REGIONAL

A 25-year-old man from the Perody area of Billawar in Jammu Kashmir's Kathua district was found dead at his home on Thursday morning, shortly after being questioned by the police over alleged links with militants. The incident has sparked controversy, with former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti alleging custodial torture, while the police maintain that the man died by suicide. The deceased, identified as Makhan Din, was reportedly picked up for questioning on suspicion of being an Over Ground Worker (OGW) and later released. https://twitter.com/takfirdous/status/1887555676630618194?t=3eWSFA3DSP8qqH_T1BpyCg&s=08 In a video recorded before his death, Makhan is heard saying, "I have never seen militants in my life. I am being forced to confess since they have been constantly tor...

MLA Advocate Irfan Hafiz Lone, on Thursday evening, staged a protest in Baramulla district against the killing of Wasim Mir, a 35-year-old truck driver from Sopore, who was allegedly killed by the army in Baramulla earlier today.  In the candlelight march, the MLA of Wagoora-Kreeri, Baramulla, expressed solidarity with the families of the innocent civilians killed in Jammu Kashmir recently.  Advocate Irfan Hafiz Lone urged India to uphold Mahatama Gandhi’s principle of ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence). “This is the country of Gandhi, which stood up for Ahimsa for every issue.” “Bullets speak only one language, that is blood, death, and destruction”, Advocate Irfan Hafiz Lone said.  “Be it the innocent killings of Sopore, Jammu, or Kulgam, we express our compassion for their families, bu...

Shah Basit Tensions erupted in Mamer Kangan as locals accused forest officials of assaulting women during a plantation drive, while the Forest Department filed an FIR against seven residents, alleging they attacked officials. The clash, which took place in compartment 69 of the Sindh Range, has sparked outrage after videos of the incident went viral on social media. According to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sindh Forest Division, the afforestation drive was part of a compensatory project under the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), sanctioned in 2022 to offset forest land diverted for the Thune to Badipathri road. The plantation work began earlier this month but was reportedly disrupted when the accused allegedly incited villager...

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Thursday expressed concern over the killing of a driver in Baramulla and a man in the Billawar area of Jammu. “Shocking that after a civilian killing in Kathua dubbed as an ‘OGW’ another civilian from Sopore was shot dead by the Army. How strange that after chasing the truck for over 23 kms they claim to have fired at the tires but somehow misfired at him instead. Are Kashmiri lives so cheap? How long will you justify this unbridled impunity by pointing everyone with the needle of suspicion?” she said, in a post on X. Army said that a truck driver was killed in Baramulla after he allegedly jumped a security check. The Army added that they fired at the tires of his vehicle follow a 23-km chase. In Billawar, a man died by alleged...

The Jammu and Kashmir government  has suspended two doctors and imposed a complete ban on their private practice following a shocking case of alleged medical negligence at Hakeem Sonaullah Hospital, Sopore. The incident, which occurred on February 3, involved the wrongful removal of a woman's uterus instead of an ENT surgery, triggering public outrage. According to Government Order No. 115-JK (HME) of 2025, issued on February 6, the suspended doctors—Dr. Anjum Nazir, Consultant Gynaecologist at SDH Sopore, and Dr. Tariq Ahmad Dar, Medical Officer (Diploma in Anesthesia) at DH Bandipora—will remain attached to the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, until further notice. The government has also sealed the operation theater of Hakeem Sonaullah Hospital, Sopore, until the completi...

The District Magistrate of Kathua has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of Makhan, a 25-year-old resident of Billawar in Kathua, amid allegations of custodial killing. The decision follows a tweet by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who raised concerns about the incident on Thursday morning. Mufti's tweet claimed that Makhan was detained by the Station House Officer (SHO) of Billawar on false charges of being an Over Ground Worker (OGW). She stated, "Shocking news from Kathua: Makhan Din, aged 25 from Perody, Billawar, was detained by the SHO of Billawar on false charges of being an Over Ground Worker (OGW). He was reportedly subjected to brutal thrashing and torture, forced into a confession, and tragically found dead today." In response to th...

Shabir Khan The operation theatre at Hakeem Sanuullah Private Hospital was sealed by authorities following a reported case of surgical negligence, according to Shabir Ahmad Raina, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Sopore. Raina informed the media that a patient was scheduled for an ear surgery at the hospital, but it was alleged that the doctor mistakenly removed the uterus during the procedure. The district administration, along with the health department, has launched a thorough investigation into the incident. Notices have been issued to the hospital management and the medical professionals involved. Further actions will be determined upon receiving their reports. “We are still gathering all the details, but the initial evidence warranted the immediate sealing of...

A civilian truck driver was killed after failing to stop at a security checkpoint in Baramulla, police said in a statement. According to the police, an RR unit had set up a Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) when a suspicious civil truck was spotted moving at high speed. Despite repeated warnings, the vehicle did not stop and instead accelerated past the checkpoint. Troops pursued the truck for 23 km and, as per protocol, fired at its tyres near Sangrama Chowk to bring it to a halt. A detailed search was conducted, and the injured driver was evacuated to GMC Baramulla, where he was declared dead. Police have registered an FIR at PS Baramulla, and the truck has been moved to the nearest police station for a thorough search. A post-mortem examination is underway to determine ...

A truck driver was shot dead after allegedly failing to stop at a Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) set up by security forces in Baramulla, according to an official statement by the Army. As per the Army statement, based on specific intelligence regarding the movement of militants, a checkpoint was established on February 5. A suspicious civil truck was spotted speeding towards the post but did not stop despite multiple warnings. "Instead, it accelerated, prompting security forces to pursue the vehicle for over 23 km," the statement read. Forces fired at the truck’s tires to halt it, ultimately stopping the vehicle at Sangrama Chowk. Upon searching the truck, the injured driver was immediately evacuated to GMC Baramulla, where he was declared dead. The truck was sent to the near...