OTHERS

After filing a case against IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also booked his family members over allegations of amassing disproportionate assets beyond their legal income, unveiling a suspected network of corruption and misuse of power. Ranjan, a 2010-batch IAS officer currently serving as Secretary of the Labour and Employment Department in Jammu and Kashmir, has been named in the First Information Report (FIR) registered on February 17. His family members, Kirpa Shankar Roy and Dulari Devi, along with some unidentified persons, are also under investigation. Notably, the CBI yesterday conducted searches at seven locations, including Ranjan’s office in Jammu, and properties linked to him in Varanasi, Srinagar, and Gurugram, as part of the...

Kashmir has witnessed a dry winter this year with January and February recording an 80% precipitation deficit. As per Press Trust of India, the development has raised the possibility of a drought in the valley this summer, according to the MeT department officials. Water levels in several rivers, including the Jhelum, are alarmingly low, and many springs in south Kashmir have dried up due to the receding water table. The region has recorded a 79% precipitation deficit in January, with February showing even worse conditions. "If the dry weather continues, it will lead to a crisis regarding drinking water and irrigation," a MeT department official stated An official from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department highlighted that water levels in the Jhelum and other water bodies...

A Kashmiri shawl seller was attacked in Kapurthala district of Punjab by a group of miscreants. The victim, identified as Fareed Ahmad Bajad from Karlpora, Kupwara, was brutally thrashed, punched, slapped, and dragged. As per reports, his belongings, including shawls worth lakhs of rupees and cash, were looted in the incident. Following the attack, Punjab Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and SSP Kapurthala Gaurav Toora assured swift action against the perpetrators. SSP Toora confirmed that an FIR (No. 0042 dated 11-02-2025) had been registered at City Police Station, Kapurthala, under various sections, including 304 of the BNS. He stated that multiple teams are actively working on the case and that "Kashmiris are our own people. Punjab is their second home, and they should always feel sa...

Shariq Majeed, hailing from Bijbehara in Anantnag, is making waves in the world of cricket despite the challenges he faces due to being deaf and mute from birth. His remarkable journey, driven by sheer passion and dedication, has earned him a spot on the Indian Deaf Cricket Team. On December 26, Shariq, a talented batter, was selected to represent India in the upcoming international T20 tri-series, which will feature teams from Australia and South Africa. The series is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from March 2 to March 8. In preparation for the competition, the Indian Deaf Cricket Team has been undergoing rigorous training. Following the T20 series, the team will also play a three-match ODI series against Australia from March 10 to 12. Shariq isn't the only Jammu Kashmi...

A 27-year-old woman was found dead under mysterious circumstances at her in-laws’ residence in Tangwari, Kralpora, Kupwara, late last night. While police have initiated an investigation, the woman’s family has alleged that she was murdered due to ongoing disputes with her in-laws. “She was constantly harassed and lived in fear. We believe she was killed,” a grieving family member told reporters, demanding a thorough investigation. Following the allegations, police registered an FIR (No. 4/2025) at Kralpora Police Station. The body has been shifted to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kralpora for an autopsy. A senior police official assured that the case would be investigated with "full transparency" and that no angle would be ruled out.

Dr. Altaf Bhat, a faculty member at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations (CIRI) at the University of Kashmir (KU), has secured a prestigious research grant worth approximately ₹1.5 crore from the Lady Tata Memorial Trust. The grant will support Dr. Bhat’s project, which focuses on studying the role of chromatin modifiers in regulating 3D genome organization during leukemia. This groundbreaking research aims to uncover new insights and develop efficient therapeutic strategies for the disease. KU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nilofer Khan congratulated Dr. Bhat on the achievement, highlighting its significance in enhancing the university's reputation as a leading center for interdisciplinary research. “CIRI is steadily evolving into a world-class research hub, contri...