Kashmir Reader

JAMMU: Emphasising fiscal discipline, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday directed all departments to submit well-structured, need-based proposals consistent with the governments development roadmap. For the second consecutive day, Abdullah held consultations with several key departments to assess priorities, sectoral needs and development imperatives for the upcoming budget session of the J&K []

JAMMU: House Listing Operations (HLO) will be conducted across Jammu and Kashmir from June 1 to 30 as part of the upcoming census exercise, with self-enumeration commencing 15 days prior, officials said on Wednesday. The schedule was decided by the Union Territory Level Census Coordination Committee, which met here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of []

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board has backed Bangladeshs stance of refusing to play its T20 World Cup matches in India due to security concerns and offered to host the countrys matches in a communication to the ICC. The ICC Board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to take a final call on Bangladeshs participation, including []

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended interim protection to three accused, who were asked to surrender by the high court in the alleged Rs 3,500 crore Andhra Pradesh liquor scam. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, however, refused to interfere with the Andhra Pradesh []

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump closed out 2025 with his plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in fine fettle. With an endorsement from the UN Security Council to form a Board of Peace to oversee Gazas future, Trump entered 2026 riding high in his self-described role as a president of peace who sought to end []

Focus on enforcement, prevention, and community engagement Emphasis on inter-agency coordination and intelligence sharing SRINAGAR: A meeting of District Level Committee on Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) was on Tuesday convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo here at the Meeting Hall of the DC Office to review the ongoing enforcement actions []

SRINAGAR: DIG South Kashmir Range Javid Iqbal Matoo-IPS, chaired a comprehensive security and crime review meeting at DPO Anantnag to assess the prevailing security scenario and the overall law-and-order situation in the district. The meeting was attended by SSP Anantnag Amritpal Singh-IPS, SP Headquarters Anantnag Kartik Shrotriya, SP Operations Anantnag Furqan Qadir, ASP North Aishmuqam []

SRINAGAR: J&K Police in Baramulla held a comprehensive security review meeting at the Conference Hall, District Police Lines Baramulla, ahead of the forthcoming Republic Day Celebrations-2026. The meeting was chaired by SSP Baramulla. Senior officers of the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, CISF, intelligence agencies, along with all GOs, SHOs and IC PPs of district police []

SRINAGAR: In a constant crackdown against illegal mining, Police in Pulwama seized a vehicle (dumper bearing registration No. JK13K-1694) for unlawful transportation of minerals. During checking, the vehicle was intercepted and found carrying illegal minerals without valid authorization. Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 10/2026 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police []

Concludes MDPs in five districts SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) has successfully concluded the sixth and seventh batches of Management Development Programmes (MDPs) in Baramulla, Shopian, Kupwara, Poonch and Budgam districts under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme. The scheme is funded by the Ministry of MSME, Government of []

SRINAGAR: Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL has informed that the Shutdown of 33 KV WanpohAshajipora and WanpohMalaknag line will be observed due to which power supply to Ashajipora, Dialgam, Malaknag, Hazratbal, Brakpora, Doonipawa and adjoining areas will be affected from 09:30 AM to 03 PM on 22 January 2026. Similarly, shutdown of 33 KV Bemina-Fateh Kadal []

Says bifurcation demand not in Jammus interest Underscores peoples welfare, regional balance as NC govts priorities Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President & Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that as long as the plough-bearing flag of the National Conference continues to fly across Jammu and Kashmir, no power on earth []

Chairs pre-budget consultation meeting with key depts Calls for efficient service delivery, J&Ks inclusive growth Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday began pre-budget consultation meetings by chairing detailed discussions with key departments ahead of the Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, scheduled to begin on February 2. The Chief Minister reviewed []

Project to preserve legacy while improving urban mobility, quality of life Our prime objective is to lift quality of life with modern tech, inclusive design Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday inaugurated the redeveloped Amira Kadal bridge in Srinagar. The project, costing Rs 7.70 crore under Srinagar Smart City limited was launched in December []

Srinagar: Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Tuesday reviewed the security scenario and operational preparedness in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. Prabhat chaired a comprehensive security review meeting at the District Police Office (DPO), Ganderbal to assess the prevailing security scenario and operational preparedness of the district, a police spokesperson said. During the []

IED recovered, destroyed along NH in Tappar Srinagar: Ahead of Republic Day Celebrations, Jammu and Kashmir Police Tuesday intensified frisking and checking operations across valley parts. Witnesses said that police teams were deployed in and around the main Sopore town, including the busy Iqbal Market, vital road crossings and the Sopore railway station, where thorough []

