REGIONAL

Two soldiers have sustained injuries in an ongoing encounter between forces and terrorists in forest area of Soom-Broh village in Jammu and Kashmirs' Rajouri district, official said Tuesday. An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the encounter started on Monday late evening after the contact got established between search team of forces and terrorists during an Anti Terror operation by forces over reports of suspicious movement in the area. Broh, Soom villages are located in the hinterland of Rajouri district and fall under the jurisdiction of Kalakote police station in the district. Officials said that joint teams of Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF laid a Cordon in the area on Monday and launched searches over suspicion of presence of terrorists ...

At least seven people were injured in a clash between two groups over a land dispute in Panzgam area of South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Monday. Sources told Srinagar-based news gathering agency Kashmir Scroll that there was a scuffle between two groups of Gujjar Bakarwals and Kashmirs over a land dispute at Panzgam, resulting in at least seven persons being injured, identified as Mohd Ashraf Rather, son of Mohd Satar; Abdul Rashid Doie, son of Lal Mohd; Shakil Ahmad Kasana, son of Mohd Iqbal of Panzgam; Zeena Begum, daughter of the late Mohd Yousuf Dorie of Nardsangad; Fatma Begum, wife of Mohd Shareef Khan; Showkat Ahmad Bakerwal, son of Nazam Din; and Reshma Bano, wife of Bashir Ahmad Famda of Panzgam. Sources further added that all the injured were immediately taken to a near...

A complex agricultural scenario is unfolding in Kashmir, while the rice yield per hectare of paddy land is on the rise, there's a concerning trend of continuous shrinkage in the available paddy land across the region, according to official figures. Data from the office of the Department of Agriculture Kashmir, reveals that seven years ago, there were 135,000 hectares of land under paddy cultivation in the valley, however, the current figures paint a different picture, with paddy land having decreased to 129,000 hectares. The decline in paddy land, despite the notable increase in rice yield per hectare, raises important questions about the long-term sustainability of agriculture in Kashmir. This trend is causing both experts and policymakers to take notice, as it may have significant ...

Security forces on Monday launched a Cordon and Search Operation in different villages of Rajour district, officials said here. Official sources told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that joint teams of Army, Police and CRPF launched the CASO in the village of Kalakote police station jurisdiction. They said that intense search operation is going on—(KNO) More details are awaited

Three residential houses were damaged in two separate fire incidents in Lolab area in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Monday. Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) two residential houses were damaged at Batagagal village in Lolab, while another house was damaged in Shartmuqam area of Lolab. They said that there were, however, no reports of any loss to human life in any of the incidents. "The cause of the fire was being ascertained," they said—(KNO)

Police on Sunday arrested a man accused of raping his daughter in the Baramulla district of north Kashmir. Officials said that a in Baramulla's Kreeri, the Police received a complaint from a family accusing the father of raping his 19-year-old daughter in the north Kashmir area. Police swung into action and arrested the accused identified as Mohammed Rafiq of Kalantra Payeen under the sections 376, 506 of the Indian Penal code, they said. An official confirming this incident to The Kashmiriyat said that the investigation has been set into motion under the FIR number 129/2023 at Police station Kreeri.

Despite the augmentation of power infrastructure and the installation of much-hyped smart meters, the electricity woes continue to torment the valley residents ahead of the winter as since past one week, consumers are facing pesky power cuts across the Valley. The situation is equivalent in towns, cities and villages as the consumers have accused the concerned Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) of supplying inadequate electricity to them. “Despite the installation of smart meters, which were aimed to ensure better power supply, we are getting nearly 4-5 hours of electricity supply on a regular basis, which has added to the misery of consumers here,” said Jahangir Ahmad, a local from the Natipora area. “Crores of rupees have been spent on the power infrastructur...

As the chill of winter begins to creep into the Gurez Valley of north Kashmir's Bandipora district, local farmers, with deeply rooted traditions and a profound connection to their land, embark on a centuries-old practice that has ensured their survival through the harshest of winters – burying freshly harvested potatoes. As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the timeless technique of burying potatoes beneath the frozen earth ensures their preservation and usability for several months to come. This ancient storage method according to locals is not unique to Gurez; it is practiced extensively throughout the Gilgit-Baltistan region, a proof to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the locals in adapting to their environment. Gulam Rasool, a local farmer with a deep connectio...

The Jammu Kashmir admin has placed an Additional Superintendent of Police under suspension against a pending enquiry. In an order issued under the number 475 home of 2023, accessed by The Kashmiriyat, the admin has placed Additional Superintendent of Police, Budgam Gowhar Ahmed Khan under suspension. In its order, the admin said, "In terms of Rule 31(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 1956, pending enquiry into his conduct, Shri Gowhar Ahmad Khan, Addl. Superintendent of Police Budgam is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect." It is further ordered that the Officer shall remain attached to Zonal Police Headquarters Kashmir, during the period of suspension, read the order of the Jammu Kashmir admin.

Prominent People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Ahmed Parra has been prohibited from traveling outside Jammu and Kashmir to accompany his ailing father for cancer treatment in Mumbai. The court upheld this travel ban as part of the conditions of his bail, which was imposed in connection with an ongoing trial. Mr. Parra's father is battling an advanced stage of Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and the necessity of his son's presence during his medical treatment was the basis for the plea. However, the Court of Special Judge designated under the NIA Act in Srinagar, Sandeep Gandotra, rejected Mr. Parra's plea after considering arguments from his counsel and the APP for Jammu and Kashmir. The court noted, "The applicant is facing trial before this court in case FIR No 31/2020...