Kashmir Reader

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Additional General Secretary and MP Chowdry Muhammad Ramzan Wednesday claimed that PDP continues to survive on the political patronage of the BJP and functions as an instrument to fragment the collective voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a party convention of the Tral Constituency, organised []

SRINAGAR: A formal meeting of the Committee on Assurances was held on Thursday at the Assembly Secretariat, Srinagar, under the chairmanship of MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar. MLA Iftkar Ahmad, Waheed ur Rehman Para, Shabir Ahmad Kullay along with senior officers from the Assembly Secretariat were present in the meeting. During the meeting, the Chairman underscored []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Thursday paid glowing tributes to Sayyid-ush-Shuhada Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his loyal companions saying that the unparalleled sacrifice of Karbala continues to illuminate the path of truth, justice, steadfastness and unwavering faith for all humanity. In his message, Dr. Farooq said that []

SRINAGAR: Paying glowing tributes to Imam-e-Aali Maqam Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his loyal companions, Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, Youm-e-Ashura reminds us of the timeless lesson taught by Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions: that we must always uphold truth and justice, and never bow before oppression, even if it []

PULWAMA: Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Thursday visited Aripal Tral and addressed a mega public gathering. The Minister was accompanied by Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan and MLA Hazratbal, Salman Sagar. While interacting with the gathering, the Minister assured the people that the government remains []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha attended Rudra Abhishek ceremony on the auspicious occasion of Shivacharya Abhinavgupta Jayanti and Nirjala Ekadashi at Shri Anandishwar Bhairav Nath Ji Maharaj Asthapan, Maisuma, Srinagar on Thursday. He interacted with the devotees and extended his heartiest greetings. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor observed that Shri Anandishwar Bhairav Nath Ji []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha have expressed profound grief over the demise of Romin Ahmad, JKAS, who was serving as Joint Director, Handloom, Kashmir. In his condolence message, the Chief Minister described the passing of the officer as a significant loss to the administration. The Chief Minister extended his heartfelt []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President and Honble Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday attended the Majlis-e-Isal-e-Sawab of the late wife of party stalwart and former General Secretary, Late Khawaja Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Shah, and the revered mother of former MLA Irfan Shah. They were accompanied by the []

To guide sustainable water management in J&K SRINAGAR: Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra on thurssday chaired a meeting of the Union Territory Level Coordination Committee (UTLC) convened for assessment of groundwater resource potential in Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2026. Apart from senior officials of Central Government Water Board, the meeting []

Participates in Baba Kanju Shah Annual Urs at Jammu JAMMU: Chairperson of the Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board, Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, on Wednesday participated in the Annual Urs of Peer Baba Syed Kanju Shah Sahib (RA) at Kunjwani in Jammu, where thousands of devotees took part in the Urs celebrations, with the Waqf Board []

Chairs high-level meeting at Pahalgam; reviews Yatra preparations Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting at Pahalgam and reviewed the preparations for the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026, starting from 3rd July. The meeting was attended by Dr. Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and CEO Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board; []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday visited the Nunwan base camp with senior officials and reviewed the on-ground arrangements for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026. The Lieutenant Governor conducted a detailed inspection and took stock of all amenities in place to ensure a smooth, comfortable, and welcoming experience for the devotees of Baba Barfani. The []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday addressed the Valedictory Session of an International Conference on Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, organized by the Government Degree College for Women, Anantnag in collaboration with the District Administration Anantnag. The Lieutenant Governor stated that the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is a living embodiment of Indias spiritual consciousness, cultural []

Traffic curbs across downtown; thousands expected to participate Srinagar: As Kashmir prepares to observe Youm-e-Ashura on Friday with religious fervour and solemnity, authorities have put in place elaborate traffic arrangements across Srinagar to ensure the smooth conduct of the traditional Zuljinah procession from Bota Kadal to Imambara Zadibal. The annual procession, one of the largest []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday paid rich tributes to Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and the martyrs of Karbala, recalling their unparalleled sacrifice for truth, justice and righteousness. In his message on the solemn occasion of Ashoora, the Chief Minister said that the tragedy of Karbala remains an eternal []

Says safety was priority, not haste Rewards rescuers with Rs 50,000 Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday reopened the Gulmarg Cable Car project to the public, a month after a technical snag forced the closure of the popular ride to the upper reaches of Gulmarg. Abdullah, who visited the Cable Car []

Srinagar: In a major step towards ensuring the safe, secure and peaceful conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026 (SANJY-2026), police in Anantnag has launched Project Hawk Eye, a comprehensive surveillance and security initiative aimed at maintaining round-the-clock vigilance from the sky to the ground along the entire yatra route. Under this initiative, Police has deployed []