Srinagar: With Republic Day around the corner, security agencies in Srinagar city have intensified vigilance across the city, conducting searches and a mock drill to ensure seamless and incident-free celebrations. Officials said that large-scale searches were carried out in several areas including Takanwari, Karnabal, Shallbug and Bakshipora on the outskirts of Srinagar. Teams of Srinagar []

Jammu: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said her partys sole agenda is the restoration of peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir through dialogue and development and unity of its regions. The former chief minister criticised the National Conference and the BJP for linking her proposal for granting divisional status to the Pir Panjal []

Jammu: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits and people of the Valley are eagerly awaiting their return. The former chief minister also suggested that reservation of two Assembly seats for Kashmiri Pandits would be preferable. Kashmiri Pandits must take their own decision. We are eagerly waiting []

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir BJP on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, accusing her of pursuing divisive and communal politics that runs contrary to national interests. It charged that Mehboobas political conduct has been consistently centred on sectarian appeasement and identity-based mobilisation. The BJPs attack came a day after the []

ammu: A day after former Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti floated the idea of creating separate divisions for the Chenab and Pir Panchal regions, former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said that the idea is a Dixon Plan. Talking to reporters,the NC president said that the proposal is a Dixon []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that the redevelopment Amira Kadal reflects the administrations vision of integrating heritage with modern civic infrastructure to create a vibrant cultural space in the city. Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the bridge, the Lieutenant Governor,, said the bridge has been completely rebuilt with all modern amenities and []

Directs befitting arrangements, sensitization of participants regarding significance of national event SRINAGAR: Ensure meticulous and befitting arrangements for the celebration of national festival, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg directed officers while finalizing arrangements for the forthcoming Republic Day in a meeting held at TRC, Srinagar. Emphasizing the significance of Republic Day, the Divisional Commissioner stressed []

Raises concerns over harassment of Kashmiri shawl sellers in Himachal Khuehami says Khera assuredof take up matter with HP Chief Minister SRINAGAR: Following the recent incidents of harassment and targeted assaults against Kashmiri shawl sellers across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana, a delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), led by its National []

SRINAGAR: The 14th Annual Raising Day of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was celebrated on Monday with great enthusiasm at the premises of SDRF 1st Battalion, Srinagar. The occasion was marked by an impressive march past by contingents of SDRF, NDRF, and the Pipe Band. Imtiyaz Hussain Mir, Director Civil Defence & SDRF Kashmir []

SRINAGAR: Jammu & Kashmirs forest guards and foresters, the first line of defence of our forests and wildlife, have appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Forest Minister Javed Rana for urgent intervention against long-pending injustice in pay and service benefits. Despite performing 247 high-risk, technical and law-enforcement dutiesincluding night patrols, fire-fighting, anti-smuggling operations and []

SRINAGAR: The Department of Chemical Engineering, in collaboration with the Dean Alumni and International Affairs, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, on Monday organised an interactive session with renowned innovator and industrialist Dr. Pradeep Tyle, a distinguished alumnus of the institute, under its flagship Life Beyond Classroom (LBC) programme. The interaction, held at the Department []

SRINAGAR: Police in Kulgam along with CAPF, GRPF, Fire & Emergency service conducted a mock drill exercise at Railway Station Qazigund to assess emergency response mechanisms and preparedness in handling critical situations. The mock drill was held to prepare field forces to respond promptly to any untoward incident especially of a terror nature with quick []

Contraband substances seized SRINAGAR: As part of its sustained efforts to eradicate the menace of drugs from society, police have arrested three drug peddlers in south Kashmirs Shopian and Pulwama districts and recovered contraband substances from their possession. In Shopian, during routine naka checking by police party of Police Post Wachi at NaghardBabpora, intercepted a []

Insurance sector set for strong expansion NEW DELHI: Moodys Ratings on Monday projected Indias economy to grow by 7.3 per cent in the current fiscal year, saying the strong expansion will support average household incomes and boost demand for insurance protection. In a report on Indias insurance sector, the global ratings agency said the industry []

Srinagar: The body of Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, one of the victims of 2024 Gandbal boat tragedy, was recovered from the Jhelum river on Monday, bringing an end to the prolonged search operation, locals said. Locals from the area informed that the missing man, whose body had remained untraced since the tragedy, was found and retrieved []

JAMMU: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday flagged growing religious polarisation in the country, alleging that hate politics was being fuelled for electoral gains, and questioned who was responsible for spreading divisive narratives in Jammu. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a party function here, the former chief minister said the people in []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss various matters concerning the Union Territory. In a post on X, the office of the Chief Minister, said that Omar Abdullah met the Home Minister in New Delhi today. It said the Chief Minister discussed []

Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg on Monday said that all arrangements have been completed by the administration for smooth Republic Day celebrations in Srinagar. Speaking with reporters here, Anshul Garg, said that children are excited to take part in cultural programmes, and rehearsals have already begun at the Bakhshi stadium. He said that illumination []

Jammu: A toy balloon bearing the logo of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was found in an open field in the border area of Kachriyal, Pallanwala in Akhnoor tehsil of Jammu district on Monday morning, officials said. A police official said that local residents noticed the balloon and immediately informed the police. Acting on the information, []

Srinagar: Three flights have been cancelled at the Srinagar International Airport on Monday following the closure of the airspace in Delhi for Republic Day rehearsals and related security measures, officials said. An airport official said that three flights scheduled for today were cancelled due to airspace closure in Delhi, while rest of the flight are []

Srinagar : The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Crime Branch, Kashmir, has filed a charge sheet against a former Public Health Engineering (PHE) department employee for allegedly fraudulently availing migrant relief amounting to 18.30 lakh, officials said. The charge sheet, as per statement, has been presented before the Court of the 19th Electricity []

HONG KONG: Chinas economy expanded at a 5 per cent annual pace in 2025, buoyed by strong exports despite Trumps tariffs. However, growth slowed to 4.5 per cent in the last quarter of the year, the government said Monday. That was the slowest quarterly growth since late 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy, the []

Flags fresh harassment of traders in three States Urges Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Sunday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene urgently in view of a fresh and alarming wave of harassment, intimidation, and targeted assaults against Kashmiri shawl sellers across Himachal Pradesh, []

Pledge to build brighter Jammu & Kashmir, work with dedication Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday asked the youth to dream big, aim high and pursue it with full courage and unshakable resolve. Your future is waiting for you. Take a pledge to build brighter J&K and work with dedication. The history remembers those []

Jammu: Eight soldiers of the Army were injured in a gunfight with militants in a remote forested area in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district on Sunday, officials said. The intense exchange of fire between the two sides lasted several hours before the guns fell silent. Reinforcements have been deployed to strengthen []

Srinagar: National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Sunday lauded the efforts of Omar Abdullah-led government in revitalizing Jammu and Kashmir tourism sector, a critical pillar of the regions economy. He said this in a press release issued from the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha. Dr Farooq highlighted that the revival of tourism has been instrumental []

Says womens economic empowerment essential in todays world Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday reviewed the ongoing development works of Pachokhar Digital Library dedicated to Nari Shakti at Zamania, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh through virtual mode. The Lieutenant Governor commended the Pachokhar Digital Library initiative aimed at strengthening the resolve of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao []

Over 92,000 units established under this programme Jammu: For decades, agricultural interventions across the country largely followed a familiar pattern of rolling out schemes, extending subsidies and measuring success through beneficiary counts. While this approach ensured visibility, it often failed to deliver durable outcomes, particularly in regions marked by fragile ecologies, scattered landholdings and complex []

Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Crime Branch Kashmir, has registered a criminal case against seven individuals for allegedly cheating and duping innocent people, particularly unemployed youth, on the pretext of providing government jobs. The case originated from a written complaint received by the EOW, wherein it was alleged that certain persons were fraudulently inducing []

Repetitive, recall-based questions fail to develop analytical skills and leave students ill-prepared for the future, despite NEP 2020s clear reform direction Nowsheen Mushtaq For nearly fifteen years, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) examinations have followed a repetitive and predictable pattern. Questions are recycled from previous years, structures remain unchanged, and entire []

Glorifying rank-holders ignores effort, damages confidence, and pushes many into silent distress, while those who question, create, and lead often go unrecognised By Andleeb Jan An unhealthy trend has quietly taken root around the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) results, and I genuinely feel it needs to be talked about. Board results []

rinagar: The Kashmir valley is likely to witness a change in weather conditions from January 19, with the Meteorological Department forecasting snowfall during the coming days, officials said. The department has predicted partly to generally cloudy weather on January 19, with light snowfall at isolated higher reaches, which is expected to be insignificant. On []

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Crime Branch Kashmir, has registered a criminal case against seven individuals for allegedly cheating and duping innocent people, particularly unemployed youth, on the pretext of providing government jobs. The case originated from a written complaint received by the EOW, wherein it was alleged that certain persons were fraudulently inducing []

Lauds Jammus civil society, trade bodies, lawyers, public for rejecting demand for separation, upholding unity SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar Saturday reaffirmed that the foremost agenda of the Omar Abdullah government is to place Jammu and Kashmir firmly on the path of development, stability and inclusive growth, asserting []