Kashmir Reader

Calls for new chapter of rights restoration; says statehoodmust be first step SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah today termed the events of 09 August 1953, particularly the unconstitutional arrest and ouster of then Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, as a black day in the []

SRINAGAR: Deputy Inspector General of Police Maqsood ul Zaman, IPS, (Overall Supervisory Officer IDP 26) convened meeting of all Subordinate Supervisory officers and Nodal Officers of other departments associated with Independence Day Parade-2026 at APC Zewan to review the arrangements and preparations for presentation of ceremonial Independence Day Parade 2026. During the meeting, the chair []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday met MLA Bani Dr Rameshwar Singh and MLA Lal Chowk Sheikh Ahsan Pardesi at Raabita here, who apprised him of various matters concerning their respective constituencies. The Chief Minister discussed the issues raised by the legislators and assured that matters pertaining to public welfare and development would receive []

SRINAGAR: Health Minister Sakeena Itoo on Saturday inaugurated the new 50-bed Sub-District Hospital in Qaimoh and dedicated it to the public. The ceremony was attended by MLA Devsar Peerzada Feroze Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner Shahzad Alam, officials from the Health Department, and locals. She congratulated the people of Qaimoh and nearby areas, emphasizing the governments focus []

Visits Hazrat Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom (RA) shrine BARAMULLA: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar on Saturday met various public delegations from North Kashmir and assured time-bound redressal of their grievances. During the interaction, residents and representatives projected issues related to roads, civic amenities, basic infrastructure []

SRINAGAR: Amid the continued influx of new members into Apni Party, a large number of social and political activists and workers today joined the party at a special event organised at the party headquarters in Srinagar. Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, and other senior leaders, warmly welcomed the new members and assured them that []

SHOPIAN: Police in Shopian conducted training programmes at Police Stations and Police Posts across the district with technical assistance from the Resource Person (District Rollout Manager NIC Shopian) to sensitise police personnel about their role in the implementation of the schemes, including prompt registration of eligible cases on the portal and timely forwarding of cases []

SRINAGAR: The official football of the Khyber Cement Kashmir Super League 2026 powered by Athwas Retail and Athwas Hyundai was formally launched today by the Honble Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, marking a significant milestone ahead of the second season of the much-awaited football league. The Chief Minister commended Hinan Manzoor and Mushtaq Bashir, []

Calls for greater youth participation in sports BARAMULLA: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar on Saturday witnessed the grand finale of the Legends Cricket League, Rohama, as the chief guest at Safi Sports Stadium. The final match was played between Irfan Sports Legends, Rohama and []

Statehood promise is moving target, Centre keeps shifting goalposts UT with Assembly is abomination, worst form of government New Delhi: Voicing deep frustration over the delay in restoration of promised statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said that the anger and disappointment over the issue in the Union territory is []

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness widespread rainfall and thunderstorms over the coming days, with the Meteorological department warning of heavy to very heavy rain in a few districts of Jammu division from August 9 to 11. Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 30.5 degree Celsius, which was 2.4 notches below normal, while []

Tradition passed down Srinagar: All roads lead towards Koh-e-Maran on Saturday as thousands of devotees gathered at the historic Makhdoom Sahib Shrine in Srinagar to mark the Urs Mubarak of revered Sufi saint, Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom (RA), popularly known as Makhdoom Sahib (RA). The city wore a different rhythm through the day, as []

Joint entry wins citation and cash prize of 2.5 lakh Srinagar: The Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, has extended heartiest congratulations to two outstanding weavers, Manzoor Ahmad Hajam and Fayaz Ahmad Wani, from Kanihama, Budgam, who have been conferred with the prestigious National Handloom Award, in recognition for their contribution in the field of Kani []

Srinagar: A report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has revealed critical levels of pollution in the famous freshwater lake Manasbal in Jammu and Kashmirs Ganderbal district, sparking major public health concerns. The lake serves as a primary drinking water source for the residents across the Ganderbal and Bandipora districts. Recent tests conducted by []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said if he were to write an autobiography ever, he would keep it locked away to be published only after his death as he would not risk upsetting anyone. He made the remarks at the launch of When The Heart Speaks, the second edition of []

Srinagae: The 57-day-long Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, which commenced on July 3, will remain suspended from both routes from August 9 in view of track restoration works and adverse weather conditions. In a statement issued ,a spokesperson said the 57-day-long Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra commenced on July 3 this year and will culminate with the []

