Kashmir Reader

Platform to break data silos Connect police & agencies Aims to analyse blast patterns Accelerate investigations, prosecutions New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the National IED Data Management System (NIDMS) of the National Security Guard (NSG) in New Delhi through video conferencing. The event was []

New Delhi: India on Friday criticised Chinas infrastructure development projects in the Shaksgam Valley and said that it reserves the right to take necessary measures to safeguard its interests as it is an Indian territory. Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq km of Indian territory in the Shaksgam Valley to China in 1963 from areas illegally []

New Delhi: India on Friday reiterated that there is no change in its position to keep the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. Responding to a question on the IWT while addressing his weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal []

Jammu: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of ongoing and proposed health infrastructure projects across the UT, reiterating that strengthening healthcare facilities remains a top public service priority of the government. The meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Department; Secretary, Health & []

Baramulla: Two army porters and a soldier lost their lives after falling from a height in separate incidents in north Kashmirs Baramulla district. Officials said that the bodies of two porters, identified as Layakat Ahmad Deedard and Ishfaq Ahmad Khatana, both residents of Chandoosa, were recovered following an extensive search operation. The duo, officials said, []

Srinagar: The first batch of egg samples collected from various parts of Srinagar has been found safe for consumption and compliant with the standards of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), officials said on Friday. Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety, Srinagar, Yameen ul Nabi said that eight samples collected from supermarkets and []

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said the likelihood of evidence tampering or influencing witnesses after grant of bail in offences involving sexual assault against children is a legitimate and grave concern. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahdevan made the observations as it cancelled the bail granted by the Allahabad []

Jammu: Congress general secretary in charge of Jammu and Kashmir, Sayeed Naseer Hussain, on Friday said the cancellation of permission to run an MBBS course at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) was against the overall interests of the youth of the region. The National Medical Commission (NMC) late on Tuesday []

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bangladeshi-Swedish writer Taslima Nasrin on Friday hit out at the Bangladesh government, alleging that its chief advisor, Muhammad Yunus, has aligned himself with religious extremists and empowered forces of division in that country. Speaking on the topic of Book for Peace at the 4th Kerala Legislative Assembly International Book Festival (KLIBF), Nasrin also alleged []

DUBAI: Irans supreme leader signalled Friday that security forces would crack down on protesters after they screamed from windows and marched through the streets overnight, directly challenging US President Donald Trumps pledge to support those peacefully demonstrating. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed Trump as having hands stained with the blood of Iranians as supporters []

MOSCOW: Even as the fate of most other crew, including three Indians, remains unclear, Russia on Friday said it welcomed US decision to release two of its nationals on board an oil tanker seized by the American forces. Russian-flagged Marinera tanker, previously known as Bella 1, was seized on Wednesday by the US Coast Guard []

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday condemned West Bengal chief minister for her conduct during the ED raids at a private consultancy firm and alleged that her actions show she tried to rescue something sensitive implicating her and her party in the money laundering case linked to the alleged coal smuggling. Addressing a press conference []

SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief cleric of Kashmir, was placed under house arrest on Friday and not allowed to lead prayers at the Jama Masjid in the Nowhatta area here. Taking to social media platform X, the Mirwaiz said he was denied permission to move to the grand mosque where he delivers the Friday []

SRINAGAR The University of Kashmir on Friday announced its winter break for the current academic year. An official order states, It is for the information of all concerned that the teaching departments of the main and off-site campuses shall observe winter vacations with effect from January 10, 2026, to February 22, 2026. The []

Srinagar: The egg samples collected around 20 days ago from various parts of Srinagar have been found safe for consumption and in compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms, officials said on Friday. Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety, Srinagar, Yameen ul Nabi said that eight samples were collected from []

Directs sustained counter-terror ops, praises agencies Asserts Modi govt committed to eliminating terrorism, establishing lasting peace New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah chaired a security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi on Thursday. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary, Director (IB), Chief []

UNITED NATIONS: India is projected to grow at 6.6 per cent in 2026, registering an exceptionally high growth in a challenging global environment, with resilient private consumption and strong public investment largely offsetting the impact of high US tariffs, the United Nations has said. The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 report released on Thursday []

NEW YORK: The top United Nations official has said that the United States has a legal obligation to keep paying its dues that fund UN agencies after the White House announced that it is withdrawing support from more than 30 initiatives operated by the world body. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he regretted President Donald Trumps []

