REGIONAL

The body of 22-year-old Imtiyaz Magray, a resident of Tangmarg in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, was recovered from a river near Adbal Watoo on Sunday morning, sparking outrage and allegations of foul play. The former chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti claimed that Magray, the sole breadwinner of his family, had been picked up by the government forces two days prior to his death. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, in a post on X, said the recovery of Magray’s body raises “serious allegations of foul play,” adding that such incidents deepen mistrust and warrant an impartial investigation. She also referred to the recent encounter in Bandipora and said such cases of alleged misconduct should not be ignored. “The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam appears to be a...

Two Army jawans lost their lives after their vehicle rolled down into a deep gorge in the Battery Chashma area of Ramban district on Sunday. Official sources told news agency JKNS that the vehicle, carrying two personnel, met with the accident earlier today. Immediately after the incident, rescue teams from the Army and civil administration rushed to the spot. However, both jawans were found dead by the time rescue teams reached the bottom of the gorge, they said. The cause of the accident is yet to be known nad cognizance of the incident has been taken and further investigation started. (JKNS)

In the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley that killed 25 tourists and one local resident on April 22, Jammu Kashmir Police have detained 75 individuals under the Public Safety Act (PSA). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally taken over the probe, which has now widened to include regions beyond Kashmir. The attack, which unfolded in a remote meadow nearly 90 km from Srinagar, has triggered one of the largest security operations in recent years. Authorities have interrogated more than 2,000 individuals and launched extensive raids across Kashmir and parts of Jammu, according to a report by The Economic Times Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) V K Birdi confirmed the detentions under the PSA, a controversial law allowing detention witho...

National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday visited the family of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who lost his life while protecting tourists during the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people, mostly visitors, dead. According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr Farooq handed over one-month basic salary of the concerned Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Pahalgam, Altaf Kaloo, to Adil's father, Hyder Shah, at his residence in Pahalgam. The father of Pahalgam's braveheart thanked Dr Farooq Abdullah and other leaders for expressing solidarity with them and sharing their pain. Meanwhile, talking to the reporters, Dr Farooq, while reacting to the query, as per KNO, said that it is time to review the Indus Water Treaty, saying that the people are...

The administration in Jammu’s Doda district has imposed a ban on hate speech and objectionable public statements under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. According to the order, a copy of which lies with the Kashmir Bulletin (KB), the district administration has observed a surge in hate speeches, provocative remarks, and irresponsible statements on public forums and social media platforms by individuals, community representatives, and public figures. These actions, the order states, have the potential to incite communal tensions, provoke violence, and disturb peace in the communally sensitive region of Doda. The administration said that such behaviour not only threatens communal harmony but also hurts the sentiments of the families of martyrs and r...

Authorities have issued a public advisory warning residents and visitors to stay away from the Kishanganga River and its adjoining reservoir areas due to increased summer inflow. According to the advisory as per news agency JKNS stated that, the water levels in the river and reservoir are expected to rise significantly in the coming days. Officials have cautioned that sudden inflows may necessitate water discharge through spillway gates, which could pose risks in the nearby areas. "Warning sirens will be sounded before any release of water," the advisory stated, urging people to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions. Residents living near the riverbanks and tourists visiting the area have been specifically advised to stay alert and avoid venturing close to the water. (JK...

A team from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Anantnag, led by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, conducted surprise inspections of dental laboratories across the district. An official told news agency JKNS that the team from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Anantnag, led by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, conducted surprise inspections of dental laboratories on April 29 and 30. During the inspection drive, four unregistered dental laboratories were identified and immediately sealed, they said. The action, according to health officials, was part of a broader initiative to enforce regulatory compliance and protect public health. "This move highlights the administration's zero-tolerance policy towards unlicensed medical practices," said an official from the health department. T...

In a continued crackdown on drug trafficking, Jammu Kashmir Police on Thursday arrested five individuals in separate operations in Kulgam and Awantipora, recovering a significant quantity of contraband substances. According to a police spokesperson, personnel from Police Station Qazigund stopped an Alto car (JK14J-1218) at Lavdoora crossing and arrested two occupants identified as Farook Ahmad Bocken and Tanveer Hussain, both residents of Udhampur. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 14.7 kilograms of poppy straw. The car was also seized. In another operation near the Jawahar Tunnel, police intercepted an Alto car (JK14L-2294) and arrested Talib Hussain Bakarwal and Yasir Ali Bokad, also residents of Udhampur. The officers recovered 9 kilograms of poppy straw from the vehic...

Gusty winds swept across Dal Lake on Friday afternoon, triggering panic among boatmen and tourists. During the storm, a Shikara carrying a father and his young son capsized. While the father was rescued, the son remains missing. Rescue teams promptly launched a search operation, which is still underway. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely. More details are awaited.

Kashmiri religious leaders have again denounced the recent attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Anantnag district, during Friday prayers across mosques in the Valley. The second consecutive week of condemnation highlights the widespread grief and anger over the violence, which reportedly left several tourists dead and many others injured. Leading the call for peace, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed the incident a violation of Kashmir’s ethos. “Kashmir has always embraced visitors with love and warmth, and such brutality has no place here,” he said. “This kind of violence not only defames our land but also deeply wounds the spirit of our people. We have suffered too much to allow hatred and bloodshed to define our future. Violence cannot be the answer—it only pushes us further into despair.” Spe...