Kashmir Reader

KOLKATA: Asserting that no eligible voters name would be removed from the electoral rolls in West Bengal, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday said the ECs priority was to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls in the state as it stepped up preparations for the upcoming assembly elections, amid a charged political atmosphere. Addressing []

Baramulla: Authorities in Baramulla have imposed restrictions in Mirgund and Mirchimar villages of Singhpora area ahead of the 21st Ramzan, citing concerns over potential law and order issues. According to an order, a long-standing dispute between two rival Shia factions over the observance of religious functions and control of Imam []

Srinagar: The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar-Asias largest-will open for visitors on March 16 (Monday), officials said on Tuesday. Director Floriculture Kashmir, Mathoora Masoom, said that with the tulips now in bloom, the department has decided to open the garden for the season on Monday. Located on the foothills of the Zabarwan Range []

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Jal Shakti Department has ordered the immediate disengagement of three workers over their alleged involvement in anti-national and subversive activities. According to seperate orders, Kousar Hussain Bhagwan (NBCL) and Liyaqat Ali Bhagwan (NBCL), involved in FIR No. 230/2019 under UAPA Sections 13, 18, 19, 38, 39, and Showkat Ahmad Zargar []

JOHANNESBURG:India has a major role to play in the remaking of the post-World War II world order, which is on the brink of collapse, South African Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Zuko Godlimpi told a gathering of captains of industry, academics and policy makers in Pretoria on Monday. The minister was delivering the keynote []

DUBAI: Oil prices surged and markets slid on Monday after hard-line Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen to succeed his late father as Irans supreme leader, signalling that Iran was digging in 10 days into the war launched by the United States and Israel. Oil prices later fell, and the US stock market closed higher, amid []

DUBAI: US President Donald Trump had a call on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the war in Iran and other issues, which according to the Kremlin was a frank and businesslike conversation that lasted about an hour. 1. Heavy US and Israeli bombardment of Iran has been going on for more []

Classes 912 had resumed Feb 23; colleges reopened Feb 16 Srinagar: All educational institutions in Kashmir valley resumed academic activities on Monday. The schools upto 8th standard in Kashmir region reopened nearly after more than two months of winter vacation. However, the reopening of the establishments upto 8th standard was delayed by a week as []

Raises students issue New Delhi: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday visited the Iranian Embassy and Cultural Centre in New Delhi and expressed condolences over the death of Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, while also raising concerns about Kashmiri students stranded in the country amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The []

New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MPs Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo and Gurwinder Singh Oberoi on Monday visited the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi and signed the condolence book on the martyrdom of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran. During their visit, the MPs []

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday hosted a dinner in honour of the Jammu & Kashmir Ranji Trophy champion team, celebrating their remarkable achievement. The team was warmly received by the Chief Minister in the presence of his Cabinet colleagues and senior officers. On the occasion, the players were also presented with an award []

Srinagar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday forecast cloudy weather with light rain and snowfall in higher reaches of Kashmir over the next few days, with a noticeable drop in day temperatures across the Valley. According to the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, Kashmir is expected to remain generally cloudy on March 9 with light rain []

Demands initiation of fresh, transparent re-tendering process, ensuring equal opportunity to eligible agencies Srinagar: The Association of Outdoor Advertisement Kashmir (AOAK) has sought cancellation of the allotment for installation and operation of static advertisement panels within the limits of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, alleging non-compliance with mandatory tender conditions by the nominated bidder. In a []

CS engages key stakeholders to chart future roadmap Jammu: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday held detailed deliberations with stakeholders on the adoption and expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in governance and delivery of public services across Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting besides the concerned Administrative Secretaries was attended by the Director, Indian Institute of []

Srinagar: The University of Kashmir (KU) has achieved a remarkable national distinction by emerging as the Champion in the 17th National Youth Parliament Competition, organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Parliament of India, New Delhi. The prestigious competition witnessed participation from 59 universities across the country at the group level. After rigorous rounds, eight []

Jammu: Army on Monday said that an army soldier went missing during river crossing training exercise in Sunderbani area. Taking on to micro-blogging platform X, the armys WhiteKnight Corps wrote, During a River Crossing Training exercise conducted in general area of Sundarbani, Sepoy Akshit Sharma was reported missing at around 12 pm today. []

