REGIONAL

Hundreds of sheep are on the verge of starvation as the grazing area near Khadermuh- Kandizal bund in Pulwama district remains submerged under two feet of water. The water had entered the area last month when the Kashmir region was lashed by heavy rains for several days, causing the Jhelum river to rise above the danger mark. A breach in the Jhelum’s embankment had led to flooding of agricultural land around Khadermuh and Kandizal villages. Locals said that a patch of land spread over nearly 100 kanals along the Khadermuh-Kandizal bund, which served as a grazing area for sheep, continues to remain inundated. “We have been grazing our sheep in this area for decades. It served as a grazing area during autumn and spring, but now the area is under water and sheep have nowhere to go...

The Indian Army said that it foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machil sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on late Monday night, killing two militants during an intense exchange of fire. Official sources told KNT that troops deployed along the forward posts in Machil detected suspicious movement near the LoC under the cover of darkness. “The soldiers challenged the infiltrators who, instead of surrendering, opened fire. In the retaliatory action, two militants were neutralized,” an official said. He added that efforts are underway to recover the bodies, but the operation in the area remains active as security personnel continue to comb nearby forested terrain to rule out the presence of more infiltrators. [KNT]

Suhail Dar A six-year-old nomadic boy from Reasi lost his life after being attacked by a leopard in Wopzan, South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Monday. Officials speaking to The Kashmiriyat identified the boy as Mohammad Razak Bajad, son of Iqbal Bajad of Sujanpora, Reasi, who was residing with his family in Kashiwudar, Wopzan, Anantnag." He was attacked while grazing in the area. A team from the wild life officials has been deployed to the site to manage the situation and ensure the safety of nearby residents. Authorities have advised nomadic families and locals in the vicinity to remain alert and take precautions against potential wildlife encounters.

Citing the incomplete fulfillment of promises and commitment to uphold his principles over political expediency, MP Srinagar and National Conference leader Agha Ruhullah on Monday said that he will not take part in campaigning for the party in the upcoming Budgam Assembly bypolls. Ruhullah said that while the party will ultimately decide on the candidate, he sees no reason to actively campaign under the current circumstances. He added that his engagement with voters has always been guided by trust, accountability, and the delivery of commitments rather than party pressure. Ruhullah, who has represented the Budgam Assembly constituency multiple times and has a long-standing history with the National Conference, expressed disappointment that promises made during the last Assembly tenu...

PDP leader Iltija Mufti has praised the Budgam district administration for acting swiftly against social media influencers who drove vehicles inside the protected Brainwar forest, calling the action “commendable” and a necessary step to protect Kashmir’s fragile ecology. Reacting to the incident on social media, Iltija Mufti lauded Deputy Commissioner Budgam for promptly filing an FIR and seizing the vehicles involved in the unlawful activity. “Commendable how swiftly DC Budgam filed an FIR against those who sped over Budgam’s protected lush green fragile meadows. Instead of showing remorse, they bragged about this reckless behaviour on social media like a badge of honour,” she wrote. In her statement, she criticised the influencers for treating Kashmir’s environment as a stage for s...

In a deeply disturbing incident late Tuesday night, multiple saroops (copies) of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji were allegedly set on fire inside Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Koulpur village in Samba district, Jammu. According to police and local reports, the accused, identified as Manjit Singh alias Billa, used an inflammable liquid to carry out the sacrilegious act. Of the five saroops taken into the gurdwara, four were completely destroyed and one partially damaged by heat. An FIR has been filed, and Manjit Singh has been arrested. The act triggered immediate protest and condemnation from the Sikh community in the region. Senior officials from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) arrived on site, and the Akal Takht’s acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj personally visite...

Residents and daily commuters in the Kakapora area of Pulwama district have expressed deep frustration over the prolonged neglect of the Samboor Bridge and the non-macadamisation of the vital Kakapora road. The dilapidated condition of these routes has turned routine travel into a daily ordeal, with many likening it to a "back-breaking punishment." Local vehicle owners and transporters say the bumpy, potholed roads are causing significant wear and tear to vehicles and posing safety risks, particularly for school-going children and elderly passengers. “We pay taxes and expect basic infrastructure. Is that too much to ask?” said one angry commuter. Despite repeated appeals from the public, the Public Works Department (PWD) has allegedly failed to take any concrete steps. According to o...

  Imran Nabi Dar has filed nomination as a candidate of Rajya Sabha for National Conference (NC) on Monday as the party filed  nomination papers for all four Rajya Sabha seats, completing its roster for the October 24 elections amid a tussle with Congress over seat allocation. Senior party leaders Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Sajad Kichloo, and Shammi Oberoi had submitted their nominations earlier, while Imran Nabi Dar, the NC’s state spokesperson, filed his papers later in the day, taking the fourth and final NC seat. Imran Nabi Dar is the son of the late Ghulam Nabi Dar, a former MLA and senior NC leader who was killed in a grenade attack during a party procession in 2006. A journalism graduate from Kashmir University, Imran has steadily risen within the NC ranks and is no...

In a joint operation to check unauthorised construction, Anantnag Police, in coordination with the Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA), carried out a demolition drive at Hukhar Batkote in Pahalgam, officials said. Officials from the PDA removed structures that were built in violation of building norms, while the police provided security to ensure the operation was conducted smoothly and law and order was maintained, said the press release. The demolition was supervised on-site by ASP Headquarters Ashmuqam, Rameez Raja (JKPS), SDPO Pahalgam, Farooq Ahmad, and the SHO of Police Station Pahalgam. "The operation concluded peacefully without any incidents," the statement added. District Police Anantnag reaffirmed its commitment to support civil authorities in legal measures aimed at ...

Snow Drop, the packaged drinking water brand, has clarified that there is no blanket ban on its products in Baramulla. The company said the restriction applies only to Batch No. 0062 of the 2-litre variant, which had been recalled months ago following tests that found arsenic levels above the permissible limit. “All other Snow Drop products available in the market are 100% safe and fully compliant with every food safety standard,” the company said in an official statement. It also cautioned against spreading misinformation and urged the public to rely only on official updates from verified sources or the Food Safety Department. The recall of Batch No. 0062 followed laboratory tests conducted by the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad, which confirmed the water from this batch was unsafe ...