REGIONAL

Police in Srinagar have arrested a goldsmith accused of selling counterfeit gold ornaments, busting a major fraud. A police spokesperson, in a statement issued to news agency JKNS, said, "On 09/01/2025, a written complaint was lodged at Police Station Nowhatta by Nisar Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Bindoo Kokernag currently residing in Srinagar and working as a storekeeper at Lalmandi. He reported purchasing gold ornaments from Mehraj Din Qazi, the proprietor of M/S Soliya Ornaments in Bijbehara, which upon inspection turned out to be fake." Subsequently, an FIR (No. 02/2025) was registered under relevant sections of law at Police Station Nowhatta. Acting promptly, the investigation team arrested the accused shopkeeper, identified as Mehraj Din Qazi, son of Gh Mohammad Qazi, a residen...

In a tragic incident, a five-year-old girl from Upper Shadra area of Rajouri district died after sustaining severe injuries from a dog bite on Wednesday, officials said. An official told the news agency JKNS that a five-year-old girl from Rajouri died after sustaining severe injuries from a dog bite. He said the deceased, identified as Samreen Kouser (05), daughter of Mohammad Shafayet, was soon taken to the hospital in an unconscious state after suffering major cut marks leading to acute blood loss, where doctors declared her brought dead on arrival. Meanwhile, BMO Thanamandi, Dr. Ruksana, confirmed to JKNS that the child was declared dead on arrival. Moreover, proceedings have been initiated.—(JKNS)

The Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) Jammu Kashmir has strongly condemned recent derogatory remarks reportedly made against the revered companions and Khulafa-e-Rashideen (may Allah be pleased with them), describing them as deeply offensive and an affront to the sentiments of the Muslim community. The organization expressed grave concern over such divisive statements, which it believes are deliberate attempts to disrupt communal harmony and the longstanding tradition of unity in the region. The MMU emphasized the exalted status of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) companions in Islam and stated that any disrespect towards them is contrary to Islamic teachings and the values of mutual respect upheld by the people of Jammu Kashmir. Such remarks, the MMU stated, are not only hurtful but al...

Investigations about corrupt practices under the Srinagar Smart City Limited Project are now in full swing, with ground reports exposing questionable activities in several areas, including Bohri Kadal, Zaina Kadal, Maharaj Ganj, Aali Kadal, Saraf Kadal, and Gada Kocha. At Gada Kocha, the allegations are particularly striking. Divari stones previously erected under earlier projects were reportedly chiseled or polished to give them the appearance of newly installed material. In some cases, plaster was applied over Divari stones to manipulate bills and extract payments for work that had already been completed in the past. Reports also reveal that existing materials such as tin sheets and wooden logs were replaced under the guise of upgrading infrastructure. However, the replaced m...

The Srinagar Police have detained six individuals at the Central Jail under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS Act for allegedly inciting sectarian unrest through derogatory remarks. The accused were charged with actions aimed at disrupting public harmony and sowing discord among communities. In a statement, the police emphasized their zero-tolerance policy toward activities that threaten communal peace. "The public is hereby warned that any individual found engaging in similar unlawful activities, including posting or sharing sectarian content with the intent to create division or disturb public harmony, will meet the same fate," the statement read. The authorities have assured strict monitoring of activities, particularly on social media platforms, and urged citizens to refrain...

The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has announced a series of scheduled power shutdowns across various parts of Kashmir between January 15 and 22. The outages are intended to facilitate essential infrastructure upgrades, including the augmentation of conductors, dismantling of poles, and testing of critical equipment. On January 15, the 33/11KV Receiving Stations at Chanapora and Bone & Joint will remain off, affecting power supply to Chanapora, Natipora, and B&J Baghat between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. During the same hours, the shutdown of the Bagh-i-Mehtab line will disrupt power to Bagh-i-Mehtab, Kralpora, and Gopalpora. To augment conductors along the 33KV Nehalpora (Pattan)-Markundal line, outages are scheduled on January 16 and 18. This will...

The Kashmir Valley is grappling with a severe cold wave, with temperatures across the region plummeting below freezing, as reported by Kashmir Weather. Srinagar recorded a low of -4.8°C, while Qazigund experienced -5.4°C. Popular tourist destinations, Pahalgam and Gulmarg, saw frigid lows of -8.4°C and -7.4°C, respectively. Other areas like Shopian and Larnoo were even colder, with temperatures reaching -7.9°C and -8.8°C. In the Jammu region, temperatures also dropped significantly, though not as drastically as in Kashmir. Jammu recorded a low of 6.0°C, Banihal dipped to -1.5°C, Bhaderwah to -0.7°C, and Padder registered a freezing -8.1°C. Katra, a major pilgrimage site, maintained relatively milder conditions at 6.8°C. Ladakh region emerged as the coldest, with Leh at -12.2°C,...

Jammu Kashmir Police has initiated legal proceedings against individuals accused of making derogatory sectarian remarks, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining communal harmony. The individuals in question are currently being interrogated at a local police station, and officials have assured that appropriate legal measures will be taken in accordance with the law. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Srinagar Police highlighted the growing trend of sectarian slander on social media, stating that certain individuals with malicious intentions are attempting to create divisions within the community. The police warned that strict action will be taken against offenders, including those who share or forward such defamatory content. "Legal action, following due process, will be taken ...

Shabir Ali A new controversy has ignited in Kashmir following the circulation of a video from a Mushaira event held in Srinagar’s Kralpora area, in which a poet and a select few individuals reportedly used derogatory language against the first three companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The event, which took place on Sunday, was hosted by a few youth from Srinagar. Zeeshan Jaipuri, a prominent Kashmiri poet took to his social media and clarified, "As soon as I heard the inappropriate words being used against the first three companions, I immediately intervened, instructed the individual to sit down, and stopped him from speaking any further." Zeeshan said that he clarified it during the event that such individuals have no place in public spaces and Shias of Kashmir will not to...

The Anti Corruption Bureau has launched investigation into the alleged misappropriation of construction materials during revamping and beautification of Srinagar under the smart city project. According to a statement, issued to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the ACB said that it also initiated probe into the alleged use of sub-standard material in the ongoing development work at Foreshore road in the Nishat area of Srinagar. The statement reads that the ACB has registered a preliminary enquiry following reliable inputs indicating misappropriation of materials, including devari stones, path tiles, iron grills in the Srinagar city. "The material is suspected to have been either unaccounted for or allegedly sold in the open market for personal gains, during revamp and beaut...