Kashmir Reader

Srinagar: Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted one-week bail to jailed Member of Parliament Er Abdul Rashid Sheikh to visit his ailing father in Srinagar. The court observed that he has been in custody for more than 6 years. After going through records, court is of the opinion that this is a fit case for []

GANGTOK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his government was not only committed to its Act East policy but was resolved to Act Fast for the eight northeastern states, which he described as Indias Ashtalakshmi representing the multifaceted nature of prosperity, wealth, and auspiciousness. Asserting that tourism was the mainstay of Sikkims economy, []

Srinagar : Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, visited the historic Aali Masjid to take stock of the ongoing renovation works being carried out at the mosque. During his visit, Mirwaiz inspected various aspects of the restoration and interacted with those involved in the project. Emphasising the importance of preserving the mosques heritage, he urged []

Srinagar: A violent scuffle at Khumani Chowk in the Bemina area of Srinagar turned fatal after a man was killed, officials said An official said, the incident stemmed from an altercation between two groups which later escalated when their relatives got involved. He said during the incident, man sustained serious injuries. He was immediately shifted []

Srinagar: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not appoint authorised agents to verify whom its MLAs voted for in the 2025 Rajya Sabha elections, which witnessed unprecedented cross-voting that enabled the Bharatiya Janata Party to win a seat. In response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act, 2009 the Central Public Information []

NAGPUR: The Ram Temple in Ayodhya was built due to the commitment of those in power and the support of everyone in the country, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said, emphasising that there is no need to declare India a Hindu Rashtra as it already is. He was addressing a programme on Monday to felicitate []

CHANDIGARH: A blast took place near a railway track in Punjabs Patiala, police said. An unidentified body was also recovered near the Shambhu-Ambala rail track where the incident took place, a senior police official said. However, it is not clear if it is related to the blast that took place late Monday night. The explosion []

Says J&K can learn from other states startup experiences, avoid their mistakes Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the upcoming train service from Jammu Terminal to Srinagar, scheduled to begin on Thursday, will significantly boost the tourism sector in the Union Territory. In a major boost to rail connectivity []

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday inaugurated the 11th National Conference and Exhibition on Emerging and Innovative Trends in Engineering Technology (NCEITEET) at Government College of Engineering and Technology (GCET), Jammu, underscoring the need to harmonize technological advancement with cultural heritage while fostering innovation-driven growth among youth. The two-day event is being organised by []

Srinagar: Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch on Tuesday 330 new road projects covering 1,600 kilometres at a cost of Rs 3,550 crore under the Batch-II of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The Batch-II under the PMGSY-IV will accelerate development in Jammu and Kashmir through the construction of 330 new roads covering 1,600 []

Govt says institute fostered environment conducive to radicalisation; Chairman denies link with any illegal outfit Srinagar: A school allegedly run by individuals affiliated with a banned organisation in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir has been declared an unlawful entity under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Anshul Garg issued a two-page []

UT to have 7 districts now Leh/Jammu: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday approved the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory, fulfilling the aspirations and long-pending demand of the people of the region. He termed the decision a historic day for Ladakh. I have approved the notification for the creation []

Says dual govt system detrimental to J&Ks growth Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah Monday reaffirmed the partys core stand on protecting the rights and dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir including restoration of Article 370. He said this while addressing a gathering in Budgam, asserting that the []

Says every section of society must embrace spirit of Nasha-Mukt J&K Abhiyan Jammu: In the war against drugs, unity will be our shield, resolve our weapon. Let us commit to shaping a Jammu Kashmir where young people carve free destinies, families remain whole, communities thrive strong, and aspirations blaze anew. We stand unwavering for our []

Udhampur: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday visited Government Medical College, Udhampur to inquire about the health and well-being of those who sustained injuries during the unfortunate road accident in Ramnagar, Udhampur on April 20. The Lieutenant Governor was briefed by a team of senior doctors on the health condition of the injured undergoing treatment []

Non-application of mind Jammu: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Monday quashed the preventive detention of Aam Aadmi Party legislator Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), holding that the order was legally unsustainable and based on non-application of mind. Setting aside the detention order issued by the Doda district []

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said Aam Aadmi Party legislator Mehraj Malik should never have been detained under the Public Safety Act and termed the move a gross misuse of the law. The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Monday quashed the Public Safety Act (PSA) against []

