REGIONAL

The footpath along Srinagar’s Dal Lake is facing severe erosion, with a major portion of the path near Ghat Number 17 collapsing on Tuesday. Local residents and frequent visitors have raised alarm over the deteriorating condition of the walkway, blaming an unchecked rat infestation for weakening the soil and causing cracks along the Boulevard stretch. Locals told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that rats have burrowed deep into the soil from Ghat Number 1 up to Ghat Number 17, creating thousands of holes and cracks in the pathway. The rodent population has surged due to the availability of leftover food and waste that people discard along the footpath. The persistent burrowing has led to soil erosion, making the ground weak and unstable. “The soil is already fragile, and the pa...

Sheikh Nadeem  A pall of gloom has descended over Palpora, Dialgam, as news broke of the untimely demise of Malik Khalid Saifullah, a young nursing specialist working in Saudi Arabia. Khalid, son of Saifullah Malik, reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest on Thursday morning while working at ABHA Saudi Rehabilitation Center. A resident of Palpora Dialgam, he had pursued his education at Crescent School, Dialgam, and later completed his BSc Nursing from Desh Bhagat University. A cousin of the deceased, speaking to The Kashmiriyat, said, “His sudden death has left the entire family and our locality in shock. We are struggling to come to terms with this loss.” Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayer in absentia) will be held at 11:00 am at Palpora Ground, where relatives and community ...

A pregnant lady died at GMC Rajouri during labour pain even as family alleged medical negligence. Reports reaching news agency JKNS said that a young woman died in GMC Rajouri this morning and family alleged medical negligence behind the incident. The patient name witheld resident of Mandargala, Rajouri was admitted in the hospital on 18th February. Family members are protesting alleging negligence by GMC doctors and investigation in this regard. Meanwhile, an official from GMC Rajouri told news agency JKNS that the patient was admitted on February 18. She was already confirmed as an IUD, and in such cases, a wait-and-watch approach is followed. The concerned doctor did the same to check whether she would deliver the baby in good condition. Around 2 a.m., the patient complaine...

Prominent political activist Waqar Hussain Bhatti has been booked by the Jammu Kashmir Police for derogatory language against a particular religion. According to the copy of the FIR, accessed by The Kashmiriyat, Waqar Hussain Bhatti has been booked under Section 299 (outraging religious sentiments), Section 196 (promoting animosity between two groups), Section 351 (criminal intimidation), Section 352 (insulting with intent to breach peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Waqar, who is also a member of Altaf Bukhari's Apni party, was arrested from his home in Rajouri on February 17 and lodged in the Rajouri police station. Roohi H Bhatti, Waqar's wife, confirmed his arrest to The Kashmiriyat, stating that he was pulled away from home in an inhumane manner. She alleged that th...

On 17th February, 2025, Police Station Bemina received an information through reliable sources that an unidentified male dead body was lying in flood spill channel near Darul-uloom, Bemina. Upon receipt of this information, police team of PS Bemina reached on the spot alongwith FSL Mobile unit of DPL Srinagar and Crime photographer of PCR Srinagar. Relevant exhibits were recovered on the spot and proceedings under provisions of 194 BNSS were initiated. Upon preliminary enquiry, prima facie culpable homicide not amounting to murder was established. Accordingly, case FIR No 13/2025 u/s 105, 238, 241 BNS was registered in PS Bemina and investigation was set into motion. During the course of investigation, two alleged accused persons namely Imtiyaz Ahmad Machloo son of Ali Mohammad...

Danishwar Hameed A 19-year-old girl has gone missing from her home in Kulgam district, leaving her family in distress. Family members told The Kashmiriyat that Nasreena Jan, daughter of Manzoor Ahmad Bakerwal, a resident of Nageenpora, Nard Kund, has been missing since the afternoon of February 18, 2025, Tuesday. After searching for her everywhere, the family has urged the police and the public to help them locate their missing daughter. Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is requested to contact the family at 7051510670.

Bulbul Nag, a centuries-old spring in Pulwama’s Newa area, has completely dried up, leaving thousands of residents in distress. For decades, this natural spring supplied drinking water to 39 villages, producing nearly six lakh gallons of water daily. However, with the ongoing dry spell, the spring now yields barely one lakh gallons—far too little to sustain the 20,000 to 30,000 people who depend on it. “The water reduced last year as well, but then came back to normal with the rainfall,” said a local resident. “This year, there is no rain, and the spring has dried completely. Now even the bedrocks are easily visible.” This crisis is not isolated. Just days ago, Achabal, one of Kashmir’s largest springs, also ran dry. According to the Meteorological Department, January 2025 recorde...

Jammu, Feb 19 (PTI) A six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a superintendent of police was constituted Wednesday to probe the recent murder of two men in a remote village in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. Bodies of Roshan Lal, 45, and Shamsher, 37, were retrieved from the banks of a stream in Batheri village in Billawar on February 16. The postmortem report of the bodies revealed that they had been strangled to death. Police have not ruled out terrorist involvement in the double murder so far. A joint anti-terrorist operation by police, army and paramilitary forces is also underway in the nearby forests over the past couple of days. However, any breakthrough has eluded the investigators till date, the officials said, expressing confidence tha...

The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed the detention of journalist Majid Hyderi, who was booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and lodged in Kot Bhalwal Jail, Jammu. The verdict was delivered by Justice V K Chatterjee, according to Hyderi’s counsel, advocate Mohammad Yousuf Bhat. Hyderi was arrested on September 15, 2023, from his Srinagar residence on charges of “extortion and defamation” under FIR No. 88/2023 at Saddar Police Station. Despite being granted bail by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar, he was re-arrested and booked under the PSA. His detention drew criticism, with former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti alleging he was “dragged from his home like a wanted terrorist.” The Jammu and Kashmir Police denied this, stating that “all legal procedures o...

A dramatic incident unfolded in Thanamandi, Rajouri district, on Tuesday morning when a local shopkeeper, Javid Kohli, climbed a mobile tower, threatening to end his life. His protest sent shockwaves through the town, drawing the attention of locals and authorities. According to eyewitnesses, Kohli remained atop the tower for several hours, livestreaming on Facebook while making serious allegations against the local police. He specifically demanded the termination of the Station House Officer (SHO) and other police officials, accusing them of harassment. Authorities, including senior officials from the civil administration and police, rushed to the scene in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. After hours of persuasion, the administration successfully convinced him to cl...