Kashmir Reader

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 []

Srinagar: In a sustained and intensified crackdown on drug trafficking under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Police in Srinagar have significantly bolstered its enforcement strategy by deploying the Narcotic Dog Squad across multiple locations in the district. During this special drive, trained sniffer dogs have been strategically positioned at key checkpoints to detect concealed narcotics []

24 FIRs lodged against revenue officials, land grabbers Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has unearthed major land-related irregularities here, registering 24 FIRs against revenue officials, land grabbers, conduits and beneficiaries involved in alleged fraudulent usurpation of prime custodian land parcels, officials said on Friday. According to the ACB, thousands of kanals of []

Srinagar: In a firm action against elements involved in disturbing public order, Police in Sopore have booked six miscreants under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for their involvement in recent law & order disturbances and acts of vandalism during a student protest in Sopore. The individuals have been identified as Umar Akbar Hajam, son of []

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday dismissed an interim bail plea of jailed Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid to meet his ailing father. Special Judge Prashant Sharma rejected the plea seeking the relief. Engineer had sought interim bail, saying he needed to meet his critically ill father who had been hospitalised and was on []

Srinagar: A 27-year-old man was saved from drowning by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel after he jumped into the river Jhelum from the Budshah bridge in Srinagar on Friday, officials said. An official said that SDRF teams stationed at Budshah Bridge noticed a man jumping into the river and immediately launched a rescue []

CHANDIGARH: Ruling Aam Aadmi Partys Punjab unit on Friday accused the BJP of attempting to engineer a split by using former senior leader Raghav Chadha as a tool. BJP hit back, saying that the allegations are baseless. AAP Punjabs chief spokesperson Baltej Pannu, addressing a news conference here, alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, []

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak on Friday announced that they are joining the BJP along with five other MPs of the party. Addressing a press conference here, Chadha said that seven out of 10 Rajya Sabha MPs of AAP are set to merge with the BJP. As []

NEW DELHI: In a massive jolt to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday, its Rajya Sabha MPs including Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal quit the party. Addressing a joint press conference, Pathak said he was going to join the BJP. However, Chadha said that nearly two-thirds of AAPs Rajya Sabha MPs have []

Srinagar: While delivering his Friday sermon at Jama Masjid, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, expressed concern that this year has witnessed one of the lowest numbers of pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir proceeding for Hajj. He noted a growing trend of people preferring Umrah over Haj or postponing Hajj in anticipation of []

Sopore: Six persons have been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Sopore for their alleged involvement in recent protest-related violence in the town, officials said on Friday. An official said that all six detainees have been shifted to District Jail Bhadarwah, while more people connected to the violence are being identified and further []

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. military to shoot and kill Iranian small boats choking the Strait of Hormuz. In a social media post Thursday morning, he said the military is intensifying its mine clearing efforts in the critical waterway. The move intensified the U.S.-Iran standoff in the Persian Gulf and raised []

V.K. Birdi chairs coordination meeting with CAPFs Stresses inter-agency synergy, robust emergency response mechanisms Srinagar: Kashmir Police chief V K Birdi on Thursday chaired a coordination meeting with Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for the annual Amarnath Yatra and stressed the need for meticulous planning, with particular emphasis on logistical coordination, route security, and robust []

Assures priority redressal of public concerns Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that genuine concerns of various sections of society would be addressed on priority, and reiterated the governments commitment to inclusive development. The assurance was given during meetings with several public and trade delegations, which called on the chief []

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday inaugurated the New School Building of Swami Pranavanand Vidyamandir in Panjgrain, Nagrota. The school is run by Bharat Sevashram Sangha, a renowned socio-cultural and philanthropic organisation. Bharat Sevashram Sangh started pre-primary to Class 8 education here in 2014 under Har Ghar Shiksha. Over half the students are from []

Calls for strict timelines in execution of projects Jammu: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the comprehensive plan for utilization of funds earmarked for works related to the permanent restoration of damages caused by floods and associated calamities in 2025. The meeting besides the ACS, PDD; ACS, Finance; ACS, []

Srinagar: Imams and management committees of various mosques in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir have joined the governments war on drugs, using their religious platform to create awareness against drug abuse, officials said on Thursday. In a significant community-driven initiative against the drug menace, mosques across Anantnag have extended full support to the ongoing []