NEW DELHI:Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 3 pm on Monday amid noisy protests over demand for a debate on the situation in West Asia, with the government accusing the opposition benches of not following basic ethics of the House. As soon as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar rose to make a statement on the []

CHICAGO: Oil prices eclipsed USD 100 per barrel for the first time in more than three-and-a-half years on Sunday as the Iran war hinders production and shipping in the Middle East. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, was at USD 107.97 after trading resumed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, up []

DUBAI:) Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Irans late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was named as his successor on Sunday, had long been considered a contender to the post even before an Israeli strike killed his father and despite the fact he has never been elected or appointed to a government position. A secretive []

Inaugurates Anti-Corruption Bureau Headquarters Building at Sidhra ACB APKS Branch Awantipora Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday called upon the Anti-Corruption Bureau to ensure that each decision, investigation and prosecution stands firm under scrutiny of the courts and must harness the authority granted by the nations Constitution to expose injustice, eradicate corruption entirely, and []

Light rain, snow predicted from today Srinagar: Kashmir witnessed above normal day temperatures on Sunday, even as the meteorological department forecast spells of wet weather, especially in the higher reaches of the Valley, over the next few days. Maximum temperature across the Valley stayed above seasonal average, with the departures ranging from 9.4 to 10.7 []

Jammu: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the last date for submission of the online Application Form for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test NEET (UG) 2026 upto 11th March. A public notice, issued by NTA in this regard reads, The last date for submission of Online Application Form for the National Eligibility []

Editor-in-Chief Haji Hayat Mohammad Bhat pays tribute to senior editor, hails his services Srinagar: Haji Hayat Mohammad Bhat, Editor-in-Chief of Kashmir Reader, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Abdul Rashid Shah, a senior Kashmiri journalist and Chief Editor and owner of the Urdu daily Nida-e-Mashriq. In a heartfelt condolence message, Bhat described Shah as []

Investigation reveals misappropriation of Rs 5.73 lakh, illegal contract awards Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet in FIR No. 43/2018 before the Court of Special Anti-Corruption Judge Baramulla against seven individuals for offenses under Sections 420, 120-B of the RPC, read with Section 5(2) of []

Baramulla :The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet against seven accused persons in connection with an alleged misappropriation of government funds meant for the construction of a school building in north Kashmirs Kupwara district. According to officials, the chargesheet in FIR No. 43/2018 has been presented before []

Emphasizes proper use of safety gear, directs power dept to ensure training of field staff Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday presided over Lineman Diwas celebration at Convention Centre Jammu. Organised by Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited, the event recognised linemen as the frontline technical workforce maintaining the electricity supply in Jammu and Kashmir. []

Inaugurates infrastructure upgradation, beautification works at holy Shiv Khori Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday inaugurated the infrastructure upgradation and beautification works at holy Shiv Khori Shrine in Reasi District. The works were completed by JSW Group under its Corporate Social Responsibility. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor expressed gratitude to Sajjan Jindal, CMD []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat on Saturday stressed intelligence-based operations and proactive policing to maintain peace and stability in the Union territory. The DGP chaired a review meeting to assess the overall security scenario, counter-terror operations and the law and order situation in the Awantipora police district in south Kashmirs Pulwama. During the []

Srinagar: Life returned to normal across Kashmir on Saturday as authorities lifted restrictions which were in effect the whole week in the wake of protests in many parts of the valley following the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Restrictions have been lifted from all parts of the valley and the situation is []

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday welcomed the elections in Nepal, saying the formation of governments must be the choice of the people of the country and not the result of external intervention or aerial bombardment. Abdullah said he had suggested reviewing the FIRs and releasing those detained during protests in []

Calls for revitalization of Entrepreneurship Development Institute Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para has raised serious concerns over the management and effectiveness of Jammu and Kashmirs flagship entrepreneurship scheme, YUWA, calling for a reassessment of its implementation and oversight. In a detailed tweet, Para pointed out that despite being home to []

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday urged the Jammu and Kashmir Police to release those arrested for staging protests in the Valley against the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel strike on February 28. Scores of protesters, including women, have been arrested across Kashmir for peacefully participating []

Srinagar: The Meteorological Department has forecast generally cloudy weather with light rain and snowfall in higher reaches at several places in Jammu and Kashmir over the coming days. According to the MeT office in Srinagar, the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy between March 7 and 9, with light rain and snowfall in higher []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir celebrated a moment of pride as a visually impaired JNU graduate, a labourers son, and a serving JKAS officer cracked the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination-2025, showcasing determination and inspiring many. Having lost an eye in an accident at school during his early childhood, Irfan Ahmad Lone never let the impairment []

