REGIONAL

The Jammu Kashmir High Court has overturned the conviction of Kamal Jeet Singh, who had been serving a life sentence for the rape and murder of two young sisters in 2002. The verdict, delivered by Justices Atul Sreedharan and Javed Iqbal Wani, questioned the integrity of the evidence presented during the initial trial, leading to Singh's acquittal after over two decades. The case dates back to October 3, 2002, when two sisters, aged six and three, went missing after school. A community search led to the discovery of their bodies in the home of Jagdesh Singh, a relative of the accused. Investigations alleged that the girls had been sexually assaulted and murdered. Singh was arrested shortly afterward, with police claiming he confessed to the crime. The case against him relied on...

Kashmir is all set to achieve a significant tourism milestone, with Director Tourism, Raja Yaqoob Farooq stating that the tourist footfall is touching 3 million till Dec 20, amidst the growing foreign tourist arrival. Speaking on the sidelines of an event at Gulmarg, the Director as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the region is expected to host 3 million visitors by the end of 2024, a 10% increase compared to last year's 2.7 million. He revealed that foreign visitors to Kashmir have already reached 43,000 this year, compared to 37,000 in the same period last year. “Last year, we had around 37,000 foreign tourists in Kashmir. This year, we have already recorded 43,000 foreign arrivals as of December 20, including 1,000 in just the past four days,” he said....

A three-day shutdown has been called in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, to protest the proposed ropeway project. The bandh, initiated by pony owners, shopkeepers, and other stakeholders, began on Wednesday morning. The Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Sangarsh Samiti, which announced the bandh, stated that all activities in the town would remain suspended during this period. "We urge the residents of Katra to support the strike and make it successful," a spokesperson for the Samiti said. The protest follows the Shrine Board's decision to install a ropeway to facilitate access to the temple for senior citizens, children, and others who find it challenging to climb the 13-km trek to the cave shrine. The proposed Rs 250-crore project will connect Tara...

The Kashmir Valley continues to reel under a severe cold wave, with several areas recording frigid temperatures. Anantnag and Pulwama emerged as the coldest locations at -9.0°C and -9.1°C, respectively, while Srinagar registered a biting -7.3°C, its coldest night of the season so far. Other parts of the valley also experienced bone-chilling cold, with Budgam shivering at -7.8°C and Bandipora not far behind at -7.2°C. Sonamarg, a popular tourist destination, recorded -7.5°C, while Shopian matched Pulwama at -9.1°C. Khudwani and Larnoo reported -7.7°C and -8.6°C, respectively, as icy conditions gripped the region. In the Jammu division, relatively milder conditions prevailed, with Jammu city recording a minimum temperature of 7.1°C. Banihal recorded -1.3°C, and Padder, nestled in...

A tragic accident in Poonch district has claimed the lives of five soldiers, with several others injured. Officials told The Kashmiriyat that the incident took place when an Army vehicle plunged into a 150-foot-deep gorge in the Balnoi area. The vehicle was reportedly part of a routine patrol Rescue teams have rushed to the site and are actively working to retrieve the injured personnel and provide medical aid. Local authorities have also been mobilized to assist in the operation, while an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. The identities of the deceased and injured soldiers have not yet been disclosed.

Danishwar Hameed  A tragic road accident occurred in the Mir Bazar area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district on Tuesday, resulting in the death of a woman According to officials who spoke to The Kashmiriyat, a vehicle with Ch. NO-37629 collided with another vehicle, registration number JK 18C 7651, near the Eidgah Bumthan bridge in Mir Bazar. The accident left a pedestrian critically injured. The victim, identified as Haseena Bano (47), wife of Shakeel Ahmad Rather from Lalan Ganoora, Anantnag, was immediately rushed to the district hospital in Anantnag. Unfortunately, she was declared dead upon arrival. The police have taken cognizance of the incident and have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the collision.

The Congress party on Tuesday called for the resignation or dismissal of Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of harboring “hatred” towards the Constitution and its principal architect, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. “Amit Shah does not deserve to hold the position of Home Minister. The individual occupying this chair must safeguard the Constitution,” said AICC General Secretary G.A. Mir at a press conference in Srinagar. Mir criticized Shah’s recent comments during a debate in the Rajya Sabha, alleging they insulted Ambedkar. "How can someone who shows such disdain for the Constitution and its framers ensure justice?” he asked, demanding that Shah either resign or be sacked by the President. “Shah owes an apology to the nation,” Mir added. Addressing questions about the BJP’s proposed ‘One ...

The traditional bread of Kashmir valley, a staple in Kashmiri households, has seen a new price hike, leading to concerns among locals, who are calling for government action. The All Jammu Kashmir Kashmiri Bread Makers and Local Bakers Union, on the other hand, claimed the price has been increased after thorough discussions with the authorities. Many locals from different parts of the valley have expressed their dissatisfaction with the rising prices, with many saying that it is a daily necessity for them. A rise in the price of bread affects everyone, especially those with low incomes, they said. Sahil Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar said the government should intervene to ensure this doesn’t become a burden on families. Another local, Zubair, said, baking rotis (tchot), is a bas...

The Jammu and Kashmir General Administration Department has instructed 67 candidates selected for the Junior Scale of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS), Accounts Service, and Police Service (JKPS) to submit their contact details and email IDs within seven days. The deadline for submission is December 29, 2024. The directive, issued following the recommendations of the J&K Public Service Commission, aims to facilitate the uploading of the selected officers' verification rolls into the Employees Verification System (EVS). "This step is essential to streamline the verification process and ensure transparency in the administration," stated the official order. The General Administration Department has urged all selected officers to comply promptly, emphasizing ...

The National Conference (NC) appears to be navigating internal differences once again, as MLA Hazratbal, Salman Ali Sagar, strongly criticized a protest led by the party’s Srinagar MP, Aga Ruhullah, over the reservation policy, Kashmir News Observer reported. The demonstration, which took place near the chief minister’s official residence in Gupkar, also involved opposition leaders and legislators, sparking questions about unity within the party. Salman Sagar labeled the protest as a personal initiative rather than a party-backed event. “If the MP believes he can do it, that’s his individual prerogative. However, this was not a National Conference initiative,” Sagar said. He emphasized that NC protests are only organized under directives from senior leaders like Dr. Farooq Abdu...