LG thanks PM, Sports Minister for landmark approval Srinagar: In a major boost to the sports ecosystem of Jammu & Kashmir, the Government of India has accorded approval for the establishment of the first National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Sports for J&K, to come up in Kashmir. The proposed Centre, to be developed in []

Focus on Dal-Nigeen management plan, sewerage infrastructure Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday chaired the 27th Board of Directors meeting of the Jammu & Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) at SKICC to review the progress of ongoing conservation initiatives and deliberate on policy, administrative and infrastructure-related matters concerning the Dal, Nigeen, Khushalsar []

Srinagar: The government Thursday said that it will consider announcing summer vacations for schools of Kashmir division in the month of July. Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo said, As of now we have no plans of announcing summer vacations, weather is good for now. The government will think about it in the month []

Sumbal: As part of extensive security and preparedness measures for the forthcoming annual Amarnath Yatra, a multi-agency mock drill was conducted at the Shadipora Transit Camp in North Kashmirs Bandipora district on Thursday to assess the readiness of security and emergency response agencies. The exercise witnessed the participation of personnel from the Special Operations Group []

Gulmarg: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Gulmarg Gondola service was resumed only after the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), POMA, certified the repairs and maintenance procedures following last months technical fault, asserting that the government prioritised safety over an early reopening. Speaking to the media said CM Omar made the []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya for approving Jammu and Kashmirs first National Centre of Excellence at Awantipora, Pulwama. Taking to X, the LG said the NCOE will serve as a premier national centre for High Altitude Sports and []

Srinagar:Srinagar Traffic Police has issued a detailed traffic advisory for Youm-i-Ashoora, which will be observed on 10th Muharram, June 26, 2026. The main Zuljinah procession will be taken out from Bota Kadal to Imambara Zadibal, affecting traffic in Zadibal and adjacent areas. *Key Diversions Announced* In a handout, the traffic police said that to ensure []

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Police has booked several Army personnel, including a commanding officer, for allegedly storming a police station in Kishtwar district, assaulting police personnel and damaging government property, officials said on Thursday. The Army said the matter is under examination through the appropriate institutional mechanisms and assured that appropriate action will be taken []

CARACAS (VENEZUELA): Acting Venezuela President Rodrguez said early Thursday there are at least 32 people dead and 700 injured after back-to-back powerful earthquakes struck the country Wednesday evening. She warned the toll was expected to rise as rescuers searched collapsed buildings and emergency crews reached devastated areas after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes roiled []

Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir on Thursday said it has filed a chargesheet against two individuals for allegedly cheating orchardists and horticulturists through the circulation of counterfeit Glo Potash agricultural products in Kashmir. In a statement spokesperson said the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir, of the Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet []

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday received a phone call from his Armenia counterpart Nikol Pashinyan whom he thanked for facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals stranded in Iran following the recent developments in West Asia. Modi also congratulated Pashinyan on the victory of his Civil Contract Party in the countrys parliamentary elections []

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump berated Senate Republicans face to face on Wednesday for allowing a vote to block his war in Iran, further escalating a feud that has diverted GOP efforts to focus on election-year affordability issues and brought much of the chambers business to a halt. Invited by Florida Sen Rick Scott to speak []

Srinagar: Top brass of Jammu and kashmir Police on Wednesday joined the traditional 8th Muharram procession in Srinagar and interacted with mourners, while thousands of devotees participated in the religious observance amid elaborate security, traffic and civic arrangements put in place by the administration. Director General of Police (DGP) J&K Nalin Prabhat remained on the []

Agri-innovation lab, global vet school, intl students cell approved Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday chaired the 36th University Council Meeting of SKUAST-Kashmir, at Lok Bhavan. The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Cooperatives, Javid Ahmad Dar; Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo; Additional []

New Delhi: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is learnt to have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the burial ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday. The funeral ceremonies will be held from July 5 to 9. There is no confirmation from New Delhi on the invitation to PM []

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday stressed on coordination between various departments during a Union Cabinet meeting and lauded such efforts for the smooth conduct of the NEET-UG re-exam, sources said. The prime minister cited the example of the NEET retest and stressed on coordination between various ministries while adopting a whole of []

Srinagar: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims together have a larger role to play than the government for the displaced populations return to the valley. I think there is less of a role for the government and more of our Muslim and Pandit brothers together. We are one, we are []

