REGIONAL

During the two-day Jashn-e-Zaffran programme in Dusoo Pampore area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district, saffron growers voiced their concerns about the “declining” saffron production and called for the revival of the industry. Growers, speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said there is a need to focus on finding solutions to rejuvenate the saffron industry and increase production instead of celebrating the Jashn-e-Zaffran programme. They pointed out that celebrating is appropriate when production is on the rise, but given the current “decline” and “near-collapse” of the industry, there is little to celebrate. “Majority of the farmers haven't even tilled their saffron land as they no longer are interested in it due to the outcome,” they said, adding that a sig...

Two militant associates were arrested in central Kashmir's Srinagar district on Thursday officials said. An official told News Agency Kashmir Scroll that two militant associates were apprehended on Wednesday night. He said both identified as Yawar Rashid Dar, son of Abdul Rashid Dar and Basit Nabi Bhat, both residents of Saderkote Bala in Hajin Bandipora were arrested by Police Station Parimpora at Shalteng Bund. The officer said that a Pistol, two magazines, 28 rounds and a grenade were recovered from their possession. The officer further said that a case vide FIR No.159/2023 under sections 7/25 A Act, 4/5 Explosive act & 18,23,39 ULA Act has been registered against the duo. (KS)

At least 12 students fell unconscious during an event in government girls higher secondary school Handwara on Thursday, officials said. An official told KNS that the school had organised a self-defence event for girl students during which one of the students sprayed pepper spray, following which 12 students fell unconscious. He said that the students were immediately shifted to SDH Handwara for treatment. “Some girls had managed to get pepper spray from somewhere and they mischievously sprayed it during the event,” he said. KNS

Jammu Kashmir police attached a residential house in the Awantipora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district for harboring militants. Quoting an official, local news agency KNO reported that the house of Azad Ahmed Teeli, a resident of Beighpora in Pulwama's Awantipora was attached under FIR No 58/2020 for providing voluntary shelter to militants. He said that the property was attached on the orders of NIA Court Pulwama under section 33 UAPA Act. "Reyaz Naikoo, the wanted militant was holed up in this house and killed during an encounter.”

Jammu Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor chaired a Unified Command meeting in Srinagar to review the security scenario while stressing to the officers of security that nobody should be allowed to disrupt the prevailing peace and efforts should be doubled to zero-in on the left-over militants. The LG, as per sources, also stressed on the need to fine tune Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) and advisories regarding the movement of police officials in the wake of recent attacks on police officials that led to the injury to police inspector in Srinagar and killing of police man in Baramulla. Reliable sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the LG chaired the UC meeting at Cheshmashai Auditorium in Srinagar at 11 am where Advisor to LG, RR Bhatnagar, Chief Secretary Arun Kuma...

People's Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone on Thursday expressed anguish over the rounding up of hundreds of people across the Kashmir valley. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) Sajad Lone said, "In the name of OGWs hundreds of people have been rounded up in the last 24 hours." He said that, the people who are rounded up are the people who may have had a past in militancy but are now law abiding citizens for the last 2 decades. "They are grandfathers, fathers and livelihood earners. How can an entire generation be punished and for how long. For a mistake that they made are they going to be punished eternally for all times to come," Sajad Lone claimed. What is the concept of reintegration in a conflict, he asked. Sajad Lone warned that the Macro policing i...

Danishwar Hameed A truck driver died during a road accident near Ramban on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that on Thursday morning, a truck bearing the registration number JK03E 8003 fell into a deep gorge near Kela Morh in Ramban, leading to the death of a driver. The driver identified as Mohammed Irfan Dar son of Abdul Qayoom Dar, a resident of Khudwani Kulgam died on the spot. Irfan, the sole bread earner to his family is survived by  his ailing parents and two young children- son, 5 and daughter 6 years old.

Jammu Kashmir is the sixth State/UT in the country to have a high prevalence of tobacco use as over 20 percent of the population is indulging in tobacco consumption, officials said. Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr Mir Mushtaq, State Nodal Officer (Kashmir Division), National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) said the prevalence of smoking tobacco in J&K is 20.8 percent, which is the sixth highest in the country after Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram. The prevalence of smokeless tobacco is the lowest in the country that is 4.3 percent after Himachal Pradesh, he said. As per the National Health Survey figures, the prevalence of tobacco in Kashmir includes Kupwara 56 percent, Shopian 52 percent, Anantnag and Bandipora 49 percent...

Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday seized the property, where DySP Aman Thakur was killed in 2019 in Turigam village in south Kashmir's Kulgam district. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the property was seized by police in Turigam Yaripora village today. In 2019 deputy superintendent of Police (Operations) Aman Thakur was killed during an encounter here. 3 affiliates of JeM were also killed while three soldiers were injured during the encounter—(KNO)

Back to back killings of a non-local labourer and policeman in Kashmir was denounced by the prominent political parties. The victim, Mukesh Kumar, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, fell victim to militants' gunfire while en route to a local bank in Nowpora Parigam village, located in the Newa area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district. Mukesh, a father of four, was employed at a brick kiln at the time of the incident. Militants fired upon one labourer identified as Mukesh of UP in the Tumchi Nowpora area of Pulwama, who later on succumbed to his injuries, Kashmir Zone Police wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha condoled the tragic loss of life due to militant attack. In a message, the Lt Governor said the killing of innocent civilian Mukesh Kumar, a resident of...