REGIONAL

National Conference Patron Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday urged the Government of India to engage in meaningful dialogue with the people of Ladakh, warning that neglecting their long-standing demands could deepen unrest in the sensitive Himalayan region. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah said the recent violent incidents in Leh were the direct outcome of years of unaddressed grievances. He noted that Ladakhis had been demanding inclusion under the Sixth Schedule and restoration of statehood for the past five years but had only received vague assurances. “Whatever happened in Ladakh was not good. People had been struggling peacefully under the leadership of Sonam Wangchuk, who adopted Gandhian methods, but nothing came out of it. When the youth of Leh realised...

Suhail Dar A road accident occurred today on the National Highway near the Flour Mill at Uran Hall, Anantnag, involving a Creta and an Alto car. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that the incident left three people injured, who were immediately shifted to GMC Anantnag for medical treatment. The injured have been identified as Mohammad Shafiq Dar, 40, son of Abdul Aziz Dar, resident of Muniwara; Gul Mohammad Dar, 66, son of Ghulam Mohammad Dar, resident of Muniwara; and Shabnum, 35, wife of Mohammad Shafi, also from Muniwara. Further details about the accident are awaited.

The District Magistrate of Leh, Romil Singh Donk, has issued an order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, imposing strict restrictions across the district due to fears of potential public unrest and threats to human life. The order prohibits any procession, rally, or march without prior written approval from the authorities. Use of vehicles with loudspeakers and statements that could disturb public peace are also banned. Additionally, assemblies of five or more people are not allowed in Leh. The notice has been issued ex-parte, as individual service of the order was not feasible. Violations may attract punitive action under Section 223 of the BNS 2023.

Police on Wednesday arrested a person from South Kashmir who had allegedly provided logistical support to terrorists responsible for the April 22 Pahalgham terror attack, officials said here. "Based on an intelligence lead, Srinagar police arrested an Over Ground Worker from South Kashmir's Kulgam district. He was identified as Mohd Yousuf Katari (26)," an official said. The officials said that he had a role in providing logistical support to the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack who were later killed during Operation Mahadev. In the July 29 encounter, the Army's elite para commandos had gunned down the three terrorists on the outskirts of Srinagar. They included Sulieman alias Asif, who is believed to be the mastermind of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 people, ...

At least four people were killed and over 70 others injured during violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Leh on Wednesday. The unrest erupted during a shutdown called by the Leh Apex Body (LAB), demanding full statehood for Ladakh and the extension of the Sixth Schedule to the region. According to reports, tensions escalated after demonstrators attacked a BJP office and set a police vehicle on fire. Security personnel responded with teargas and baton charges. Protesters claimed the fatalities occurred due to police firing. The protest was triggered by the deteriorating health of two individuals who had been on a 35-day hunger strike since September 10, supporting the statehood and Sixth Schedule demands. Their hospitalization on Tuesday evening prompted the LAB...

A militant hideout was busted in Brinal village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday. A top police officer said that, militant hideout was unearthed by a joint team of security forces during a search operation launched at village in Brinal village. The hideout was later destroyed on the spot while searches in the area are continuing, the officer added. (KNC)

Jammu Kashmir Police constable was formally arrested in connection with the killing of a Gujjar youth in a firing incident near here in July, officials said on Wednesday. People's Democratic Party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the development as a "crucial step towards justice" and said "it is a reminder that no one, not even those in uniform, is above the law." Mohammad Parvez, a 21-year-old from Niki Tawi, was shot dead by police, allegedly in a shootout near Sure Chak village on the outskirts of Jammu city on July 24. The incident sparked vociferous protests by the Gujjar community, who rejected the police version that the youth was a drug peddler and claimed that he was killed in a "fake encounter". Taking serious note of the allegations, polic...

Shah Basit A tragic incident occurred in Kawcherwan area of Kangan in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Wednesday evening, where a young boy lost his life after drowning in a power canal, officials said. According to officials, a rescue operation was immediately launched after the incident came to light. Teams of police, SDRF personnel, and local volunteers were pressed into service to retrieve the body. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganderbal, Khalil Ahmed Poswal, accompanied by the Station House Officer (SHO) Kangan, reached the spot to oversee the search and investigation. “We have detained two individuals for questioning in connection with the case. Water flow in the canal has been halted to assist in the recovery of the body. The situation is being closely mo...

Jammu Division has borne the brunt of the recent 2025 floods, with heavy rains triggering floods, road washouts, and widespread damage to homes, infrastructure and livelihoods. According to official figures presented by the Jammu divisional administration, at least 150 people have lost their lives in the region. Another 178 are injured, and 33 are still missing. The housing damage according to official figures, is massive. Over 12,800 residential houses have been affected in Jammu, with about 4,200 fully damaged and more than 8,600 partially destroyed. Livestock losses are similarly severe, with 1,455 animals reported killed or lost. Farmlands and orchards over 1,300 hectares have also been devastated. The floods, as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust, didn’t even spare roa...

The Press Club Kashmir has started a new podcast to give young journalists and fresh graduates from colleges and universities a platform to learn and grow. Club President Mohammad Saleem Pandit said, the podcast will help aspiring reporters understand real challenges in journalism and prepare them with the right skills. He explained that the focus will be on human-interest stories covering issues like sanitation, traffic, and healthcare. “The idea is to highlight problems and suggest solutions, without targeting anyone or using journalism for blackmail,” Pandit said. He added that the Press Club aims to guide and support as many young journalists as possible, so they gain respect in the profession and get better opportunities in the future.(KINS)