OTHERS

Speculation has been rising that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may be preparing to leave the BJP-led NDA, following a series of political developments over the past week. As per multiple news reports, Amit Shah’s comments about Nitish's leadership during a TV program on December 16 were followed by a controversial statement about Dr. Ambedkar in Parliament, which led Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal to accuse Shah of insulting Ambedkar and writing a letter to Nitish. After this, Nitish Kumar unexpectedly fell ill. The political climate grew tenser when BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal initially stated that the party would contest elections under Nitish's leadership, only to retract his comment, stating that the decision was in the hands of the central leadership. A s...

An enforcement drive against illegal mining in the Rambi Ara area of Lassipora, Pulwama, turned violent when a mineral department employee, Mohd Amin Sheikh, was attacked by tipper drivers involved in unlawful activities. Sheikh, a resident of Nowdal Tral, was reportedly on duty when the incident occurred. The assault took place during an operation aimed at curbing illegal mining, a persistent problem in the district that has caused severe environmental damage. Sheikh sustained injuries in the attack and was rushed to District Hospital Pulwama for treatment. Police from Lassipora police station have started an investigation after registering a case in this regard. [KNT]

Amid growing local opposition to land acquisitions for developmental projects, including proposed satellite townships, the National Conference (NC) sought to reassure residents that their interests would remain central to any such initiatives. Senior NC leader and Advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Nasir Aslam Wani, addressed concerns during a press conference at the party’s Nawa-e-Subh headquarters, stating, “If any satellite township is established, it will be for the local people. There is no need to make an issue out of it. We are still dealing with the repercussions of the PDP’s past actions.” The remarks come amidst public apprehension and allegations from the PDP that the projects aim to alter Kashmir’s demographic composition. Responding to these accusations, Wani st...

The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has announced a revised power curtailment schedule to address electricity distribution challenges in the region. The new schedule imposes 4.5 hours of daily power cuts in metered areas and over 6 hours in non-metered and high-loss feeders. According to officials, the differential power cut strategy aims to target areas with significant transmission losses and inefficient power usage, ensuring a balance between electricity demand and supply. “KPDCL is adopting this approach to optimize resource allocation and reduce the load on the power grid during peak hours. We urge consumers to plan their activities accordingly and practice energy conservation to minimize disruptions,” said a senior KPDCL official. The curtailment sc...

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...