JAMMU: Two mobile phones were recovered from a parcel meant for an inmate lodged at a jail in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. The recovery was made by authorities during routine checking of parcels delivered at the district jail Bhaderwah. According to officials, the parcel was meant for delivery to []

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the safe return of students from Jammu and Kashmir stranded in Iran. In a post on X, Mufti, a former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, said that as the situation rapidly deteriorates in []

Kannur: A case has been registered against a man for allegedly calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a traitor on a social media post at Sreekandapuram here, police said on Saturday. According to police, the case was registered against Rajan C Kottoor, a native of Kottoor, on Friday following a complaint lodged by a BJP activist. []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness a spell of widespread rain and snowfall from the night of March 9 as a moderate to strong Western Disturbance is expected to affect the region. The system is likely to remain active till March 12 and may bring heavy to very heavy precipitation to several parts []

Bandipora:Authorities on Saturday suspended vehicular movement on the BandiporaGurez road following fresh snowfall at Razdan Top, officials said. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure after snowfall made the high-altitude Razdan Pass slippery and unsafe for traffic. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gurez Mukhtar Ahmad confirmed that traffic on the road connecting Bandipora with the remote Gurez []

WASHINGTON: Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with US intelligence on the matter. The officials, who were not authorised to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the []

DUBAI: US President Donald Trump on Friday appeared to rule out talks with Iran absent its unconditional surrender. Israeli warplanes bombed Beirut and Tehran as Iran launched more retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf countries on the seventh day of the war. The strikes in Lebanon were the heaviest since a 2024 ceasefire ended the []

Reviews Compliance Reduction 2.0 to ease Business Regulations in J&K Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review progress on Compliance Reduction and Deregulation 2.0, a comprehensive national initiative aimed at easing regulatory burdens and fostering a more business-friendly, citizen-centric environment across Jammu and Kashmir. We should endeavour to make []

DGP, IGP visit downtown, sensitive areas assess situation Police urge media orgs, social media users to act responsibly Srinagar: Authorities on Friday evening decided to lift precautionary restrictions across Kashmir from Saturday onwards, while high-speed internet and prepaid mobile calling services were restored across the Valley on Friday evening. The decision to lift curbs was []

Srinagar: As many as 17 candidates from Jammu & Kashmir have qualified the prestigious All India Civil Services Examination, the results of which were declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday. Among the qualifiers from Jammu & Kashmir, Suvan Sharma secured the highest position with an All India Rank of 148, followed []

Jammu: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday chaired a meeting to review the district-wise performance of Mission YUVA across Jammu and Kashmir, assessing progress on key parameters of Culture, Capital, Capacity and Connectivity aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and employment generation among the youth. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism; Vice Chancellors of []

Development, community issues discussed Jammu: Several delegations called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at his residence here on Friday, apprising him of a range of developmental and welfare-related issues concerning their respective areas and communities. Member of Rajya Sabha Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo called on the Chief Minister along-with a delegation of residents from Paddar in []

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Friday announced it will hold protests across districts on March 9 against the India-US trade deal, with party unit chief Tariq Hameed Karra demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue. Addressing a rally against the trade deal in the R S Pura border belt, []

Srinagar: Predicting that weather patterns will change in coming days, the Meteorological Department has said that the day temperatures across J&K remained significantly above normal on Friday. The weatherman said that maximum temperatures in many parts of Kashmir division remained 1012 degrees Celsius above normal, while several areas of Jammu division recorded temperatures about 1012 []

Srinagar: In response to the persistent dry weather across the Kashmir Valley, experts from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir have issued an urgent advisory. Farmers are strongly urged to prioritize soil moisture conservation and immediate crop protection measures to mitigate the impact of rising temperatures and lack of precipitation. The university []

Srinagar: A long-evading fraudster involved in fake job scams targeting youth from Srinagar has been apprehended by the Special Crime Wing (SCW) of the Crime Branch Kashmir in Faridabad, Haryana. The accused, Farhat Abbas Malik, son of Din Mohd Malik from Tendla Chilipingal in Doda district, was wanted in connection with FIR No. 02/2025 registered []