Kashmir Reader

Sumbal: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday arrested a notorious drug peddler in the Sumbal area of Bandipora district and recovered a significant quantity of contraband substance (charas) from his possession. A police official said that during a checkpoint established near the CRPF training camp in Sumbal, a police party intercepted and arrested []

Jammu: Stating that the outsourcing of government jobs is a social and economic disaster, Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday questioned the government over its promise of providing 12 LPG cylinders to economically weaker sections (EWS). Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Lone said that the political imprint is missing in the budget. []

NEW DELHI: Opposition parties on Tuesday submitted a notice for moving a resolution to remove Om Birla from the office of Lok Sabha speaker, alleging that he had acted in a blatantly partisan manner in conducting the business of the House and abused the constitutional office by making blatantly false allegations against Congress MPs. []

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has attributed the staff shortage in the J&K Forest Development Corporation (JKFDC) to a recruitment ban that has been in place for over two decades. Responding to a query in the House, the Minister in charge of Forest, Ecology & Environment, said a hiring ban was imposed []

Jammu: The Jammu & Kashmir Government on Tuesday said that the proposal to enhance the honorarium of Personal Assistants (PAs) of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) is under examination. In a written response, to a question asked by MLA Central Shalteng, Tariq Hamid Karra, the government stated that the proposal for enhancing the []

Jammu): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expressed hope that work on the Tulbul navigation project and the diversion of Chenab river water to provide drinking water to Jammu will begin soon. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, , the CM said that the state government is working with the Centre to start these projects following []

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that the council of ministers had no role in approving the ropeway project for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, the CM said that after checking records, he found that his cabinet had no role in approving []

Says JKPs brave personnel sacrificed their today for nations tomorrow Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday directed the J&K Police to strike decisively against terrorism and collaborate with every individual in the society to eradicate the terror network entirely. J&K Polices unbreakable resolve and message to the nation is that adversity will not []

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that with rising population, expansion of villages and new habitations coming up, it will take time, but the Government is committed to reaching every household and providing electricity. The population is increasing, villages are spreading, and new houses are being built. Electrifying them is not a matter []

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the government is making necessary arrangements to hold elections to urban local bodies and panchayats in the Union territory at the earliest, but said the post of state election commissioner is presently vacant. In a written reply to a question of Congress MLA []

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Minister Sakina Itoo on Monday announced that the government would scrap all FIRs registered against the youth under the Public Safety Act (PSA) once statehood is restored in the Union Territory. The minister made the remarks in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly while responding to observations made by a legislator on []

Jammu: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Monday said Jammu and Kashmir has attracted private investments worth Rs 14,948 crore in past four years, generating employment for 64,515 people in the industrial sector. Replying to a question by BJP MLA Sunil Bhardwaj in the Legislative Assembly, the Deputy Chief Minister also said said 1,452 []

Jammu: The discussion on Budget 2026-27 resumed in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday with Legislators holding detailed deliberations on governments financial proposals and policy priorities. Initiating the debate today, Legislator Dr. Sajjad Shafi Uri described the Budget as the best possible within the resources available to the government. He said that Budget reflects []

JAMMU: Education Minister Sakeena Itoo on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that the de-freezing of Teacher posts is under active consideration of the government to overcome shortage of teachers in schools across Jammu and Kashmir. The Minister said this while replying to a question of Legislator Pawan Kumar Gupta, regarding shortage of teaching staff, in []

Jammu: The Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, on Monday said that the matter would be examined after MLA Altaf Ahmad Wani raised the issue that MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Parra has allegedly carried a microphone inside the House. Taking serious note of the issue, the Speaker stated that bringing a []

Baramulla: Police on Monday launched an anti-drug awareness campaign by releasing a poster highlighting the harmful effects of substance abuse and urging people, particularly the youth, to stay away from narcotics. In a post on X, DIG north Kashmir range, said drugs destroy futures, families and societies by taking away dreams, health and happiness, []

JAMMU: Education Minister Sakeena Itoo announced on Monday that the government is actively considering the de-freezing of teacher positions to address the shortage of educators in schools across Jammu and Kashmir. In response to a question from MLA Pawan Kumar Gupta of the BJP during the legislative assembly session, the minister explained that the []

NEW DELHI:Delhi saw 10 days of severe air quality during the winter season (October-January) in 2025-26 as against 31 days in 2016-17, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Monday. He shared the information in response to a written question by Congress MP Manish Tewari in the Lok Sabha. The total number []

