REGIONAL

A girl and boy jumped into Jhelum river near Uri in Baramulla district on Wednesday, official sources said. They told GNS that duo, one of them a resident of Dhani Busgran and another, girl, from Kundi Barjala jumped into the fast-flowing river near Dulanja Uri near Line of Control this afternoon. While locals have launched an operation to find out the duo, the services of SDRF and other allied agencies were awaited, report said. (GNS)

In a serious incident, a Horticulture Officer posted in Pattan has been arrested on charges of attempted rape, sexual harassment, and criminal intimidation following a complaint filed by his female colleague. The accused, identified as Shakeel-ur-Rehman, was taken into custody after a formal complaint was submitted by the victim, a government employee and resident of Bemina, Srinagar, who works in the same department. Significantly, the complaint was lodged digitally through WhatsApp on February 28, marking Police Station Pattan's first-ever electronic First Information Report (e-FIR). According to official sources, after reviewing the complaint, police registered FIR No. 30/2025 under relevant sections of law and initiated an investigation, which led to the arrest of the accused....

In a historic moment for Kashmir, SAGG Eco Village, an ecological enterprise based in the region, has secured two prestigious honors at the Outlook Responsible Tourism Summit and Awards (IRTA) 2025. At the ceremony held in Bhuj, Gujarat, SAGG Eco Village won the Silver Award in the Sustainable Leadership (BnBs & Guesthouses) category, while its founder, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, bagged the Gold Award in the Sustainability Champions (Grassroots Heroes) category. This marks the first time a Kashmiri initiative has achieved such recognition at the IRTA, which is known for celebrating ethical, sustainable, and community-driven tourism models since its inception in 2016. SAGG Eco Village, known for its focus on ecological preservation and the revival of local culture, impressed the jury with i...

In a major action against drug trafficking, Anantnag Police achieved a significant breakthrough during an area domination operation conducted by the Police Station Bijbehara in Pazalpora. A vehicle bearing registration number JK02AV-1235 was intercepted at a surprise naka near Pazalpora crossing on the old NHW. Upon searching the vehicle, 1.75 kg of Charas Powder was recovered. The driver, Tajdar Amin, son of Mohd Amin Khan, resident of Karewa Colony, Bijbehara—identified as a known drug peddler—was apprehended along with another occupant, Bilal Ahmad Yatoo, son of Gh Hassan Yatoo, resident of Gund Nasir, Pazalpora. The vehicle has been seized, and a case has been registered under relevant sections of the NDPS Act at Police Station Bijbehara. Further investigation is underway. "An...

The Jammu Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday witnessed heated exchanges and a walkout by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators after PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra demanded the restoration of public holidays on July 13, July 31, and December 5, alongside the transfer of Kashmiri detainees from jails outside the Union Territory back to local prisons. Speaking during the session, Parra urged the government to reinstate the holidays—July 13, observed in memory of the 1931 martyrs; July 31; and December 5, the birth anniversary of National Conference (NC) founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. "These holidays are part of our collective history and identity. They must be restored. Additionally, Kashmiri youth lodged in jails outside JK should be shifted back so their families are not made to suffe...

Police on Wednesday said that there was a suspected grenade attack near police post old town Baramulla. In a handout to GNS, the police said that during the night intervening March 4-5, at approximately 21:20 hrs, a blast-like sound was heard from the backside of Police Post Old Town, Baramulla, causing concern among the general public. No casualty or damage was reported. Police parties immediately cordoned the area in coordination with sister agencies. During the search, at around 2240 hours, a grenade pin was recovered from rear side of the Police Post, outside its boundary wall, which is suspected to be of a grenade and leading police to suspect it was an attempted grenade attack. The grenade landed and detonated inside Police Post Old Town in an area where no damage or casualt...

Shah Hilal The holy month of Ramadan has begun in Kashmir, filling the valley with an atmosphere of devotion, reflection, and community spirit. For the next 30 days, Muslims across the region will observe daily fasting, refraining from food and drink from dawn to dusk—about 13 hours this year—while dedicating themselves to prayer, self-discipline, and acts of kindness. As the pre-dawn meal of sehri concludes in the early hours, mosques echo with the sounds of special prayers, and a peaceful calm settles over towns and villages. The usual morning rush slows down, as many choose rest and quiet worship following their early prayers. Businesses and markets open later than usual, and the rhythm of daily life shifts to accommodate the spiritual focus of the month. In the e...

Residents of Kathpora have been suffering due to a prolonged power outage for the last six days, causing immense hardship to the local population. Despite repeated appeals to the concerned authorities, no concrete action has been taken to restore electricity. The power crisis has severely impacted daily life affecting students, businesses,and households. The residents have urged the Power Development Department (PDD) to take immediate steps to resolve the issue and restore electricity at the earliest. "We are very disappointed with this department. For several days, we have been appealing and bringing this issue to the authorities' notice, but we are being ignored. Even in this blessed month of Ramadan, we have to suffer", said locals. The people of Kathpora demand urgent attentio...

Over 4.40 crore tourists, including 1.20 lakh foreigners, visited Jammu Kashmir in the past two years, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the assembly on Tuesday while stressing the sector’s potential in generating employment in the region. CM Abdullah, who is also in charge of the tourism department, said Rs 35.08 crore has been allocated for the promotion, advertisement and related activities of the department over the past two financial years. Rs 12.54 crore was spent in FY 2023-24 and Rs 22.54 crore in 2024-25, he told the House, he said. Responding to a question from National Conference member Mubarak Gul, the chief minister said 4.48 crore pilgrims, including 1.20 lakh foreigners, visited Jammu Kashmir in the past two years. He added that 2,11,24,674 tourists visited Jammu...