Jammu: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Monday quashed detention order of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik, who was booked under Public Safety Act in 2025. Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani announced in open court that the Public Safety Act (PSA) detention of Mehraj Malik has been quashed. Malik was booked []

Srinagar: The body of the Uttar Pradesh youth, who had jumped into river Jhelum on April 22, was retrieved on Monday by SDRF teams at Old Zaina Kadal in Srinagar after five days of searches, officials said. An official said that SDRF QRT Jhelum teams recovered the body from the river during the operation []

GANGTOK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reach Sikkim on Monday for a two-day tour, during which he will hold a roadshow, attend the closing ceremony of 50 years of statehood and launch projects worth Rs 4,000 crore, officials said. Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place in the state capital and surrounding []

LEH: The Leh Apex Body (LAB) called for direct, decision-level talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit here next week, describing the scheduled May 22 sub-committee meeting as inadequate for resolving the regions long-pending issues. The reaction came after Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena announced on Sunday that the Ministry of Home []

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he wanted to see what was happening when Secret Service agents hustled him out of the White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday night after a gunman opened fire at the hotel. In an interview with CBS 60 Minutes, Trump described the chaotic moments that ensued after shots were []

Jammu: Police on late Sunday said that acting on specific intelligence regarding the movement of a known gangster/ drug smuggler Abhineet singh @ Nagi along with his associates, a specialized team from Police Station Miran Sahib laid a strategic trap near the designated area. In a handout, the police said that the Abhineet @ []

Invites reputed institutions in Bengaluru to invest under new Private University Act, assures transparent, investor-friendly ecosystem Bengaluru: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday interacted with a delegation of education sector representatives in Bengaluru, highlighting the opportunities created by the recently notified J&K Private University Act. Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Zadibal []

Each one of us holds extraordinary power to save lives even after we are gone Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday attended Naman Diwas an event dedicated to honor organ donors and their families. The Lieutenant Governor paid his gratitude to organ donors and their families and said they have brought happiness in the []

Srinagar: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, IT, Transport, Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma on Sunday outlined a bold and transformative vision to position Jammu and Kashmir as the sports epicentre of the country while addressing the concluding session of the Chintan Shivir at SKICC, Srinagar. The Minister emphasized the immense potential []

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Satish Sharma lead Sundays on Cycle Srinagar: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, along with Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, Information Technology, and Science & Technology, Satish Sharma on Sunday participated in the Sundays on Cycle Special Edition (Chintan []

Jammu: In a significant step towards strengthening the entrepreneurial landscape of the Union Territory, the Jammu & Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) is all set to organize district level credit facilitation meetings under the District Business Reform Action Plan (D-BRAP). These meetings form a key component of implementation strategy of the Jammu & Kashmir Startup []

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday attached the immovable property belonging to a militant handler in Rajouri district, an official said. The property of Mohd Iqbal, a resident of Dara in Thanamandi area, has been attached according to the legal provisions as part of strong action against militancy and its support network, a police []

Srinagar: In a significant step towards strengthening its anti-narcotics efforts under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Police in Budgam has deployed its trained Narcotic Dog Squad to detect and curb drug trafficking across the district. As part of the intensified drive, sniffer dogs were deployed at key locations, including the New Bus Stand Budgam, []

Multiple cases registered under NDPS Act Srinagar: Continuing its efforts against drug menace under the Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan, police in Anantnag, Awantipora and Budgam have destroyed illicit poppy cultivation by registering multiple cases under NDPS Act. In Anantnag, Police Station Mattan received reliable information regarding the illegal cultivation of opium poppy by []

Srinagar,: Under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan, Police arrested a drug peddler in Awantipora and recovered contraband substance from his possession. A police party of Police Station Khrew during naka checking at Sharshalli intercepted a suspicious person. During search, 906 grams of Bhang Choora was recovered from his possession. He has been []

It must be won within society, through awareness, cooperation, collective effort Jammu: I assure citizens that we will strike hard against drug networks. Yet this fight cannot be won by law alone, it must be won within society, through awareness, cooperation, and collective effort. We are building a Jammu Kashmir where drugs have no place, []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday addressed national Chintan Shivir on Sports at Srinagar. The three-day event organised by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports focuses on key policy challenges in sports, strengthening Centre-States/UTs coordination and charting a comprehensive roadmap to transform India into a global sporting superpower. The event is being attended by []

Engages leading film producers, assures policy support, ease of filmmaking to attract cinema-driven tourism Bengaluru: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday interacted with filmmakers in Bengaluru, showcasing Jammu & Kashmirs scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage as an ideal destination for cinema. A delegation of leading film producers and representatives of major production houses met []

