OTHERS

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested Barkat Ali, the final accused in the 2011 Balli riots case, in which two tribal youths were burned alive. Ali, who had been absconding for nearly eight years, had settled in Saudi Arabia. Acting on a red corner notice, Riyadh police detained and deported him to India. Upon his arrival in Delhi, the CBI took him into custody. He was later produced before a district court in South Goa and remanded to judicial custody. The Goa state government had initially handed over nine cases related to the Balli riots to the CBI. The agency named Ali in its chargesheet, accusing him and others of unlawful assembly, rioting, and culpable homicide not amounting to murder, among other charges under the Indian Penal Code. The riots...

The recent event at Shopian's Government Degree College, featuring several social media content creators, has sparked widespread criticism from various sections of society, with many questioning the involvement of social media influencers in a student-focused event. Kashmiris have expressed outrage, asking the authorities who they intend for students to be inspired by. The controversy arises at a time when highly educated youth and research scholars in Jammu Kashmir are grappling with soaring unemployment rates, raising concerns about the message being sent to students. Social media users voiced their disapproval, criticizing the participation of influencers. In response, Shopian Degree College issued a statement clarifying its role in the program. The college explained that the ev...

In a unified effort to protect Wular Lake, one of Asia’s largest freshwater bodies, four prominent lawmakers from Kashmir joined local stakeholders and the fishing community on Sunday to stress the urgency of its conservation. The gathering, organized by the Wular Fishermen Union, took place in Zurimanz village on the lake’s banks, highlighting the escalating environmental degradation that threatens the lake's existence. The delegation included senior Congress leader and MLA Bandipora, Nizamuddin Bhat; National Conference MLAs Hilal Akbar Lone (Sonawari) and Irshad Rasool Kar (Sopore); and MLA Kreeri, Irfan Hafeez Lone. Together with union members, fishermen, and concerned residents, they discussed the lake's declining health and its impact on local livelihoods, primarily fishing ...

A youth from Anantnag district in south Kashmir sustained serious injuries today after being stabbed near SP College in Srinagar, in what appears to be a case rooted in a love triangle, police said. The incident occurred at around 1:00 PM. The victim, identified as Momin Ahmad Dar, son of Riyaz Ahmad Dar, was reportedly attacked by Arslan Aijaz, the ex-boyfriend of Dar's girlfriend, according to a police statement. "Preliminary reports suggest jealousy as the motive behind the attack. Dar was stabbed in the abdomen and head and was rushed to SMHS Hospital. His condition is stable," the police said. A case (FIR No. 62/2024) has been registered at Kothibagh Police Station, and the accused, Arslan Aijaz, who works as a delivery boy for Swiggy, has been taken into custody. Police are ...

Danishwar Hameed Nearly two years after it was changed to March, the Jammu Kashmir government has said that November session will be restored for educational institutes in the Kashmir region from next year. As soon as the new government took oath in Jammu Kashmir last week, parents in Kashmir had urged the newly-formed Omar Abdullah-led government to reconsider the academic session schedule, seeking a return to the traditional November start. The current March-April session, introduced in recent years, has been deemed unsuitable for the valley’s climate and educational needs, they said. Parents expressed frustration over the existing schedule, citing the lengthy winter break that forces students to revisit material already covered. “The March-April session is a wastage of time...

Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, the outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 15 Corps in Srinagar, emphasized the Indian Army's continued efforts to safeguard the borders and maintain strong ties with the local population. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he highlighted the progress in security and development in Kashmir, noting a significant reduction in active terrorist numbers, which now stand at approximately 80. Ghai expressed optimism that by mid-2025, this figure would decline further. He acknowledged the complexity of maintaining the current stability and suggested that a few more years like 2023 and 2024 are necessary for lasting peace in the region. Ghai also pointed to the Army's initiatives in addressing issues like drug abuse, education, and sport...

Shah Basit Addressing a gathering of National Conference workers in the Wayil area of Ganderbal, Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir, expressed concerns over what he described as a conspiracy by Delhi-based leaders to undermine his political presence. Referring to past and current elections, Abdullah mentioned how Engineer Rashid was fielded against him during the 2019 Parliamentary elections. "At that time, I didn't see it as a conspiracy," Abdullah stated, "but now, with another prisoner being fielded against me in Ganderbal for the assembly elections, it has become evident that Delhi and its agencies are working against me." In a move that he described as a surprise to those monitoring the elections, Abdullah revealed that he filed his nomination for Budgam...

The nomination form of Sarjan Barkati has been rejected by the elections officials in Shopian district of south Kashmir. The family of Barkati speaking to The Kashmiriyat said that they have not been informed of the reasons of the form rejection as of yet. Officials, meanwhile said that after scrutiny, the returning officer of 36 AC Zainapora has rejected nomination form of Sarjan Ahmad Wagay@ Sarjan Barkati S/o Abdul Razaq, resident of Reban PS-Zainapora, District Shopian. This is a breaking news. Will be updated soon.

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has unveiled an ambitious and comprehensive manifesto for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, pledging to restore the region's special status, promote dialogue and reconciliation, and address the socio-economic challenges facing the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Party president Mehbooba Mufti emphasized that the "Idea of India"—rooted in democracy, secularism, and modernity—has been under siege since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. She described this event as a "profound assault" on the identity and rights of Jammu Kashmir, accusing the current administration of deepening the divide between Srinagar and New Delhi through unconstitutional means. Mufti reiterated her party's commitment to the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Doctr...

Shah Basit Several houses in Kangan Ganderbal developed cracks after a land sinking incident in the central Kashmir area. Locals from Bonibagh informed The Kashmiriyat that cracks developing in their houses last week caused panic, with residents attributing the land sinking to ongoing, uncontrolled construction work in the area. "The area had previously experienced significant damage in 2020 when landslides destroyed a shopping complex, resulting in considerable losses. Although the administration had promised to provide land for the affected individuals, no provisions have been made to date," said a local resident. As residents have been relocated to safer areas by the administration, local residents have expressed frustration, attributing the land subsidence to the nearby Hyd...