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has said on social media that he is directing the federal government to buy USD 200 billion in mortgage bonds, a move he said would help reduce mortgage rates at a time when Americans are worried about home prices. Trump and the White House have been trying to show they are []

Facility aims to enhance public sanitation, improve civic amenities SRINAGAR: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo, on Thursday inaugurated a newly constructed Public Toilet complex at the DC Office premises. The facility has been developed by the District Administration Srinagar to enhance public sanitation and improve civic amenities within the Amar Niwas complex with a []

Communalising education will cost us generations, says Er Ehtisham SRINAGAR: Er Ehtisham Khan,a prominent social & student-rights activist, on Thursday expressed grave concern over the recent decision of the National Medical Commission to withdraw recognition from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence. While regulatory authorities have cited deficiencies relating to infrastructure, faculty []

Students selected through NEET should not made suffer SRINAGAR: Former Cabinet Minister and Apni Party Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir hasexpressed serious concern over the National Medical Commissions (NMC) decision to withdraw the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) for running an MBBS course for []

SRINAGAR: J&K Police have successfully solved two separate fatal hit-and-run cases registered at Police Station Tarzoo and Police Station Sopore through thorough and systematic investigation, leading to the identification and arrest of the accused persons involved. In the first case registered at Police Station Tarzoo under relevant sections of the law, information was received regarding []

BUDGAM: J&K Police in collaboration with Tourist Police Station Srinagar, conducted a verification and checking drive of homestays and guest houses in the Humhama area of Budgam. During the inspection, homestays and guest houses that were found operating without valid registration are Cozy Heaven, Sheikhpora, near Armed Complex, Haji Guest House, Humhama, near Airport, Sukoonat []

GANDERBAL: In a swift and well-coordinated operation against timber smuggling, J&K Police successfully seized a consignment of illicit Timber along with a Load Carrier and arrested the accused involved in the commission of crime. During routine naka checking near Wussan, a police team of Police Station Ganderbal intercepted a suspicious load carrier vehicle bearing Registration []

GANDERBAL: In a continued drive against drug abuse, J&K Police in Ganderbal have arrested two drug peddlers and recovered contraband substance from their possession. A Police team of PS Kheerbawani at a checkpoint established at Central University Crossing, intercepted and apprehended 02 suspicious persons. During search, approximately 3 Kilograms of Contraband Powdered Bhang-like Substance was []

SRINAGAR: In a bid to reinforce financial sustainability and enhance the delivery of civic services, the Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Faz Lul Haseeb, on Thursday conducted an on-ground inspection of municipal assets, with a focus on strengthening the Corporations revenue framework. The Commissioner was accompanied by the Joint Commissioner, Chief Revenue Officer, and other []

The Aravallis are the breath of life for every Indian. Older than the Himalayas, this range blocks deserts, recharges water, and hosts prehistoric sites. Now, legal ambiguity and mining threaten to fragment it beyond recovery. If we lose the Aravallis, we lose groundwater, wildlife, clean air, and climate balance. Masroora Jan The Aravallis are a []

The wish to die young reveals a dread of dependence and irrelevance. The solution lies not in escaping life, but in reshaping how we value and support our elders. Rabiya Jaan Many people silently carry a thought they are afraid to say aloud: I dont want to be old. I would rather die early than []

Srinagar: At least two houses have been damaged in a fire mishap in the Nowhatta locality of Srinagar on Thursday, officials said, adding that fire fighting operations are on. An official said that the fire erupted from one of the houses and quickly spread to another adjacent house. He said that locals immediately tried []

KATRA/JAMMU: The National Medical Commissions abrupt decision to withdraw its letter of permission to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Jammu and Kashmirs Katra, just months after the inaugural session of the college commenced, has left the students and faculty staring at an uncertain future. While the Medical Assessment and Rating []

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday launched the e-Pathshala initiative of the school education department, asserting that digital platforms are meant to supplement classroom teaching and bridge learning gaps. The e-Pathshala channel will be available on DTH channel 53 for home-based learning across the Union Territory. The chief minister also inaugurated []

Jammu: At least four people were injured after a vehicle they were travelling in met with an accident at Chaktroo near the police post area of Mandi in Poonch district on Thursday morning. Officials said that a minibus lost control this morning and turned turtle, resulting in injuries to four people in the Chaktroo area. []