Project to ease traffic congestion, strengthen urban infrastructure Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has accorded administrative approval for the construction of a Multi-Level Car Parking facility at Ganderbal at an estimated cost of 9.60 crore. The project is aimed at addressing increasing traffic congestion and enhancing urban infrastructure in the fast-growing town. The approval has []

Calls for widespread public participation in rally to combat drug menace Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review arrangements for the upcoming Mega Nasha Mukt Pad Yatra, scheduled to be held on May 3 in Srinagar. The event will be flagged off by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. The []

Srinagar: The Meteorological Centre Srinagar on Saturday said Jammu and Kashmir recorded uncertain weather conditions on Saturday with light rain at scattered places and a rising temperature trend in Jammu division. A MeT official told the news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO) predicted generally cloudy conditions with intermittent light rain and thunderstorms over the coming days. []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday intensified crackdown against drug trafficking and related activities across Kashmir, attaching properties worth 3.5 crore, arresting 10 drug peddlers, detaining 12 habitual offenders under preventive laws and destroying illegal poppy cultivation in multiple districts. The action was carried out under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyaan, []

Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Srinagar, of the Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet in FIR No. 46/2023 before the Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla, against Nasir Ahmad Mir of Kunan Babagund, Bandipora; Mushtaq Ahmad Malik of Aragam, Bandipora (a government employee in KPDCL); and a deceased former Executive Engineer of KPDCL/ED Sumbal, a resident []

In Kashmir, families are not merely engaging in display by choice; they are responding to an informal but powerful system of expectations where deviation invites judgment and loss of honour. What was once a blessing is increasingly becoming a financial test. Zeenat Aman, Ruqiya Jaan & Dr Rameez Ahmad In Kashmir, weddings were once a []

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday reached Samba district headquarters as part of the 100-day intensive campaign under Nasha Mukt Abhiyan, saying the youth hold the key to ending the drug menace. Samba witnessed a massive gathering as people from all walks of life came together to support the drug-free campaign, []

Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Srinagar, has filed a chargesheet in the Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla, against two accused and a deceased former engineer in an alleged Power Development Department (PDD) job scam involving fake appointment orders, forged service records and illegal salary payments. In a statement , spokesperson said the Economic Offences Wing []

Srinagar: A 55-year-old woman from Srigufwara in south Kashmirs Anantnag district died at the Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag on Friday evening, triggering allegations of medical negligence by her family and subsequent unrest within the hospital premises. The deceased, identified as Khajida, had initially been taken to a local health facility after her condition []

Anantnag: Police on Saturday launched coordinated narco cordon-and-search operations (CASOs) at nearly 20 identified hotspot locations across Anantnag district, targeting networks involved in drug trafficking. Officials said that multiple police teams carried out searches at the residences of alleged drug kingpins as part of an intensified crackdown on narcotics. The operations were conducted with the []

DUBAI: Shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi touched down in Pakistan, his government made it clear that there would be no direct negotiations with American government representatives during this visit. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei said on X that No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US. Instead, Baqaei said []

Properties of drug smugglers demolished, financial investigations initiated Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday launched Drug-Free J&K Campaign in Reasi, urging communities, institutions, and individuals alike to unite in the fight against drug abuse, a crisis he warned is eroding the very foundations of society from within. The Lieutenant Governor appealed for a broad-based []

Focus on implementing Design Your Degree, integrating AI, skill dev, strengthening collaboration among institutions Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday chaired a high-level meeting of Jammu Kashmir Higher Education Council, at Lok Bhavan. The meeting was attended by Prof. Dinesh Singh, Vice Chairman, J&K Higher Education Council; Shailendra Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department; []

Jammu: Several legislators and deputations on Friday called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here and apprised him of a range of issues concerning their respective constituencies, seeking timely intervention and resolution. MLA Ramnagar Sunil Bharadwaj, MLA Habbakadal Shamim Firdous, MLA Budhal Javaid Iqbal, MLA Kokernag Zaffar Ali Khatana, MLA Thanamandi Muzaffar Iqbal Khan and former []

Srinagar: The direct JammuSrinagar train service is set to commence with an inaugural run on April 30, with Indian Railways introducing a specially designed Vande Bharat train equipped to operate in extreme weather conditions. Officials said that all necessary arrangements have been put in place for the inaugural journey, while the regular schedule and additional []