Kashmir Reader

New Delhi: A 32-year-old man, who worked as an accountant at a private company in Delhi, has been apprehended in Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly misappropriating about Rs 1.96 crore from his employer nearly three years ago, police said on Monday. The accused, Triloki Sharma, was arrested from a factory in J and Ks Samba []

Sopore:DIG North Kashmir Range, Baramulla, Shri Vinod Kumar-IPS, today visited Police District Sopore and chaired a security review meeting with officers of Sopore Police, CAPFs and sister agencies in connection with the forthcoming Independence Day-2026 celebrations. During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on security arrangements, deployment plans, area domination, access control, traffic management and []

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Monday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his partys double standards on the ongoing student protest in Jharkhand, saying those who tried to politically hijack the students agitation in Delhi are now silent on the stir in the state. The remarks came after thousands of job aspirants, protesting alleged irregularities []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has extended warm congratulations to artisans Manzoor Ahmad Hajam and Fayaz Ahmad Wani on being conferred the prestigious National Handloom Award by the President of India. The two weavers from Jammu and Kashmir have been honoured for their exceptional craftsmanship in weaving the exquisite Chanddar Kani Shawl. The Chief Minister []

Bandipor: Two persons have been arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmirs Bandipora district, police said here. Police received information about the alleged sexual assault of the minor around noon on Sunday, following which an investigation was launched, officials said. During the course of the investigation, police []

Statehood restoration must be first step towards rebuilding trust: Sagar SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar on Sunday described 09 August 1953 as one of the darkest chapters in the democratic history of the country saying the events of that day not only dismantled a democratically elected government []

Says heritage conservation to strengthen regions tourism potential, preserve legacy SRINAGAR: In a major initiative to preserve Jammu & Kashmirs historical heritage and promote local tourism, the Government has approved 10 crore for the repair and renovation of the historic Rattan Garh Fort in Bhaderwah, Doda. The project is aimed at conserving the historic structure, []

Stresses physical activity, connection with nature in digital age SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq inaugurated the Funkara Adventure Park for children, in Nowgam, describing it as a welcome initiative to promote physical activity, creativity and a connection with nature among the younger generation. Speaking on the occasion, Mirwaiz said that in todays digital []

Contraband substances recovered SHOPIAN/PULWAMA: Continuing its sustained efforts to eradicate the menace of drug abuse from society, police have arrested two drug peddlers in Shopian and Pulwama and recovered contraband substances from their possession. During routine naka checking at Manihal Crossing, a police party from Police Station Imamsahib intercepted a suspicious person. During his personal []

Duped businessmen, shopkeepers through fraudulent means SRINAGAR: Srinagar Police have arrested a habitual fraudster, Ubaid Maqbool Khawaja son of Maqbool Ahmad Khawaja resident of Gomal Chek, Tangdar, presently residing at Habib Colony, Alochi Bagh in connection with case FIR No. 45/2026 under Sections 318(4) and 319 BNS, registered at Police Station Mahraj Gunj. The accused []

GANDERBAL: The Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign commenced across District Ganderbal on Sunday with enthusiastic participation of students, youth, government employees and the general public, marking the beginning of a week-long celebration of patriotism, national unity and pride in the National Flag. As part of the inaugural activities, various programmes were organised across the district in []

KUPWARA: The Har Ghar Tiranga campaign got underway in Kupwara on Sunday and will be observed across the district till 17th August. Massive rallies were taken out at various locations, witnessing enthusiastic participation from students of schools and colleges, officials of Youth Services & Sports, ICDS and Social Welfare departments, security forces personnel, volunteers and []

PULWAMA: The inaugural event of the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign2026 was held on Sunday at Tral with the organisation of a mega Tiranga rally, marking the beginning of the campaign being observed from August 9 to August 17, in integration with the third phase of the commemoration of 150 years of the National Song Vande []

SRINAGAR: Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL has informed that the Shutdown of 33 kV Arampora Handwara Old line will be observed due to which power supply to Handwara Town, Marathgam, Kulangam, Kandi, Chogal, Sagipora and adjoining areas will be affected from 08 AM to 02 PM on 10 & 13 August 2026. Similarly, shutdown of 33 []

NEW DELHI: The Opposition on Sunday lashed out at former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his remark that attempts were made to mislead Gen Z during the protests over the NEET paper leak issue, saying the students were raising valid concerns and that it is actually the BJP that has a habit of misleading people. []

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 []