REGIONAL

A search operation has been launched in the Beeranthub area under the jurisdiction of Police Station Kandi in Rajouri district following an exchange of fire between militants and security forces last night. Officials said that the encounter broke out when security forces were conducting a cordon and search operation based on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of militants in the area. The exchange of fire continued for some time before the militants reportedly fled into the nearby dense forests. The operation was suspended due to darkness and resumed at first light on Tuesday morning. Reinforcements from the Army and police were rushed to the area to strengthen the cordon and prevent the militants from escaping. "The operation has been reinitiated with full intensity. S...

Danishwar Hameed Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Kulgam, Dr. Showkat Ahmad Bhat, on Tuesday issued an advisory announcing the reopening of the Brazloo Bridge for light motor vehicles (LMVs). The bridge had remained closed for traffic since September after suffering damage due to recent floods. Repair work has now been completed, paving the way for the resumption of light vehicle movement. Dr. Bhat said the decision was taken after detailed deliberations and a joint inspection with the concerned departments. He confirmed that the bridge is now safe for the movement of LMVs. However, he clarified that the movement of heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) will continue to remain strictly prohibited until further orders. The ARTO also directed the Traffic Department Kulgam to ens...

Police, in collaboration with the Executive Magistrate Handwara, on Tuesday carried out a special drive in town, sealing two shops and seizing a substantial quantity of tobacco products. The operation was launched as part of an ongoing campaign to enforce the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, which strictly prohibits the sale of tobacco products within 100 meters of educational institutions. Officials said the joint team inspected several shops situated close to schools and colleges to ensure compliance with the law. During the inspection, two shops were found violating COTPA norms and were immediately sealed. The authorities also seized a large cache of tobacco products from the premises. The action was carried out in the presence of the Executive Magistrate ...

Meer Irfan The mystery surrounding the death of a 27-year-old woman from the Takibal Reban area of Zainapora in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, which had sparked tension and allegations of foul play in August, has now been clarified after the medical report confirmed that she died of a heart attack. The deceased, identified as Urfi Jan, wife of Showkat Ahmad Lone, was brought to Yaripora Hospital in an unconscious condition on the night of August 21. Doctors declared her brought dead, prompting the police to initiate legal proceedings under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to ascertain the cause of death. At the time, The Kashmiriyat reported that the family of the deceased alleged she had been murdered by her in-laws, demanding a fair and transparent probe...

Participants from 21 Indian States, 5 Foreign Countries Register for Upcoming Kashmir Marathon. The Kashmir Marathon, scheduled to take place from November 2, is set to draw participants from across India and abroad, according to officials associated with the event. Officials from the organizing committee said that so far, runners from 21 Indian States and Union Territories have registered for the marathon, along with foreign nationals representing five countries, reflecting continued confidence in Kashmir’s sporting and tourism potential. “The registrations show that both domestic and international athletes are eager to visit the Valley. We expect more participants to join in the coming weeks,” said a senior official. The Srinagar marathon aims to promote sports tourism, healthy ...

Shah Basit In a landmark judgment demonstrating its unwavering commitment to justice for victims of sexual offences, the Principal and District Sessions Court, Ganderbal has convicted Ulfat Ahmad Magray resident of Khanan Kangan, in a case registered under FIR No. 24/2020 at Police Station Kangan. The case was filed under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC, as well as Section 4 of the POCSO Act, as per details available with The Kashmiriyat. Following a thorough investigation and judicial proceedings, the Court found the accused guilty and sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 1,000 for the offence under Section 4 of the POCSO Act. SSP Ganderbal, Khalil Ahmad Poswal (JKPS), commended the professionalism and diligence of the investigation team,...

Panic has gripped the Gousia Colony area of Bemina in Srinagar where locals say over a hundred stray dogs have taken over four lanes, creating a serious threat to public safety. The alarming situation turned tragic on Monday when an elderly woman was reportedly chased and bitten by a pack of stray dogs, triggering outrage among the locals. Locals told KNT that the stray dog population in Gousia Colony has grown unchecked over the past several months. They said that despite repeated complaints, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has failed to act, allowing the menace to spiral out of control. “My elderly mother was bitten after being chased by stray dogs. It is shameful that SMC has ignored such a dangerous situation,” said a local resident. People in the area said that movem...

Minister for Education Sakina Itoo Monday strongly reacted to the attachment of Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla, Bashir Ahmad Shah, who was relieved of his post after issuing an order restricting teachers and employees from using social media. The minister told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the officer acted beyond his authority and attempted to defame the government through unilateral action. “The said officer was attached because he had issued an order directing teachers and employees to desist from using social media on his own personal level,” Sakina Itoo said. “We won’t allow any government official to defame the government. Employees are our own, and they too have the right to express themselves in a constructive way.” She said an inquiry has been ordered t...

The high-mast light installed by the construction company engaged in building the Zojila Tunnel along the Sonamarg Bypass road has gone defunct, causing serious inconvenience to travelers and truck drivers during nighttime hours. The facility, erected at a cost of over one lakh rupees, was meant to ensure smooth vehicular movement and enhance safety in the area. Drivers said that the high-mast light was installed by the tunnel construction company to illuminate the stretch frequently used by heavy vehicles and passenger traffic on the Srinagar–Leh highway. The area also accommodates a truck yard where several drivers halt overnight during their journeys to and from Ladakh. However, the light has reportedly stopped functioning for several days, plunging the area into darkness once ev...

Police on Monday said that it have registered an FIR against the administrator of a Facebook page titled “Kashmir Speaks” for spreading false and misleading information on social media. In a handout to GNS, the police said that earlier, on 26/08/2025, Police Station Khansahib had registered FIR No. 165/2025 under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) regarding the killing of a horse at village Rakhai. Investigation revealed that the incident had occurred due to a personal dispute between the parties involved. However, on 05/10/2025, it came to notice that the said Facebook page had published false information alleging that the horse was killed for selling its meat in the market at Arizal, thereby creating unnecessary fear and panic among the local population. Accordi...