REGIONAL

Former Jammu Kashmir Congress president and Banihal constituency candidate, Vikar Rasool Wani, along with five other individuals, has been convicted by the court. The court has sentenced each of them to five months in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000. The charges stem from a public meeting held without permission during the 2012 Assembly elections at the Junior High School in Mithepur village of Gulavathi. The meeting, addressed by Wani, led to a case being filed against them by then Block Development Officer Siyaram Varshney for violating the Model Code of Conduct. The Special MP MLA Court found the violation of the Model Code of Conduct to be valid, leading to the sentencing of Wani, Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Sachin, Ikramuddin, and Nazim. Vikar Rasool Wani is one of the...

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday that the state government is prioritizing the Marriage Registration Bill, with the next step being a ban on polygamy. "The Assam government hasn't made a decision on implementing the entire Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Instead, we're focusing on the Muslim Marriage Registration Bill, which we've made compulsory. Under this bill, the registration of marriages and divorces will be conducted by sub-registrars rather than 'Kazi.' Our next move is to ban polygamy, and we're closely monitoring judicial developments in Uttarakhand regarding the UCC," Sarma said. The Chief Minister emphasized that Assam's approach differs from a comprehensive UCC, as the state is addressing specific issues. "We're not aiming to introduce a broad...

As, in the wake of the weather forecast promising scattered and heavy rainfall with chances of cloudbursts, authorities have issued a precautionary advisory to handle any increasing risk of flooding, in the district Anantnag. “The India Meteorological Department has reiterated the possibility of a sudden rise in the water level of the Jhelum River along with its tributaries, an advisory issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag, while lies with the News Vibes of India—(NVI), outlines precautions to be implemented. It reads, the Flood Control Division of Anantnag is to activate the Flood Control Room immediately and put resources and staff on high alert. Additionally, SDRF/Civil Defense Anantnag is to activate its Control Room, stage teams, and resources for immediate deploymen...

In the run-up to the Jammu Kashmir assembly elections, the Indian National Congress (INC) has finalized a list of 120-star campaigners, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. These prominent figures are set to visit the Jammu Kashmir starting next month to rally support. According to the AICC General Secretary, who is also the party's candidate for the Dooru assembly segment, these campaigners will arrive in phases, with at least 40 campaigners expected during each phase. This includes Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders, who will engage with voters across both the Jammu Kashmir divisions. The three-phased assembly elections are scheduled to begin on September 18 and conclude on October 1, with vote counting set for October 4. The party will soon release a detailed s...

Meer Irfan The nomination of Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, commonly known as Sarjan Barkati, for the upcoming Jammu Kashmir Assembly elections has been rejected by the Returning Officer for the 36-Zainapora constituency. An official told The Kashmiriyat that the decision came after the nomination papers were found to be missing essential documentation required under Section 16 of the Jammu Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019. Barkati, who is currently detained in Central Jail Srinagar, had his nomination papers filed by an authorized representative on August 27, 2024, just before the deadline. However, the submission was missing a mandatory oath certificate, which needed to be signed by the Superintendent of Central Jail, the official said. According to the Returning Officer, "The oath ha...

After nearly half a century, Indian and international cricketing stars will return to Kashmir to play the final leg of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) in October at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar. The upcoming season of the LLC will begin on September 20 at Barkatullah Khan Stadium in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Co-Founder of LLC, Raman Raheja, in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), expressed excitement about the league's return and the opportunity to play in Kashmir this season. This is a significant event for the people of Kashmir, who will be able to watch live cricket after almost 40 years, Raheja said, adding that it will give cricketers a chance to experience the beauty of Kashmir and its hospitality. The league, which has gained a reputation for its thr...

Citing Health Concerns, Democratic Progressive Azad Party Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said that he will not be able to campaign for his candidates in assembly elections. In a statement issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Azad said that on the night of August 25th, he suffered acute chest pain in Srinagar. "Following morning, i took the earliest available flight to Delhi and was admitted to AIIMS hospital, where i stayed for two days", statement added. While doctors assured him that there was no immediate danger, Azad said that he is dealing with other health concerns that require both medication and rest. "These unforeseen circumstances have forced me to step back from the campaign trail", he added. Azad further said he is having regret over not being able to support ...

Shah Basit The upcoming Jammu Kashmir assembly elections are set to witness a fierce contest in Ganderbal as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officially named Bashir Ahmad Mir as its candidate to challenge Omar Abdullah of the National Conference (NC). This move signals a strategic effort by the PDP to penetrate the NC stronghold in Ganderbal, a constituency long associated with the Abdullah family. Bashir Ahmad Mir, a prominent figure in the PDP, is set to face Omar Abdullah, the National Conference leader, in what promises to be one of the most closely watched electoral battles in the region. Mir, who has previously contested in Ganderbal’s Kangan area, a stronghold of NC stalwart Mian Altaf, secured 12,000 votes in 2008 and 25,000 votes in 2014. His candidacy is expected t...

The Meteorological Department on Wednesday forecasted continued rain and thundershowers across parts of Jammu Kashmir until September 3, with a likelihood of dry weather following that period. Officials stated that from August 28-29, the region will experience generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thundershowers at most locations in Jammu Kashmir. A spell of light to moderate rain and thundershowers is expected at many places on August 30. Brief spells of rain and thundershowers are also anticipated at isolated locations from August 31 to September 1. From September 2-3, the weather is likely to be generally cloudy, with scattered rain and thundershowers. However, dry conditions are expected to prevail from September 4-7. Officials cautioned that intense shower...

The Delhi Patiala House Court has reserved its order on the bail application of Rashid Engineer after a detailed in-camera hearing. The court is expected to pronounce its decision on September 4. Engineer Rashid, a prominent political leader from Jammu Kashmir and president of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), has been at the center of a high-profile legal case that has garnered widespread attention. Rashid was arrested in August 2019 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a terror funding case, which has implicated several key figures from the region. The case involves allegations that funds were channeled from Pakistan to finance terror activities in Jammu Kashmir, with the purported involvement of separatist leaders. Throughout his detention, Rashid ha...