REGIONAL

In a historic first for Jammu Kashmir, Mehraj Din Malik, MLA from Doda-52, has been booked under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978, officials confirmed on Monday. According to an official intimation from Harvinder Singh, IAS, District Magistrate Doda (Ref. No. 3571-73/DM/Doda dated 08-09-2025), Malik’s activities were deemed “prejudicial to the maintenance of public order,” posing a “grave threat to peace and law and order in the district.” The preventive detention under PSA was considered necessary to safeguard public order, as per the order, accessed by The Kashmiriyat. The notice was published in the Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly under Rule 260 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. Earlier, the District Magistrate of Doda in order number 3...

One more army jawan lost his life after sustaining injuries leading the toll of security casualities to two in the ongoing encounter with terrorists in the Gudar forest area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Monday. Officials told news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC that initially a JCO among three jawans were injured during the exchange of fire. All the injured personnel were evacuated to hospital for treatment, two among three succumbed to their injuries, official said adding that the condition of JCO is stable. Moreover, earlier, two terrorists were killed while the operation is still ongoing. The joint operation by Army, Police, and CRPF was launched following specific inputs about the presence of terrorists in the forest area. The firefight is still underway as se...

A man was found in a critical condition on a roadside in Naid Kadal area of Srinagar on Monday and was shifted to SMHS Hospital for treatment. The injured has been identified as 48-year-old Khurshid Ahmad Shawl, son of Ghulam Nabi, of Alfarooq Lane, Alamdar Colony, Lal Bazar. He is serving as a senior assistant in the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB). As per his attendant, Shawl was spotted lying on the main road near a Medical Store at Naid Kadal, with blood stains on his face. He was immediately rushed to SMHS Hospital, where doctors described his condition as critical. Police have taken cognizance of the incident, though the cause of his injury could not be immediately ascertained. [KNT]

Torrential rains and flash floods across Jammu province have wreaked havoc on the agricultural sector, destroying crops over 1.4 lakh hectares and leaving more than six lakh farmers in deep distress. Official assessments reported by the Daily Excelsior indicate that over 90,000 hectares suffered losses exceeding 33 per cent, with paddy and maize among the worst-hit crops. District-wise data reveal the scale of the devastation: Udhampur lost 23,688 hectares, Jammu 19,441 hectares, Kishtwar 13,280 hectares, Ramban 11,124 hectares, Reasi 12,717 hectares, Doda 10,067 hectares, Kathua 7,671 hectares, Rajouri 3,256 hectares, Samba 320 hectares, and Poonch 216 hectares. Farmlands in Garkhal, Pargwal, Khour, Jourian, Pallanwala, Makwal, and areas along the Tawi Island have been buried und...

The Jammu Kashmir administration has booked a sitting legislator under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Mehraj Malik, the MLA from Doda East, has been detained under the stringent law, officials confirmed. As per Jammu based reports, Mehraj was picked up from the MLA hostel from where he was shifted to Bhaderwah and now will be lodged at Kathua or Bhaderwah jails. Malik, an MLA from Aam Aadmi Party, known for his frequent run-ins with the bureaucracy,  has long accused the administration of “interference” and “high-handedness.” He has also raised his voice against alleged mismanagement in the health sector in the region. Earlier this year, the Doda police registered an FIR against Malik and five of his supporters for allegedly stealing hospital equipment and obstructing health officials whi...

Police in Doda have registered an FIR against sitting MLA Mehraj Malik, representing the Doda constituency, and five of his supporters for alleged theft of hospital equipment and obstruction of government officials, Daily Excelsior reported. According to sources, the case (FIR No. 90/2025) was filed at Police Station Gandoh after the BMO Thathri lodged a complaint. The MLA and his associates have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly removing equipment and belongings from the AAM health centre at Kencha in Block Thathri, and for obstructing staff while the centre was being shifted. The FIR names Mohd Shafi, Ghulam Ali, Shoaib Malik, Jaffer Hussain (all residents of Kencha, Kahara, Gandoh), Sufian Malik (resident of Malanoo, Kachara, Ga...

The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh on Monday expressed serious concern over the looming flood threat in the Valley and summoned senior government officials for a special hearing. The case came up during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) titled Environmental Policy Group (EPG) v. Union of India & Others. The Bench, led by the Chief Justice, examined an urgent six-page report submitted by EPG Convenor Faiz Bakshi through Amicus Curiae Advocate Nadeem Qadri. The report flagged “grave deficiencies” in flood preparedness and highlighted risks to human life, property, and Kashmir’s fragile ecology. Taking cognisance, the Court directed the Commissioner Secretaries of Irrigation & Flood Control and Housing & Urban Development, along with the Divisional Commis...

An unidentified terrorist was killed while three army soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer, were injured in a gunfight in the Guddar area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district. A top police officer told GNS that during the firefight, one terrorist was killed while three army personnel, including a JCO, were injured. Among the three injured armymen, one is in serious condition, he added. Earlier, a gunfight broke out between terrorists and joint team of Police, army and CRPF in Guddar area after receiving intelligence inputs about presence of some terrorists in the area.(GNS)

The continuous closure of the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, coupled with alleged mismanagement along the Mughal Road, has badly hit the mutton industry in Kashmir, triggering acute shortage and forcing people to postpone wedding ceremonies. According to the Mutton Dealers Association, more than 150 weddings scheduled across the Valley had to be deferred due to the unavailability of mutton. General Secretary of the Association, Mehrajuddin Ganai, told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the situation has become alarming, and if the livestock supply does not reach the Valley within a day, there will be zero availability of mutton from Tuesday onwards. He revealed that at least 400 sheep have already died over the last three days in stranded trucks. The deaths have been attributed to p...

Danishwar Hameed An encounter broke out between militants and government forces in the Gudder forest area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Officials told The Kashmiriyat that in Monday a joint team of Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a cordon-and-search operation in the area after receiving inputs about the presence of militants. During the search, contact was established with the hiding militants, leading to an exchange of gunfire, they said. The operation was underway at the time of filing this report.