Flags unpaid contractors, stalled projects Srinagar: Opposition PDP leader Waheed Para on Wednesday expressed concern over the slow pace of work in Jammu and Kashmir. Thousands of crores have been allocated to the R&B Department, yet the reality on the ground remains alarming. Nearly half the working season has passed, but not a single road []

Tech-driven authentication system strengthens global trust in Pashmina, carpets, heritage crafts Srinagar/New Delhi: Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, has been conferred with the prestigious SKOCH Award for its innovative GI QR Code Management System, implemented through the Pashmina Testing & Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC) at the Craft Development Institute (CDI) and the NABL-accredited Carpet []

Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday said it has filed a chargesheet against a former Block Development Officer (BDO), an Executive Engineer and five others for alleged embezzlement of government funds meant for developmental works in Kupwaras Lolab and Lalpora areas. In a statement, a spokesperson said the chargesheet was presented before the Court []

Reviews anti-militancy ops Jammu: General Officer Commanding of White Knight Corps Lt Gen P K Mishra on Wednesday visited Romeo Force headquarters in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district and reviewed the ongoing anti-militancy operations. The troops have been engaged in anti-militancy operations at various places in the border district, including Dorimal and Gambhir Mughlan forest []

Doda: Two persons were killed and three others injured after a vehicle met with an accident in the Malhori area of Assar tehsil in Doda district on Wednesday evening, officials said. An official said that a vehicle bearing registration number JK02DB-6037 met with an accident at Malhori on Wednesday evening. He said two occupants died []

CHANDIGARH: Amid the video row, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday rejected allegations that the forensic report that gave a clean chit to him was fabricated and lashed out at the opposition parties, alleging that they have joined hands to defame him. Manns remarks came a day after the Haryana Police arrested two men []

*One Dead, Three Missing After Car Plunges Into Drass River* M S Nazki Drass, June 24(GNS):A tragic accident occurred near Marpoochoo in Drass on Tuesday when a car carrying four persons plunged into the Drass River. Officials told GNS that one occupant, Agha Syed Baqir, 35, of Lankerchay, was confirmed dead after []

Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday said it has filed a chargesheet against a former Block Development Officer (BDO), an Executive Engineer and five others for alleged embezzlement of government funds meant for developmental works in Kupwaras Lolab and Lalpora areas. In a statement, a spokesperson said the chargesheet was presented before the Court []

SRINAGAR: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims together have a larger role to play than the government for the displaced populations return to the valley. I think there is less of a role for the government and more of our Muslim and Pandit brothers together. We are one, we are []

Kathua:An accident took place today at village Rampur on Dhar Road under the jurisdiction of Police Station Billawar, Kathua district. Officials said that a minibus bearing registration number JK21B7776 rolled down from the road, leaving over dozen passengers injured. Police and local administration teams reached the spot and shifted the injured to nearby medical facilities. []

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has appointed Haris Ahmad Handoo, Special Secretary in the Chief Ministers Secretariat, as the Nodal Officer to oversee inter-departmental coordination for Muharram-2026 arrangements across the Union Territory. According to a government order,Handoo will coordinate with various departments and maintain close liaison with district administrations and other agencies involved in []

Srinagar: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V.K. Birdi, on Wednesday joined the 8th Muharram procession in Srinagar, praising the mourners, volunteers and organisers for upholding peace, discipline and communal harmony. Speaking to reporters, IGP Birdi, said the Jammu and Kashmir Police has made elaborate security and traffic arrangements to ensure the smooth and peaceful []

Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Wednesday said the administration and stakeholders are working in close coordination to ensure the smooth and peaceful observance of Muharram across Kashmir, even as the Valley prepares for the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra and continues to witness a busy tourist season. Speaking during the 8th Muharram observance, []

NEW DELHI: ( Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday received a phone call from the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who expressed grief over the death of Indian nationals in a tragic accident at Ras Laffan Industrial City in that country. Twelve Indians were among 13 people killed in an explosion []

Srinagar: Beneath a blanket of black flags and mourning banners, thousands of devotees streamed into Srinagars city centre at dawn on Wednesday as the traditional 8th Muharram procession began, transforming the Guru Bazar-Dalgate route into a river of mourners moving in remembrance of the martyrs of Karbala. From Guru Bazar to Dalgate, roads wore a []

Highlights challenges, factors behind decline of traditional Kashmiri arts &crafts SRINAGAR: A delegation of Kashmiri artisans from Srinagars Shehr-e-Khaas (downtown) on Tuesday called on Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari to apprise him of the challenges, problems, and concerns faced by the artisan community, as well as the reasons behind the steady decline of []