Kashmir Reader

Jammu: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), on Friday said to carry out a surprise two-day operation in Udhampur and Reasi, uncovering widespread illegal mining, officials said They said, ACB teams seized electronic devices, records, and fake Form-A documents from stone crusher units. Early findings suggest involvement of some officials, while all inspected sites were violating []

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday discharged former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the politically charged liquor policy case, pulling up the CBI by saying it found no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the policy. Among the 21 people given a clean chit in the []

Poonch: A suspected drone movement was observed over Gulpur village in the Poonch sector along the Line of Control on Friday morning, official sources said. They said that security forces detected the aerial object during routine surveillance and opened fire, discharging approximately 15 to 20 rounds in an attempt to neutralise it. However, []

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir tightened their hold on the Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 final by bowling out Karnataka for 293, establishing a commanding 291-run first-innings lead as play continues on Day 4. Karnatakas innings, revolved around a determined 160 from Mayank Agarwal, who occupied the crease for 266 balls and struck 21 boundaries in a []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar Thursday said that the promised restoration of statehood will reveal how committed the Central Government is to democracy, dignity and development in Jammu & Kashmir. In a statement issued today, Sagar said the assurance given by the Honble Prime Minister regarding the []

SRINAGAR: A delegation of the Jammu Kashmir Employees Coordination Committee (JKECC) today called on Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister for timely and considerate intervention in keeping in abeyance the order concerning the []

ANANTNAG: Dr. Bilal Mohiud Din Bhat assumed charge as Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, succeeding SF Hamid, during a formal handover ceremony held on Thursday at the DC Office. Senior officers of the district administration, including ADCs, CEO PDA, GM DIC, ACR, SDMs, ACD, Dy DEO, CPO, CAO, Dy Director Fisheries, Tehsildars, and other officers, were []

BUDGAM: In a formal handover ceremony held on Thursday in the office chamber of the Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, took over as DC Budgam.He took the charge as the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam succeeding Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-din Bhat. The DC took the charge in presence of ADC Budgam, Mehraj-ud-din shah, JD planning, ACR []

AWANTIPORA: The Habba Khatoon Centre for Kashmiri Language and Literature at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), in collaboration with the Young Dramatists Society and the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, organized a grand celebration to mark International Mother Tongue Day on the university campus. The event commenced []

JAMMU: Strengthening efforts to boost value addition and self-employment in the agriculture sector, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar, on Thursday inaugurated a Modern Processing-cum-Training Centre for fruits and vegetables at Udheywala in Jammu. The centre, established at a cost of90 lakh, aims to []

HAJIN: With an aim to foster and reinforce the spirit of peace and communal harmony, the Manasbal battalion of 13RR of the Indian Army on Thursday hosted an Iftar Party at COB Shahgund Camp. Scores of locals and senior citizens gathered for a party to pray, eat, and converse. 13RR Shahgund conducted this event to []

SRINAGAR: Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Faz Lul Haseeb, conducted an extensive inspection of municipal assets at Tibetan Colony, Eidgah, and Devi Angan, Badam Wari, to review the status of civic infrastructure and assess the management, maintenance, and utilization of public facilities. During his visit to Tibetan Colony, Eidgah, the Commissioner undertook a comprehensive []

AWANTIPORA: J&K Police organised a special training session on the effective investigation of cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at the Conference Hall, DPL Awantipora. The programme aimed to strengthen the professional competence of Investigating Officers (IOs) dealing with sensitive cases involving children. The session focused on the legal provisions []

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Israel was against the countrys policy and not a good sign for Mahatma Gandhis India. She called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a criminal who is afraid of visiting many countries lest he be arrested. I think our []

Srinagar: The Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqis office on Thursday announced that Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for the year 2026 has been fixed at 80 per individual. The Grand Muftis office in a communique, emphasized that Zakat-ul-Fitr is compulsory for every Muslim, including men, women and infants. The parents must discharge the charity []

Srinagar: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Thursday urged graduates of the University of Kashmir to stay away from drugs, use social media responsibly and respect diversity, saying success in life depends on character and discipline. Addressing the 21st convocation of the university, VP Radhakrishnan, said students must be prepared to face challenges beyond academics []

Srinagar: School Education Department on Thursday kept its order of Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) in abeyance till further orders. SED Secretary in an order said, The Government order regarding the designation of JKBOSE/State School Standards Authority (SSSA) as nodal agency for conducting TET is hereby kept in abeyance, till further orders. Earlier, in the previous []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said border villages in the region are no longer symbols of conflict but have emerged as symbols of connection, as the government partners with the Centre to promote tourism in these areas. Addressing the 21st convocation of the University of Kashmir, CM Omar,, said his []