Srinagar: Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather on Monday said he will investigate allegations made by National Conference MLAs that PDP legislator WaheedurRehman Para was using a microphone in the House. Speaking in the Assembly, Rather, said the Assembly Secretariat should examine the matter and that appropriate action would be taken []

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday amid a stand-off between the government and the opposition over Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhis demand that he be allowed to speak before the discussion on the Union Budget begins. When the House met at 2 pm after two adjournments, Sandhya []

Jammu: Pandemonium broke out in the Legislative Assembly on Monday over the implementation of the Special Assistance Scheme for Capital Investment (SASCI) in Jammu & Kashmir after the Peoples Democratic Party alleged that it was a death trap for the Union Territory. Participating in the budget discussion, PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para claimed that SASCI []

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir carved a historic chapter in domestic cricket on Monday, defeating Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy 202526 quarterfinal at Holkar Stadium, Indore, to secure their first-ever semi-final berth. The landmark victory was built on a phenomenal bowling performance, spearheaded by pacer Auqib Nabi, who produced a match-winning spell across both innings. []

Pulwama: An employee was killed in an accident at the Cement Factory in Khrew area Pampore on Monday, officials said. An official said that the employee, a resident of Khrew Pampore, was struck by a dumper inside the factory premises. He was immediately taken to PHC Khrew, where doctors declared him dead. []

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said students should not let technology enslave them, but use it to increase their potential. In the second episode of Pariksha Pe Charcha, he noted that mobile phones have become masters of some children, who cannot even eat food without them or without a television screen. []

Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir government on Monday informed the Assembly that it has no proposal under consideration to regularise Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) support staff, stating that around 3,800 personnel are currently working purely on a contractual and temporary basis across the Union Territory. The information, was shared by []

Says mission aims to secure nations technological leadership, defence, cybersecurity NEW DELHI: Describing quantum technology as a strategic necessity rather than an option, the Union minister for science & technology, and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh said India has no choice but to lead in this domain if it seeks to secure its communication systems, []

Offers condolences to victim families SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah Sunday unequivocally condemned the suicide bombing that targeted a Shia mosque in Islamabad Pakistan calling the attack as a cowardly and heinous act of terrorism. The blast, which occurred during Friday prayers, killed at least 32 people and injured over []

Says FIR registered after Associations intervention; probe underway SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) has expressed deep concern over a shocking incident of violence and criminal intimidation reported from Naya Gaon, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Punjab, where Irfan Shalistani, a prominent Ladakhi vlogger and social media influencer, was brutally assaulted by a group of []

Jammu Polices use of new SOPs thwart cyber fraud JAMMU: Police Station CICE Jammu responded promptly to an online complaint received on 06.02.2026 from a retired Air Force officer regarding a Digital Arrest cyber fraud involving Rs 52,90,000. The victim was under digital arrest for nine days before intervention. Acting swiftly, the police launched an []

SRINAGAR: The two-day MSME Design Awareness Program, organised by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, concluded successfully in the JammuKatra cluster. The programme was held in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, and Model Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET), Jammu. Sponsored by the Ministry of Micro, []

SRINAGAR: As part of its ongoing drive against illegal mining activities, police have seized five vehicles for illegal extraction and transportation of minerals in Baramulla, Pulwama and Awantipora. Police in Baramulla seized one tipper bearing registration number JK05B1445 and one tractor bearing chassis number IVY5300DCKA002504, involved in illegal transportation of sand at Chakloo Baramulla. During []

SRINAGAR: Police have seized approximately 700 litres of illegal Kerosene oil and Diesel in Shopian and arrested the accused person involved in the commission of crime. Acting on specific information regarding illegal sale of subsidised kerosene oil in the black market, Police conducted a raid at Imamsahib area of the district Shopian. A police party []

GANDERBAL: In a continued drive against social evils and illegal activities, police in Ganderbal arrested two gamblers involved in gambling at Narayan-Bagh in the jurisdiction of PP Shadipora. The arrested gamblers have been identified as Bilal Ahmad Malik son of Mohd Ismail Malik resident of Gamwara, Wakura and Manzoor Ahmad Khan son of Jalal-u-din Khan []

BARAMULLA: In its continued drive against drug trafficking, police have arrested ad drug peddler in Baramulla and recovered contraband substance recovered. A police party during naka checking on NHW near Eco Park arrested one drug peddler identified as Arshid Ahmed Sheikh son of Mohd Maqbool Sheikh resident of Fatehgrah. During his personal search, 135.5 grams []

