS, on Sunday visited the revered Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple at Tulmulla and took a comprehensive review of the security arrangements being put in place for the smooth and peaceful conduct of Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela-2026. []

Zurich: Delegations led by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf initiated talks aimed at restoring peace in West Asia in the Swiss mountain resort of Burgenstock on Sunday. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior Qatari leaders were also present as mediators in the quadrilateral talks termed as []

*Srinagar:The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) re-exam concluded peacefully across Kashmir on Sunday following elaborate security arrangements at examination centres, officials said. CCTV cameras and other security measures were in place throughout the valley to ensure the smooth conduct of the exam. Officials told GNS that adequate arrangements helped maintain order and prevent any []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday led the yoga day celebrations here and noted that it was helpful in maintaining both physical and mental health. Addressing the gathering at SKICC on the banks of Dal Lake here, he said it guides us toward a more holistic realm of health and happiness.

Flags attacks on Kashmiri traders, hostel crisis, exam scams SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) National Convenor, Nasir Khuehami, on Saturday held a detailed and extensive meeting with Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament and AICC Media & Publicity Department Chairman, Pawan Khera, in New Delhi to discuss a wide range of pressing issues []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Provincial President, Advocate Showkat Ahmad Mir, said that the National Conference government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is making every possible effort to ensure public welfare, provide relief to the people and accelerate the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a meeting of the []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar Saturday emphasized the need for foolproof arrangements to ensure the smooth and successful observance of the annual Mela Kheer Bhawani at the historic Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal. Sagar urged the concerned departments to work in close coordination to provide all []

SRINAGAR: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo on Saturday conducted a comprehensive visit to various areas of the City and Imambargahs in interior localities of Mir Behri Dal and Khushipora HMT to review the arrangements made for the smooth and peaceful observance of Muharram processions and to also take stock of the developmental needs of []

SRINAGAR: In a significant boost to Apni Partys growing grassroots presence, several prominent political and social leaders, along with a large number of activists from the districts of Shopian and Budgam, joined the party today. The joining took place in the presence of the party president, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, and other senior party leaders, []

Justice Vikram Nath calls for institutional coordination, vernacular outreach for womens legal empowerment SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority, under the guidance of the National Legal Services Authority, on Saturday organised a mega awareness programme on Empowering Women and Strengthening Institutional Legal Support at SKICC, Srinagar, with Supreme Court Judge and NALSA Executive []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police are intensifying their efforts to combat drug trafficking and related illegal activities across the Union Territory under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan. In Pulwama, Ganderbal, and Shopian, authorities have undertaken targeted operations to dismantle drug networks, remove illegal assets linked to peddlers, and eliminate sources of []

JAMMU: Hundreds of pilgrims began their journey on Saturday to the shrine of Mata Ragnya Devi and other traditional destinations across Kashmir, as the Mata Kheer Bhawani Yatra-2026 was ceremonially flagged off. As part of the ceremonial departure, 214 buses carrying approximately 8,500 pilgrims were flagged off towards pilgrimage destinations across Kashmir, marking the annual []

BARAMULLA: Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi on Saturday visited the Sufi spiritual shrine of Hazrat Janbaz Wali (RA) at Khanpora, Baramulla, and announced on the spot that the reconstruction of the shrine sanctum and all other left-out components of the ongoing heritage restoration project, along with other essential developmental and []

18,880 crore released nationwide SRINAGAR: Around 750 farmers from across Kashmir Valley participated in a live webcast of the Prime Ministers PM-KISAN program at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) on Saturday, coinciding with the release of the 23rd installment under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. During the []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (J&K BOPEE) on Saturday conducted the Common Entrance Test (CET) for M.Sc. Technology Courses for the academic session 2026-27 at Jammu and Srinagar Centres. The test was conducted at the Government College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar and Government MAM College, Jammu with 312 candidates []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar on Saturday attended the virtual event marking the release of the 23rd installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K). The installment was released by Prime []

Calls for timely implementation and effective field monitoring ANANTNAG: Mission Director, Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP), Sagar Doifode chaired a review meeting on Saturday at DC Office Anantnag to assess the progress of HADP, JKCIP and related interventions in the district. The []

Cautions against any laxity in timelines, quality standards MENDHAR: Aimed at accelerating the pace of developmental works and ensuring quality execution of ongoing projects, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana on Saturday chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress and implementation status of Jal Shakti, []

BANDIPORA: Director Skill Development Department and Prabhari Officer for Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) for the villages of Purana Tulail and Neeru in Block Tulail, Dr. Owais Ahmed on Saturday undertook an extensive visit to the two border villages to review the implementation of developmental initiatives under the Vibrant Village Programme and assess the progress of []

NEW DELHI: Bill Gates has said something the rest of the AI industry would rather he had kept to himself. Some of the megacomplexes going up across the United States right now will not pay off. The electricity locked in will turn out to be too expensive. The compute will be undercut by cheaper builds []