Bandipora: At least 13 shops were damaged in a fire that broke out in the main market of Bandipora during the wee hours of Thursday, officials said. An official said fire tenders from Bandipora and nearby areas rushed to the spot soon after the blaze erupted. Personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and []

Jammu: A 20-year-old boy was found dead in mysterious circumstances at his home in the Mendhar area of Poonch district on Thursday. Officials said that during the night hours of Wednesday, a youth was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his home. The deceased has been identified as Wajid Ali (20), son of Mohd []

Srinagar: Economic Offences Wing Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K on Thursday said that it has registered a formal case against two individuals for their alleged involvement in a large-scale fraud related to procurement of medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. In a handout, the CBK said that []

JERUSALEM: In a historic address to the Knesset, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described the Gaza Peace Initiative as a path towards just and durable peace in the region even as he delivered a powerful message of solidarity with Israel, asserting that terrorism anywhere threatens peace everywhere. Modi said like Israel, India has a []

Inspects 4th Bridge Tawi, warns of strict action against illegal mining violations JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, on Wednesday reiterated the Governments firm commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against illegal mining across Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that strict action will be taken against violators as well as the negligent officials. During an inspection of []

Take onsite stock of preparations to augment facilities for pilgrims SRINAGAR: In connection with the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026, the Deputy Commissioner(DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo along with Senior Superintendent of Police, Sundeep Chakravarthy visited the Yatra Transit Camp at Pantha Chowk to take onsite stock of the preparations being undertaken for the smooth and []

Expresses gratitude to Punjab CM, administration SRINAGAR: Noted Social and student rights activist Er. Ehtisham Khan, Co-founder of The Purpose (NGO), has welcomed the reported administrative action and inquiry initiated in connection with the recent developments involving Kashmiri Muslim students at CT University, Punjab. The matter, which had caused widespread concern among students and their []

BUDGAM: District Administration Budgam on Wednesday organized a warm farewell function in honour of the outgoing Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, on his transfer to district Anantnag as the Deputy Commissioner. The function was attended by the Additional Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Budgam, Chief Planning Officer (CPO) Budgam, all Sub-Divisional Magistrates []

KULGAM: Shahzad Alam on Wednesday assumed charge as Deputy Commissioner Kulgam. Soon after taking over charge, the Deputy Commissioner chaired an introductory meeting with district and sectoral officers at the Conference Hall mini-secretariat Secretariat. During the meeting, he interacted with officers and reviewed the overall functioning of various departments. Emphasising coordinated efforts and responsive governance, []

SRINAGAR: Handicrafts & Handloom (H&H) department inaugurated 2-day Trainee Products Sale at Kashmir Haat here on Wednesday. During the sale,Craft products like hand-knotted woollen carpets, GI-tagged Pashmina shawls and stoles, Crewel curtains, Sozni embroidered shawls, Zari & Aari embroidered suits, tweed cloth, Chain Stitch rugs and cushion covers, tapestry, Gabba and Namda products, papier mch []

Handed over for preservation AWANTIPORA: Police in Awantipora have successfully recovered 694 antique coins from the Pinglish area of Tral during a routine operation. The recovered items are believed to be of significant historical and archaeological value. The recovered antique coins were kept in safe custody under the supervision of the SHO Police Station Tral, []

Passion &continuous learning drive long-term growth SRINAGAR: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar hosted distinguished alumnus Dr. Raju Pakalapati, a 1989 pass-out of the Department of Chemical Engineering, for an alumni lecture that drew participation from over 100 students on campus. The lecture is part of the Life Beyond Classroom (LBC) series, organised by []

GANDERBAL: In a sustained and proactive drive against illegal mining, Police in Ganderbal has intensified its action across the district. During the course of action, Police Teams seized eight vehicles including five Tractors and three Tippers involved in the illegal extraction and transportation of minor minerals across the district. These vehicles were found transporting illegally []

Emphasizes Ikhlaq in Ramzan SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, Dr. Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, delivered a sermon at Masjid Abu Bakr (RA), Zoonimar, in connection with the blessed month of Ramzan, expressing concern over the decline in social conduct and the growing culture of verbal hostility in society. Emphasizing Ikhlaq (noble character), Mirwaiz stated that Ramzan is not []

Srinagar The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday activated dedicated 247 helplines to assist residents of the Union Territory returning from Iran. According to an advisory, the decision follows an advisory released by the Embassy of India in Tehran on February 23, 2026. The helplines are aimed at facilitating information-sharing and providing assistance to J&K []

