REGIONAL

The Supreme Court of India presently hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the Article 370 abrogation on Tuesday observed that anyone supporting or opposing the abrogation is not supporting a "secessionist" agenda. Hearings on Day 15 began on a fiery note when the defendants and petitioners argued over the affidavit filed by petitioner number 1 Mohammed Akbar Lone, senior JKNC leader, who was accused by the centre of raising pro-Pakistan slogans. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said that what was unfolding in the court was merely for grabbing headlines. "All tis is being televised, let us refrain from doing all this," he said. During this a lawyer, who represented an intervener, Roots in Kashmir, a pandit outfit was silenced by the Chief Justice of India for his repeated disturbanc...

The Government forces claimed to have busted a hideout of one of the longest surviving militant commanders in the Kishtwar district of Chenab Valley. In a press statement, Police said that in collaboration with Army 26 RR & CRPF 52 BN, Police successfully dismantled a hideout belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant Jahangir Saroori in Kishtwar district on Tuesday morning. Quoting, a senior police officer, news agency Kashmir Scroll reported that acting on credible intelligence, Kishtwar Police along with Army 26 RR and CRPF 52 Bn. in a meticulously planned operation, uncovered and neutralized the hideout located in the Paribag area of Bhadat Saroor, where Jahangir Saroori was suspected to have been hiding and planning subversive activities. During the search operation...

Amid the installation of smart meters across the Valley, the government on Monday said that at least 26000 consumers have switched to prepaid mode so far in the valley. “The process to switch the smart meters into prepaid mode has already started for those whose smart meters have been installed in the phase-I. We have crossed about 26000 smart meters so far,” Javaid Yousuf Dar, Chief Engineer, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). He said that the process is going on gradually and all the consumers will have to switch the smart meters into prepaid mode. Asked when the smart meters installed in the second phase will be switched to prepaid mode, KPDCL Chief Engineer said that at present the integration process is go...

National Conference leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir said that there was no question of joining hands with the Bhartiya Janta Party while maintaining that alliance with PDP will be decided only with time. "Those spreading and starting this narrative that JKNC was going to join BJP for power are those who are in hands in glove with them. (BJP) First, they need to answer why are/ were they with they BJP enjoying the privileges and benefits from BJP," Omar Abdullah told Quint during an interview, without naming anyone. He further said that if JKNC had to, it would have aligned with Bhartiya Janta Party in 2018. Commenting on the post abrogation status, he said there certainly was peace on the ground in Jammu Kashmir, however, the stats do not reflect the reality, he ...

There should not be an “emotive majoritarian interpretation” of the Indian Constitution by those supporting abrogation of Article 370, as Jammu Kashmir was neither completely linked to India nor asked to sign a merger agreement like other princely states, National Conference told the Supreme Court on Monday. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for JKNC, told a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that the sovereignty of India was never under challenge. The constitution bench was hearing the pleas challenging the nullification of provisions of Article 370 for the 15th day. Sibal said JKNC and other petitioners challenging the Centre’s decision have always maintained that Jammu Kashmir is an integral part of India. “We cannot make this case into an emotive m...

A militant was killed in an ongoing gunfight between security forces and militants in Tulli Mahore area of Reasi on Monday. Official sources told Kashmir Scroll that one unidentified militant has been killed whose identification is being ascertained while as search operation is on in the area. He said that a policeman and One Army jawan was also injured in the incident who has been hospitalized. Earlier, an official said that a joint team of Police, Army and CRPF launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on specific information about the presence of militants in the area. He said that as the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them, which was retaliated, triggering a gunfight—(KS)

An encounter has started between militants and Government forces in the Reasi area of Jammu. Official sources said that following an input about militant movement, a search operation was launched in the Gali Sohab in the Tuli area of the Chassana area of Reasi. They said that two to three militants are believed to be trapped in the area. Details emering.

The Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta Monday said that going digital is the best possible method of taking the union territory of JK forward. He said the JK is almost done on the digital front and the administration is moving further to achieve more feats. Talking to the reporters on the sidelines of an event held at Ghanta Ghar, Lal Chowk in connection with Digital Week JK, the Chief Secretary said, in digital mechanisms the power shifts from officials to common people which is the real empowerment of people. “I believe that going digital is the best possible method of taking Jammu Kashmir forward. In 2018-19 the government of J-K completed 9229 projects approximately while 92,000 projects were done in 2022-23.” Stating that many support the digital mechanism while few oppos...

Kashmir witnessed a rain deficit of over 80% in August, with summer capital Srinagar recording the lowest precipitation in 25 years in the month. The MeT department said Srinagar recorded a mere 9.2mm of rain, a deficit of 86%. In August, 1998, Srinagar received 8.8 mm and the all-time low was recorded in 1987 with 2.7 mm precipitation. MeT deputy director Mukhtar Ahmad said, “For 40, days we seen a dry spell because of El-Nino being active.” The MeT department recorded rain deficit in Gulmarg, Kupwara, Kokernag and Pahalgam. There was a rain deficit of 83% in the ski resort of Gulmarg and 80% in the northern district of Kupwara. Kokernag and the tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded 77% and 73% less rain. Pahalgam recorded 35.9 mm rain in August, the second-lowe...

Assets worth Lakhs of notorious drug smuggler frozen by Bandipora Police under NDPS Act. "Bandipora Police has frozen 2 bank accounts having savings of Rs 3,97,603 & one Auto load carrier with market value of Rs 3,18,000 belonging to a notorious drug smuggler Irshad Ahmad S/o Ab.Samad Khan R/o Asham Hajin under NDPS Act.(Bandipora Police)", reads a statement issued to Kashmir Scroll. Bandipora Police reiterated the appeal and urged the people to desist from indulging in such activities, contrary to which action as mandated by law would be taken. People of Bandipora district give votes of thanks to Bandipora Police for taking strict action against drug peddlers. (KS)