April 5, 2025 - The Kashmiriyat

Apr52025 by News DeskNo Comments

Prominent Shia scholar Agha Syed Hadi Kashmiri put under house Arrest

REGIONAL

Prominent Shia scholar Agha Syed Hadi has been put under house arrest, reliable sources said on Saturday evening. The sources told news agency Kashmir Bulletin that a posse of Police arrived at Agha Syed Hadi's residence and subsequently informed the shia cleric about his house arrest. "Hadi was supposed to participate as chief guest in a programme at a mosque in Srinagar," added the sources. More details awaited. (KB)

Apr52025 by News DeskNo Comments

Shopian youth runs from Uri to raise awareness for a drug-free Kashmir

REGIONAL

Meer Irfan In a powerful display of dedication and determination, Danish Hameed Mir, a young resident of Hydergund Zainapora in Shopian district, has embarked on an arduous solo run from the iconic Kaman Post in Uri to Dubjan in Shopian. His mission is singular and deeply resonant: to raise awareness and advocate for a drug-free Kashmir. Danish, a passionate advocate against substance abuse, began his journey from the Line of Control (LoC) at Kaman Post—an iconic location symbolizing the unity and resilience of the region. His goal is to traverse the challenging terrain and cover a significant distance to reach Dubjan, a village in his home district. This solo run is not just a physical feat but a powerful statement against the growing menace of drug addiction that has been affect...

Apr52025 by News DeskNo Comments

Shabir Ahmed Dar elected president of Sopore Media Association

REGIONAL

Shabir Ahmed Dar was on Saturday elected as the new president of the Sopore Media Association, defeating Mehraj Uddin Lone by a margin of nine votes. All 31 members of the association participated in the election, which followed a spirited campaign by both candidates. The polling was conducted peacefully, with Dar securing 20 votes while Lone received 11. The election was supervised by the association’s Election Board, which included Bilal Ahmed Bhat from Greater Kashmir, Muneeb ul Haq of The Varmul Post, Suhail Ahmed Khan from The Kashmir Despatch, Syed Fayaz of KNS, Mohammed Abu Bakar from DW, Kousar Arafat of ETV Bharat, and Nadeem Qayoom from Voice TV. The board ensured a fair and transparent voting process. Shabir Ahmed Dar, who has been actively engaged in local journalism, ...

Apr52025 by News DeskNo Comments

Naidu’s Heritage Foods faces boycott campaign over TDP’s support for Waqf Bill

INDIA

A storm is brewing for Heritage Foods, a well-known dairy and retail brand, after its founder and current Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, backed the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill recently passed in Parliament. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), under Naidu’s leadership, supported the bill, prompting widespread backlash, particularly from Muslim communities that had once counted among the party’s supporters. The Waqf Bill has drawn sharp criticism from minority groups, who argue that it undermines protections for Waqf properties—lands and assets historically preserved for religious and charitable purposes in the Muslim community. While the ruling BJP has framed the bill as a step toward transparency, many see it as an infringement on minority rights. Now, the f...

Apr52025 by News DeskNo Comments

₹5 crore allotted for Wanigam-Tilgam Water supply scheme: MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone

REGIONAL

Bhat Yasir The Wanigam-Tilgam water supply scheme, which has been a long-standing demand, is set to be completed soon. The scheme, which has been allotted five crore rupees under the UT Capex Budget, was initially launched in 2018 but faced delays due to funding issues. MLA Kreeri - Wagoora constituency, Irfan Hafiz Lone, told The Kashmiriyat that the work on project was started five years ago but due to some issues it couldn’t be completed. “Now after five years, the work on this project has started,” he said, adding, “this isn’t under any scheme now or JJM but the money under Capex Budget has been allotted for this.” The project, which was initially part of the JK IDFC and later included under the languishing projects scheme, could not be completed due to financial constr...

Apr52025 by News DeskNo Comments

Gujjar and Bakarwal activists flag newspaper report, say tribal community opposes Waqf Bill

REGIONAL

Gujjar and Bakarwal activists have expressed anguish over a report published in the Srinagar-based Daily, claiming that the tribal community had celebrated the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025. The report that appeared on April 4 has been flagged by the Jammu Kashmir Tribal Welfare Forum among other tribal activists. In a tweet by Jammu Kashmir Tribal Welfare Forum, the organisation expressed anger, saying, "We are deeply disappointed by the irresponsible reporting targeting a tribal community. Such biased narratives not only fuel prejudice but also endanger lives. Person in pics is a political leader of a particular party, didn't representing our community at large." Prominent tribal activist Zahid Chaudhary spoke to The Kashmiriyat over the phone and expressed his anguish...

Apr52025 by News DeskNo Comments

Jammu Kashmir among lowest in child marriage cases, government data shows

REGIONAL

Jammu Kashmir ranks 30th out of 36 states in reported child marriage cases under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, according to data presented in Parliament by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Between 2020 and 2022, only five cases were registered in Jammu Kashmir — one in 2020, two in 2021, and two in 2022. Neighbouring Union Territory Ladakh reported zero cases during the same period. Nationally, a total of 2,837 cases were registered under the Act across all states and Union Territories over the three-year span. The highest number of cases were reported from Karnataka, which registered 648 cases, followed by West Bengal with 501, Assam with 366, Tamil Nadu with 271, and Telangana with 250. These states accounted for a significant share of the to...

Apr52025 by News DeskNo Comments

‘So many died, There was no one left to mourn’: How Cholera ravaged 19th-century Kashmir

WRITE-UPS

Hammad Bukhari “There was foul air in the city, and he was vomiting and had fever and a few loose motions. The hakim gave up, and he slowly became lifeless. These were the melanchonic words of my beloved grandmother when she narrated to me the story of how she became a widow, when she was still in her early twenties,” writes Gulzar Mufti, Non-executive Director East Sussex Health CCG, regarding the Cholera epidemic of Kashmir of the late 19th century in his research paper. Cholera, locally known as Haiza, spreads through contaminated water supplies, unhygienic conditions, and high human mobility, making it a recurrent catastrophe for the masses in Kashmir. Cholera reached the Valley repeatedly, usually through Rawalpindi and Punjab, utilizing the Jammu Srinagar trade system and th...

Apr52025 by News DeskNo Comments

SPO Who Was Injured In Navyug Tunnel Road Accident Succumbs

REGIONAL

A Special Police Officer who was injured on 1st April near Navyug Tunnel succumbed to his injuries here on Saturday. Officials told GNS that on 1st April a fierce accident took place after a MG Hector skidded off the road near Navyug tunnel resulting death to two people and injuries to three persons including a SPO. Today SPO namely Showkat Ahamd after battling for life for 4 days succumbed to his injuries. (GNS)

Apr52025 by News DeskNo Comments

Reservation policy triggers political showdown between Sajad Lone and Sakeena Itoo

REGIONAL

A political war of words has erupted in Jammu Kashmir over the contentious issue of reservations, with Peoples Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone and Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo exchanging sharp statements in the backdrop of an ongoing legal battle in the High Court. Lone, in a post on social media platform X, slammed the JK Government for seeking an “outright dismissal” of a petition challenging the reservation policy in the case of Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and others vs UT of JK. He termed the government’s affidavit “misleading” and questioned why it made no mention of a cabinet subcommittee constituted to review the reservation policy. “This is a legal mystery. Seems the government is not taking its own committee seriously enough to merit a mention in its legal affidavit,” Lone sai...