Jammu: Security forces on Wednesday recovered arms and ammunition including IEDs were recovered by security forces in Kasbalari Mendhar area of Poonch. Officials said that security forces during routine patrolling recovered a suspicious black bag. With atmost care during the inspection of bag, 1 large IED weighing 4.5 Kg, small IED, 2 Chinese grenades, one []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir will be the last region in the country to enforce the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) guidelines, Education Minister Sakina Itoo said on Wednesday, a day after the School Education Department (SED) issued the formal order. Speaking to reporters, Itoo, said, We are not implementing the TET orders immediately. J&K will be []

Gulmarg: Jammu and Kashmir Sports Minister Satish Sharma on Wednesday defended the use of artificial snow for winter sports, countering BJP criticism by saying the practice aligns with global standards and is essential for hosting high-level competitions. Minister Sharma said artificial snow is widely used at leading winter sports destinations worldwide to ensure consistency amid []

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump began his State of the Union address on Tuesday, a speech where he plans to declare his policies have the job market and domestic manufacturing booming hoping to convince increasingly wary Americans that the economy is stronger than many believe and that they should vote for more of the []

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump declared during Tuesdays State of the Union that were winning so much, saying hed sparked a jobs and manufacturing boom at home while imposing a new world order abroad hoping that offering a long list of his accomplishments can counter approval ratings that have been falling. His main objective was []

Takes onsite review of planned fencing & allied works along Old Zaina Kadal, Aali Kadal, new Zaina Kadal bridges & dev of connecting road at Bulbulanker SRINAGAR: Deputy Commissioner(DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo on Tuesday undertook an extensive onsite visit to various areas of Shahr-e-Khaas (Old City) to review the progress of ongoing developmental works and []

Promotes eco-friendly healthcare practices under Kayakalp, NQAS initiatives GANDERBAL: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo on Tuesday led a plantation drive at District Hospital Ganderbal to promote ecofriendly practices and reinforce quality healthcare standards under the Kayakalp and National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) programmes. The Minister planted saplings within []

Dr. Farooq, Omar lead party functionaries in offering Fatiha, tributes SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Farooq Abdullah and Vice President &Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday led party leaders and workers in offering floral tributes and Fatiha at the Mazar-e-Anwar of the partys stalwart and former General Secretary, Sheikh Nazir Ahmad on []

SRINAGAR: Director Agriculture, Sartaj Ahmad Shah on Tuesday inaugurated the sale of highquality vegetable seedlings at the Kitchen Garden Scheme, Lalmandi, Srinagar. The initiative aims to promote kitchen gardening, encourage self-sufficiency in fresh vegetables among urban and peri-urban households, and support sustainable agricultural practices in the region. The event underscores the departments ongoing efforts to []

SRINAGAR: The Department of Handicrafts & Handloom is organizing a two-day Trainee Products Sale at Kashmir Haat, popularly known as Numaish Gah, commencing from February 25, 2026. Craft products made by trainees in 432 Training Centres across 10 districts of Kashmir Division will be showcased, including hand-knotted woollen carpets, GI-tagged Pashmina & Kani shawls and []

HAJIN: As part of its women empowerment initiative under the Civic Action Programme, the 45th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Tuesday launched a one-month tailoring course for women in Baharabad village of Hajin area in Bandipora district. The CRPF has been providing continuous support for womens empowerment in Jammu and Kashmir []

SRINAGAR: Projects Today introduced AI-Driven business opportunity platform to strengthen Indias project ecosystem. The new positioning brings project lifecycle context, tenders and L1/order updates, and stakeholder intelligence into one convenient workflow helping organisations engage the right projects at the right time. The upgraded platform introduces an AI-enabled evolution focused on practical outcomes, including BOQ []

GANDERBAL: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has re-opened the online application portal for the Common University Entrance Test (UG) 2026. This window is being provided to facilitate students who were unable to complete their registrations during the initial application periods in January and February. The NTA has stated that it received multiple representations from []

SRINAGAR: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) organised Seed Capital Fund Challenge (Agrithon 1.0) under the Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project for Jammu & Kashmir (JKCIP), funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) at Shalimar campus. The Seed Capital Fund Challenge was conducted with the objective []

SRINAGAR: The Inter-State Youth Exchange Programme organised by Mera Yuva Bharat, Srinagar, concluded today at SCERT Bemina, Srinagar, marking the culmination of the five-day youth engagement initiative. The programme brought together youth delegates for structured cultural interactions, dialogue sessions and outreach activities aimed at promoting inter-state understanding and constructive youth engagement. During the exchange, participants []

Major boost for Kashmirs aviation infrastructure Modern terminal to serve 10 million passengers Cultural heritage integrated into design Eco-friendly features for sustainability goals Enhancing tourism & economic growth New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the development of the Civil Enclave at Srinagar International []

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the development of the Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airport proposed at an estimated cost of Rs.1,677 crore. In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor said: J&K Skies Soar: dawn of a bold aviation era. I am []