Kuala Lumpur: India and Malaysia on Sunday unveiled several initiatives to further shore up cooperation in areas of defence and security, semiconductor and trade after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. Following the meeting, Modi said India and Malaysia share a special relationship and both sides are committed []

Jammu: The Indian Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, reviewed ongoing counterinsurgency operations and the prevailing security situation during a visit to forward areas on Sunday, officials said. Officials said he discussed with security forces personnel the focused infusion of modern combat technology to further enhance operational capability, the Army confirmed on Sunday. The COAS also []

Raipur: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday attributed the positive fallout of the fight against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) to the combination of a security-centric strategy, infrastructure development, and disruption of Maoist financial networks. He reiterated that the Naxal menace will be completely eradicated before March 31 this year while chairing a high-level security meeting []

Chairs Mata Vaishno Devi Board meeting Jammu: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in its meeting on Sunday has taken a series of high-impact decisions to completely transform the Matas Shrine and its surrounding region into Indias leading and most vibrant spiritual destination-earning worldwide acclaim. The meeting was chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who []

Srinagar: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday claimed the India-US trade deal would spell doom for the economy of Jammu and Kashmir if no tariff is imposed on the import of agricultural and horticultural goods from the United States. They have not thought of the impact of the India-US trade deal on the horticulture []

Jammu: The Congress Jammu and Kashmir unit launched a campaign on Sunday to mobilise public support for the immediate restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory, and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to honour their assurances to the people. The Har Ghar Dastak, Ghar Ghar Dastak campaign was []

New Delhi: The government will soon constitute a High-Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat to draw up a blueprint to create mega-lenders capable of meeting the financing needs of a developed India, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. We want the committee to tell us what kind of things we need to do so that []

Jammu: A Pakistani intruder was apprehended while attempting to sneak into the Indian side from across the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, officials said. The Border Security Force (BSF) detected the intruders movement near Border Outpost Ballar in Ramgarh sector around 7 pm and took him into custody, they []

Srinagar: Police in Budgam have attached an immovable property worth approximately 50 lakh in Humhama area of Budgam district in connection with an NDPS case. The attached property, a double-storey residential house, belongs to an alleged drug peddler Irfan Ahmad Dar son of Mohammad Ashraf Dar resident of Humhama. The attachment was carried out under []

A civilisational reading of the Epstein affair in the light of Abrahamic scriptures Prof Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi Introduction When power detaches from moral restraint The Jeffrey Epstein affair has emerged as one of the most unsettling moral crises of the modern global elite. It is not merely a criminal scandal involving sexual exploitation and abuse, []

JAMMU: Several Legislators on Saturday raised pressing public issues in the House, highlighting hardships faced by the people across different constituencies, urging the government to take immediate remedial measures. MLA Gurez, Nazir Ahmad Khan informed the House that no Patwari is available in the field or at the Patwar Khana in his constituency, causing severe []

SRINAGAR: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labrooon Saturday visited the Banquet Hall-Conference Complex at M.A Road, Srinagar to oversee the progress of ongoing renovation works. Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mir Imtiyaz Ul Aziz; Chief Planning Officer, Fayaz Ahmad Dar; Superintending Engineer R&B South Tatheer Manzoor; Executive Engineer R&B, Khalid Mehmood; Tehsildar South, Sajad Rasool Shah and []

SRINAGAR: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir held a one-day processing conclave at Shalimar to deliberate on growth opportunities, policy support, and industry modernisation in the sector. The conclave titled, Jammu and Kashmir Produce and Processing Conclave was organised by SKUAST-Ks Division of Food Science & Technology in collaboration with Knowledge []

Addresses media persons about Union Budget at Pulwama SRINAGAR: Chairperson of Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board & BJP National Executive Member Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi addressed a presser regarding Union Budget at Pulwama on Saturday. She was accompanied by BJP District President Syed Showkat Gayoor Andrabi, State General Secretary Kisan Morcha Arshad Bhat, District Vice []

Ghulam Hassan Mir urges party leaders to intensify political, public outreach activities JAMMU: Apni Party Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir on Saturday urged party leaders and senior workers to intensify their political and public outreach activities in order to remain closely connected with the masses at the grassroots level. He was addressing a crucial []

SRINAGAR: A meeting of all Block Presidents and Block Secretaries from the eight constituencies of District Srinagar was held on Saturday at the party headquarters Nawa e Subha. The meeting was chaired by District President Peer Afaq Ahmad and witnessed active participation from senior party functionaries and grassroots representatives. The participants unanimously welcomed the budget []