INDORE: Dialogue, dignity and inclusion are essential for effective access to justice, and a true legal aid means people spoken to and not merely spoken at, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said on Saturday. Speaking to reporters after a programme here, he also stated that the backlog of cases in the country has decreased []

Jammu: The Economic Offences Wing, Crime Branch Jammu on Saturday filed a chargesheet in the court of JMIC Sunderbani against a resident of Bhajwal for alleged encroachment of state land. In a handout, the CBK said that the chargesheet was filed against Yash Paul, son of Kundan Lal and resident of Village Bhajwal, Sunderbani, for []

UNITED NATIONS: Expressing concern over the security situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said there needs to be accountability for action taken against people engaging in peaceful protest. The Secretary-General supports the work of his High Commissioner, and we certainly hope that the pleas made by Mr. []

Srinagar: The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) on Saturday conducted raids at multiple locations across the Kashmir Valley in connection with a terror-related case involving the alleged online glorification of terrorism and recruitment of individuals into terrorist ranks, officials said. Officials said that the searches were carried out in Baramulla, Shopian, Anantnag, Kupwara, Bandipora and other []

WASHINGTON: President Donald J Trump, Plaintiff, got a welcome break this week in one of his battles with the media but for the moment, only a temporary one. As his USD 10 billion lawsuit against the BBC proceeds, a federal judge in Florida granted the president a temporary reprieve on Thursday from an order []

DUBAI: A prominent Iranian lawmaker on Friday criticised a joint defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, saying that the deal will not bring security to Riyadh. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the deal that would treat an attack on one as an attack on all three, officials said, solidifying cooperation between []

Says NHAI, police working to maintain flow; urges commuters to be patient Ramban/Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that fruit-laden trucks from Kashmir and petroleum tankers from Jammu were being given priority on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and timely transportation of horticultural produce []

New Delhi: Relations with Pakistan can only progress in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence, however, the neighbouring nation continues to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy against India, the Centre informed Parliament on Friday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said this while responding to Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadavs query []

MeT warns of heavy showers across J&K from Aug 9 Srinagar: Flash floods swept away a couple in Udhampur District on Friday, while as the MeT predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir between August 9 and 11 and warned of landslides and waterlogging in vulnerable areas. An official said that a []

Lays foundation for Water Supply Scheme for Udhampur Jammu: In a major push towards urban development and infrastructure enhancement in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday inaugurated a landmark project in Jammu, laid foundation stones for critical water and sewage projects in Udhampur and Reasi. The day began with the inauguration of []

Initiatives to strengthen AI-driven governance, innovation, entrepreneurship Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday launched the J&K Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI CoE) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu and dedicated Project Phoenix, an AI-enabled digital commerce platform at IIT Jammu. The initiatives are aimed at promoting technology-driven governance, fostering innovation and []

Srinagar: Accused of assaulting an on-duty police officer, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said she and her daughter were being targeted for raising their voice and urged the party workers to continue the struggle for resolution of the Kashmir issue even if she and Iltija go to jail. A day after the mother-daughter duo []

Srinagar: As many as 3,65,645 cases are pending in district and subordinate courts of Jammu and Kashmir, including 63,876 cases pending for more than five years and 20,767 cases pending for over 10 years, the Union Ministry of Law and Justice informed the Lok Sabha on Friday. As per the reply by Minister of State []

New Delhi: One in five Indians on an average will be over the age of 60, with nearly seven in 10 older adults living in rural India, a study showed on Friday. The study released by Transform Rural India (TRI) said India is growing old before it grows rich, unlike many developed nations that became []

Qazigund: With 21 days left for the conclusion of the annual Amarnath Yatra, 5,095 pilgrims paid obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine on Friday, taking the total number of devotees who have performed darshan this year to 4,76,683. According to official figures, 2,871 men, 1,544 women, 25 children, 61 sadhus, eight sadhvis, three transgender devotees []

Udhampur: A couple was swept away in a flash flood while attempting to cross a nallah in Jammu and Kashmirs Udhampur district on Friday, officials said. An official said that the incident occurred at Kaghote nallah, where the couple, both residents of the area, were caught in strong floodwaters while trying to cross the stream. []

Ramban: A man was arrested after allegedly attempting to breach a police security check post and run over security personnel with his Scorpio SUV in Ramban district early Friday, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban Arun Gupta said. Addressing a press conference, Gupta,, said the black Scorpio (JK02AK-1743) reached the cut-off naka at Kunfer, Chanderkote, []

