REGIONAL

Shabir Khan In a startling incident, a 250 KV power transformer was dismantled and stripped of its internal parts by unknown burglars in Tarzoo Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday burglars stole the internal components of a transformer including wiring and fuel, leaving only the empty shell behind in the Tarzoo area of Sopore. The stolen transformer had been supplying electricity to over 30 houses households in the area, leading to significant disruption for the local community. Authorities have launched an investigation, and efforts are underway to restore electricity to the affected homes.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made significant changes to the election schedule for Haryana and Jammu Kashmir. While the polling date for Haryana has been moved from October 1, 2024, to October 5, 2024, due to concerns about the Bishnoi community's participation in the Asoj Amavasya festival, the counting date for Jammu Kashmir has also been revised. Originally set for October 4, 2024, the counting of votes in Jammu Kashmir will now take place on October 8, 2024, to align with the new counting date for Haryana. The ECI's decision to change the poll date for Haryana came after representations from various political parties and the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, who highlighted the potential impact on voter turnout due to the festival. For Jammu Kashmir (Phase-III), as...

Asma Bhat Senior National Conference (NC) leader and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, has raised concerns over the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to order transfers while the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in effect. Addressing a press conference at the NC headquarters Nawa-e-Subh in Srinagar, Ruhullah questioned the timing of these transfers. “We wonder why these transfers are taking place when we are about to see polls and when MCC is in vogue,” he stated. He further revealed that the NC has sent a letter to the ECI, seeking an explanation for these transfers during the ongoing Code of Conduct. “I am surprised Baramulla SSP was transferred within 10 days only and a new one posted there. This is what we were worried about. During our mee...

In a significant development from Ghulam Nabi Azad's home turf in the Chenab Valley, four candidates from the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) have withdrawn their nomination papers ahead of the assembly elections, leaving only two candidates from the party in the fray. The withdrawals have opened the field for Congress and National Conference (NC) candidates to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The first to withdraw was Muhammad Aslam Goni, the DPAP candidate from Bhaderwah, a constituency where Azad himself was elected to the legislative assembly after becoming Chief Minister in 2006. Goni stated, "I watched a rally of the BJP leader. They are spending huge sums on election rallies. I will support the secular forces, and the withdrawal of my candidature is aime...

As the first phase of Jammu Kashmir Assembly elections approaches, the election campaign is gaining momentum in the region. Senior Congress leader and the party's Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is scheduled to visit Kashmir on September 4 to address a significant rally in the Dooru Assembly segment of South Kashmir's Anantnag district. Ghulam Ahmed Mir, a senior Congress leader and the party's former J&K president, confirmed Gandhi's visit, highlighting the importance of the rally in Dooru. Mir, who is also the Congress candidate from this constituency, expressed optimism about the impact of Gandhi’s visit, stating it offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen voter confidence. “Rahul’s vision and speech always serve as a great morale booster for both the contesting c...

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh cautioned the people of Jammu Kashmir against the malicious designs of the NC-Congress alliance, alleging they are playing into the hands of Pakistan. Chugh accused former chief minister Farooq Abdullah and his National Conference (NC) party of advocating the reinstatement of Article 370 and seeking dialogue with Pakistan to discuss autonomy for the state. These pose a danger to the stability of J&K, he said. “The people of the Union Territory should be wary of the malicious designs of the NC-Congress alliance. They are playing into Pakistan’s hands,” Chugh said, while addressing a meeting of party workers here this evening. Campaigning for the BJP candidates, Chugh said, “The sole agenda of the NC-Congress alliance, which is aligned ...

Shah Basit  The body of a non-local trekker was recovered at Naranag today, while the whereabouts of others from the group remain unknown An official told The Kashmiriyat that a team of Jammu Kashmir Police from Kangan have taken custody of the body for medico-legal formalities. He identified the deceased has been identified as a 44-year-old man from South West Delhi whose name was Rohit Sayal aged about 44 yrs S/O Jatinder Paul R/O South West Delhi Sector No 19 reached at Naranag. Authorities are continuing their search for the remaining trekkers, with more information expected to follow as the situation unfolds.

Shah Basit After Jammu, discontent is boiling up among the Bhartiya Janta Party cadre in the Kashmir valley, with several activists of the party who have worked to establish the organisation in the valley being denied tickets. Workers of the party from Ganderbal who wished to be not named spoke to The Kashmiriyat and said that the party leadership needs to take the voices of people on the ground seriously and not ignore them. A growing chorus of voices from Ganderbal is demanding that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) grant a mandate to Gh Hassan Rather, a seasoned political figure and former district president of the BJP in Ganderbal. Rather, who has been an active participant in the region's political landscape for over two decades, has built a significant base for the party i...

The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has issued a weather update for Jammu Kashmir, forecasting varied weather conditions over the coming days. On August 30, 2024, the region is expected to experience generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rainfall at many locations across Jammu Kashmir. Following this, from August 31 to September 1, the weather is predicted to be mostly dry, with only brief spells of rain or thundershowers at isolated places. The forecast for September 2-3 indicates a return to generally cloudy skies, with the possibility of light to moderate rain or thundershowers at several places. However, from September 4-6, the weather is expected to remain generally dry across the region. A brief spell of light to moderate rain is anticipated over Jammu Division ...