Srinagar: Weatherman on Thursday predicted that Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness intermittent spells of light rain and thundershowers till end of April. A MeT official said that no major weather activity is expected during the period, except brief spells of rain and thunderstorms around April 2425 and again on April 28. On April []

Delivers keynote address on Relation of Urdu with Regional Languages at JU Jammu: Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo on Thursday remarked that languages are not merely a means of expressing thoughts but they are the guardians of our history, identity and culture. The Minister stated this while delivering the []

If we continue to teach today as we were taught yesterday, we deny students the future they deserve Nasir Rather As a physics student, who could be unaware of Richard Feynman? A Nobel laureate of exceptional distinction, he was not only one of the most influential physicists of the twentieth century but also a teacher []

KOLKATA: The first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections on Thursday set a high-decibel tone for a tightly fought contest with an exceptionally heavy turnout as voters across 152 constituencies had their say after months of rancour over deletion of names from electoral rolls and a vituperative political campaign. Sporadic incidents of violence failed []

Srinagar: Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Thursday denied reports that he is forming a new political party, saying he had no knowledge of any such move. Speaking to reporters, MP Ruhullah, said he was unaware of any party being formed in his name. Tell me as well which party carries my name. I []

Pulwama: The National Investigation Agency on Thursday attached an immovable property under UAPA in Rajpora area of south Kashmirs Pulwama district. An official said that the NIA team attached the property belonging to Tanveer Ahmad Wani son of Ghulam Ahmad Wani under the provisions of section 33 (1) of the unlawful activities (Prevention) The property []

SRINAGAR: BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Thursday said AICC president Mallikarjun Kharges terrorist remark against Narendra Modi was an attack on crores of Indians who elected the prime minister. Addressing a press conference here, Rathore, Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of Rajasthan, said the Congress president had indulged in verbal violence against []

SRINAGAR: Imams and management committees of various mosques in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir have joined the governments war on drugs, using their religious platform to create awareness against drug abuse, officials said on Thursday. In a significant community-driven initiative against the drug menace, mosques across Anantnag have extended full support to the ongoing []

KOLKATA: Voting began on Thursday in 152 constituencies in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, amid unprecedented security arrangements and a high-stakes battle that could shape the direction of the entire contest. Polling started at 7 am with voters queueing up outside booths in districts ranging from Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in the []

Bandipora: A local court in Bandipora has acquitted an accused in an illegal mining case, holding that prosecution under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act cannot proceed without a mandatory complaint by an authorised officer. The Additional Sessions Court in Bandipora has acquitted Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat in a case registered under the []

Jammu/Srinagar (PTI) Political parties across the spectrum on Wednesday paid tributes to the 26 people who were gunned down by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in Pahalgam last year, describing the attack as a wound whose scars will never fully heal. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha took to X to pay homage to the victims. Humble tributes to []

Directs round-the-clock care for injured, disbursement of relief Calls for strict enforcement of traffic regulations Udhampur: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday visited Government Medical College Udhampur to enquire about the health of those injured in the tragic road accident that occurred earlier this week. He interacted with the injured and their families, directing officials []

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday visited Government Medical College in Jammu to inquire about the health of citizens who were critically injured in an unfortunate road accident in Ramnagar, Udhampur on April 20. The team of doctors briefed the Lieutenant Governor on the health condition of the injured and the specialized treatment protocols []

Jammu: As part of a periodic review a high-level meeting was on Wednesday convened by Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo to take stock of the availability and distribution of essential commodities across the districts of J&K in the aftermath of the recent West Asia crisis that had initially given rise to the apprehensions of impacting the []

New factory to create 500 jobs, boost Jammu & Kashmir JAMMU: The Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha today inaugurated Eveready Industries India Limiteds new industrial unit in Samba. The plant established with an investment of Rs.200 crore, will create local jobs, boost ancillary units, suppliers, and service providers, promote skill development, generate opportunities for women, []

Jammu: Several public representatives on Wednesday called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here and discussed a range of developmental and governance-related matters. Among those who called on the Chief Minister were Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Sajad Ahmad Kichloo, MLA Inderwal Payare Lal Sharma and former Minister Abdul Ghani Kohli. During the interactions, the visiting []