OTHERS

An anti-militancy operation in the dense Jofar forest area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district entered its second day on Thursday, with intermittent and then fresh intense gunfire reported between joint forces and suspected militants. The gunfight, which began on Wednesday, resumed with renewed intensity late Thursday morning as security personnel, including the Army, J&K Police, and paramilitary troopers, tightened their cordon around a vast stretch of the forest. According to official sources, the operation is taking place in a highly rugged and densely wooded terrain, which is making the search effort both slow and challenging. “The forest area is extremely tough to navigate. Visibility is poor, and there are multiple natural hideouts,” said an officer on the ground. S...

Suhail Dar One person was killed and three others were seriously injured in a road accident near Fruit Mandi on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Jablipora, Bijbehara on Sunday. According to officials, the accident involved a collision between a truck (registration number JK13-3646) and an Alto car (registration number JK01N-7002). The injured were immediately evacuated to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Bijbehara for initial treatment. Dr. Mushtaq, Medical Superintendent SDH Bijbehara told The Kashmiriyat that one of the injured, identified as Irfan Ahmad of Mirbazar, was brought dead to the hospital. His body is currently lying at SDH Bijbehara The other three injured—Nadeem Ahmad Dar, son of Nazir Ahmad of Sethar; Khursheed Ahmad, son of Abdul Rashid of Khonmoh; and Jasif Hassan, so...

Sufi Hidayah The growing demand for a liquor ban appears to be at odds with the rising sales figures, which have surged from Rs 991.55 crore to a staggering Rs 2,486.34 crore. This shift in behavior—particularly among both tourists and locals—has transformed the atmosphere in popular areas like Boulevard Dalgate. What was once a picturesque destination known for its serene Shikaras and luxurious hotels has now become a place of concern, with increasing instances of people carrying beer cans, passing out on roads, and causing public disturbances. People's Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Kupwara Mir Mohammad Fayaz, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) legislator from Langate Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad, and ruling National Conference (NC) MLA from Lal Chowk Ahsan Pardesi have submitted separate pri...

Over 576 hectares of forest land in Jammu Kashmir have been approved for diversion for non-forestry purposes, including infrastructure and commercial projects, between 2021-22 and 2023-24, according to government data. The figures were released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in response to a query in the Lok Sabha. The Ministry said that the diversion of forest land is carried out under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, which permits such approvals with specific mitigation measures, including Compensatory Afforestation (CA), payment of Net Present Value (NPV), and other conservation efforts. It also said that the diversion of forest land is allowed only with strict environmental safeguards, including soil and moisture c...

Jammu Kashmir has long sought to reclaim control over its hydropower resources, with successive governments making repeated efforts to secure the return of key projects operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). The issue remains at the forefront of the region’s energy policy, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah now intensifying efforts to fast-track ongoing projects and explore ways to reduce reliance on externally controlled hydropower generation. During a recent high-level review meeting of the Jammu Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC) at the Civil Secretariat, Abdullah emphasized the need to expedite the completion of major projects to achieve energy self-sufficiency. He called for resolving obstacles that have delayed several hydropow...

 Three civilians who went missing from the upper reaches of Billawar in Kathua district have been found dead. Security forces discovered the bodies using drone surveillance. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the militant link, but tensions remain high in Billawar. Notably, MLA Billawar, Satish Kumar had rasied the issue of missing persons yesterday in the legislative assembly. A police official said that it will be premature to say the reason behind the deaths of the trio. He confirmed that all the bodies were found near a nallah in the upper reaches of Billawar.

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has officially announced that the Amarnath Yatra for 2025 will commence on July 3 and conclude on August 19. This annual pilgrimage to the sacred Amarnath Cave, located in the Kashmir Himalayas, attracts thousands of devotees who come to pay homage to Lord Shiva. An official told news agency JKNS that registration for the Yatra is mandatory for all pilgrims and is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. " Each applicant must submit a duly filled application form along with a Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC) issued by authorized medical institutions. The registration fee is ₹150 per person." He said. "Specific dates for the commencement of the registration process will be announced by the SASB in due course." He said. For pilg...

Meer Irfan Residents of Shopian town are growing increasingly frustrated over worsening traffic congestion and frequent power cuts, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. Despite repeated complaints, locals say the administration has failed to provide relief, leaving people to fend for themselves. The town’s main concern remains the chronic traffic mess, particularly on Hospital Road and near the busy roundabout. Illegal roadside parking and careless parking practices have turned daily commuting into a nightmare. “Every time I visit Shopian, the hospital road and surrounding streets are completely blocked. It’s chaos,” a local resident told The Kashmiriyat. He said that te Municipal Committee (MCP) has towing vehicles, but they hardly use them. "And what’s worse is t...