Ramban: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday visited various locations along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban and reviewed the ongoing restoration and repair works following disruptions caused by heavy rains. Speaking to reporters in Ramban, Omar Abdullah, said there is no alternative to this highway. I travelled through the Rajouri-Poonch route []

NEW DELHI: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday asserted in the Lok Sabha that the Opposition cannot dictate which minister will come to the House and respond, amid a demand from the Congress and other parties that Home Minister Amit Shah should answer questions on the recent police action on protesting students here. As []

Srinagar: Srinagar Police has secured conviction in a six-year-old murder case with a court awarding life imprisonment to the accused. The case pertains to FIR No. 03/2020 registered at Police Station Maisuma. In a handout, the police said that the Honble Court convicted Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar, son of Abdul Gani Dar and resident of Bichwara, []

Reasi: A 22-year-old pony operator was found dead inside a water tank in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district on Friday, officials said. An official said that the body of the pony operator was recovered from a water tank in the Matyal area of Katra after police were informed about the incident. He said the body []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday slammed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging a fixed match between the party and agencies, and said PDP leader Iltija Mufti was not a five-year-old child who would bite someone. Speaking to reporters in Jammu, Omar Abdullah,said that whenever the PDPs image or credibility takes a hit, agencies []

Ramban: Police fired a few gunshots after an SUV vehicle fled a security check post in Ramban on Friday morning, officials said. The vehicle was later found abandoned, while its occupants managed to escape. An official said that a Scorpio was travelling from Srinagar toward Jammu when it was signalled to stop at the police []

NEW DELHI:A delegation of Christian leaders led by DMK Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson on Thursday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah with a plea to withdraw the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, taking exception to its confiscatory nature. The delegation contended that the law proposed would replace the existing regulatory regime with []

Says what happened on Aug 5, 2019 is unconstitutional Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Thursday that the measures taken on August 5, 2019, regarding Jammu and Kashmirs special status were unconstitutional, and protests for its restoration will continue. Everyone knows that what happened on August 5, 2019, is unconstitutional. So, the entire []

Rajouri/Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday asserted that his government and the National Conference (NC) would continue their efforts for the restoration of statehood until it is achieved. Responding to a question on whether more steps would be taken following demonstrations across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday seeking restoration of statehood, []

Timely fruit movement crucial to prevent post-harvest losses: Minister Ramban: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar on Thursday reviewed the situation arising from recent heavy rainfall and landslides in Ramban and adjoining areas, with emphasis on damage to life and property, disruption of traffic and []

Omar tours flood-affected areas, assures relief, restoration efforts Rajouri: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday embarked on an extensive visit to flood-affected regions in Rajouri district to assess the damage caused by recent devastating flash floods. During his visit, he reviewed the extent of destruction to infrastructure, met with affected families, and directed authorities to []

Says completion in final stages Nowshera: On his way back from Rajouri to Jammu, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday inspected the ongoing works on the strategically important Sungal Tunnel and reviewed the progress of the project. During the inspection, the Chief Minister was briefed by officials on the current status of construction and the []

Demands immediate removal Srinagar: The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday expressed outrage and shock after screenshots shared by people brought to its notice that pork products are being listed for sale on the online delivery platform Blinkit in Kashmir. The MMU, in a statement issued here, said that while it is generally []

Advocates statutory EoD framework, MSME revival, procurement reforms, strengthening DICs, long-term policy stability SRINAGAR: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) on Thursday submitted a comprehensive Executive Policy Memorandum to the Government, presenting industrys perspective on the proposed Institutional Framework for Effective Ease of Doing Business and the Revised Industrial Policy in a consolidated []

Srinagar: In a significant development paving the way for Jammu & Kashmirs officers to enter the prestigious Indian Forest Service (IFS) after a gap of 13 years, the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has determined 28 slots in the promotion quota of the AGMUT cadres J&K segment. In a letter addressed to []

MeT warns of heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides from Aug 9-11 Srinagar: Widespread rainfall lashed several parts of Kashmir on Thursday, while a hailstorm accompanied by strong gusty winds damaged apple orchards in parts of Shopian district and a shepherd was killed after being struck by lightning in Kupwara. Several areas across the Valley recorded []

New Delhi: The government is questioning the visiting Meta team on whether the company is following the law of the land, following summons to the social media giant over temporary restriction of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Facebook post recently, sources said on Thursday. The government and the Meta global team are currently engaged in discussions. []