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Wednesday proposed setting military spending at USD 1.5 trillion in 2027, citing troubled and dangerous times. Trump called for the massive surge in spending days after he ordered a US military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicols Maduro and spirit him out of the country to face drug trafficking charges []

WASHINGTON: Speaker Mike Johnson has invited President Donald Trump to give the first State of the Union address of his second term on February 24. The invitation sent on Wednesday notes that the nation is marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. The invitation touted the work of Trump and a Republican-led Congress in 2025 []

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump abruptly changed his tone on Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, saying the two had exchanged a friendly phone call and that hed invited the leader of the South American country to the White House. It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who []

JERUSALEM: Amid deepening bilateral engagement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday told his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that Israel values its partnership with New Delhi and their shared determination to defeat terrorism. Netanyahu, in a telephone call with Modi first in 2026 also said he looked forward to meeting the Indian prime minister []

Bandipora: The Indian Army on Wednesday carried out a swift and well-coordinated vehicle recovery operation after a civilian vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a nallah in Bandipora district, officials said. They said trained Army personnel assessed the difficult terrain and deployed authorised recovery drills to safely extract the vehicle. The operation involved []

Expresses concern over NMC revocation of SMVD medical college recognition SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the revocation of the Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Colleges recognition by the National Medical Commission. The Association, in a statement issued here, said that this decision marks yet another erosion of []

SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Wednesday inaugurated a dedicated parking facility at the Old Secretariat, Srinagar, for the staff of various offices housed at the Amar Niwas Complex. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Akshay Labroo and other officers including Assistant Commissioner Central, Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Chief Planning Officer Srinagar, Deputy Director Planning, and other []

SRINAGAR: In order to assess the progress on the saturation of various Government flagship schemes in the Rural Blocks of the district, a meeting of concerned Officers was on Wednesday held under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo here at Meeting Hall of the DC Office. The meeting was convened in the []

Waqf Board Chairperson chairs Meraj-e-Aalam preparedness review meeting SRINAGAR: Continuing the developmental journey of the Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board, Chairperson, Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi on Wednesday dedicated new infrastructural works to the public at the famous shrine of Peer Dastgir Sahib in Khanyar Srinagar. The event was held within the campus of the holy []

Mobile van to operate for two days SRINAGAR: In a citizen centric initiative aimed at improving accessibility to passport services, the Regional Passport Office Srinagar, under the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, will deploy a Mobile Passport Van in Kupwara from Thursday, 08th January 2026 to Friday 09th January 2026. The initiative is []

SRINAGAR: The UGCMalaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC), University of Kashmir (KU), on Tuesday began a week-long Faculty Development Programme on Academic Leadership and Resource Management (Interdisciplinary) at the Main Campus. The programme aims to strengthen leadership capacities among faculty members, enhance effective resource planning, and encourage interdisciplinary approaches to academic governance in higher education []

Slams right-wing outfits for celebrating institution shutdown Orders immediate adjustment of affected batch in hometown colleges Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said he had directed an immediate relocation of students admitted to Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College to facilities in their hometowns. The decision was announced a day after, the []

Jammu/Srinagar: The NMCs decision to withdraw permission granted for setting up an MBBS course in a Jammu college over its non-compliance of minimum standards has evoked mixed reactions, with the BJP and protest groups welcoming the move, while the NC, Congress and PDP have termed it a setback. The Sangharsh Samiti, a recently formed conglomerate []

Flags off J&Ks UT Contingent for 29th National Youth Festival-Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue-2026 Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday virtually flagged off a 53-member Youth Contingent from UT of Jammu Kashmir for New Delhi to participate in the 29th National Youth Festival-Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue-2026. To commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami []

New Delhi: The first phase of Census 2027 houselisting operations will take place between April 1 and September 30 this year in all states and Union territories over a 30-day period specified by each state and UT, a government notification said on Wednesday. There will also be an option for self-enumeration to be conducted in []

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday hit out at Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for maintaining silence on issues concerning the people of the Union territory. In her brief speech while speaking at the tenth death anniversary of her father and PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Mehbooba said the []

SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, Dr. Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, on Wednesday expressed concern over the unusually dry winter being witnessed in Kashmir, marked by a worrying absence of rain and snowfall. In a post on X, he said that rain and snow are manifestations of Allahs mercy, and their prolonged absence calls for believers to reflect, return []