REGIONAL

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) released its manifesto on Monday, promising sweeping reforms and relief measures across various sectors, including electricity, water, employment, and social welfare. The manifesto was unveiled in Srinagar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, setting the stage for a comprehensive development plan for the region. A significant highlight of the manifesto is the promise to alleviate the ongoing electricity and water crises in the region. The JKNC has pledged to provide 200 units of electricity free to all households. Additionally, the party aims to transfer hydro power projects to Jammu and Kashmir, as recommended by the Prime Minister’s Committee, to ensure local control over energy resources. In an effort to address long-standing...

A house rented by a 15-year-old Muslim boy accused of stabbing a classmate was demolished by the city municipal corporation on Saturday, sparking concerns over what is being referred to as "demolition justice." Authorities justified the action by claiming the house was built on "encroached forest land." As reported by The Indian Express, the family was given a notice from the forest department just hours before the demolition took place. Inspector General Ajay Lamba of the Udaipur range stated that the house's owner, Rashid Khan, failed to provide ownership documents, which led to the demolition. Rashid Khan, who had rented out the house, expressed his distress over the incident, revealing that four other families living in the same apartment were also forced to vacate before t...

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned to seek votes in the name of infrastructural development and eradication of militancy in Jammu Kashmir. This was disclosed by the BJP leader and the former Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta today. While talking to reporters, Gupta said the party's agenda prioritizes infrastructure development, peacekeeping, and curbing anti-development forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Gupta highlighted the BJP's accomplishments in Jammu and Kashmir, including the eradication of stone pelting, militancy, extremism, separatism, and nepotism. He also emphasized the party's role in ushering in a new era of industrialization and corporate growth, completing delimitation to ensure fair representation, and driving development across all sectors. Kavinder Gupta...

The Meteorological Department in Srinagar has issued a weather advisory for Jammu and Kashmir, warning of potential flash floods, landslides, and mudslides in vulnerable areas due to intense rainfall over the next two days. According to the forecast, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected across many parts of the region late at night and early morning on August 19 and 20. A brief spell of showers is also anticipated at a few locations later in the afternoon. The advisory, as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust, specifically highlights the risk in the Jammu Division, where heavy rainfall could trigger flash floods, landslides, and shooting stones. People in vulnerable areas are urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions. From August 21 to 22, t...

A key meeting of the People's Democratic Party is underway in Srinagar office on Monday morning, sources said. The People's Democratic Party is likely to field Iltija Mufti, media advisor to former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti as the candidate for Anantnag or Bijbehara assembly seat. Sources told The Kashmiriyat that a meeting of the PDP is underway in Srinagar, where Iltija Mufti has been proposed as a candidate by the party's leadership for the key Anantnag seat. "The final announcement is yet to be made, however, it surely has been proposed that Iltija Mufti should candidate the Anantnag assembly seat," a PDP spokesperson said. Iltija Mufti has been active in Kashmir politics post the abrogation of the Articles 35A and 370. She handed the Twitter account of Mehbooba Mufti a...

After it continued smoothly and peacefully during the last 52 days with nearly five lakh Yatris having ‘darshan’ inside the cave shrine, the annual Amarnath Yatra will conclude on Monday. ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (Silver robbed Lord Shiva’s Mace), carried by Mahant Swami Deependra Giri started the last leg of its journey from Panchtarni to the holy cave this morning. The Yatra started this year on June 29 and will end Monday after 52 days amid high-security arrangements. The ubiquitous presence of police and the CAPFs all along the Yatra route from Jammu to the two base camps of Baltal and Nun (Pahalgam), highly professionally and technologically equipped security at the transit camps and above all, the total cooperation of the local people made the incident-free conduct of the Yatra poss...

In a significant political development ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, Haji Farooq Ahmad, the Vice-Chairman of the District Development Council (DDC) Kupwara, announced his resignation from the Jammu Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) on Sunday. A close associate of Haji Farooq, who was elected as the VC of DDC Kupwara in 2020, confirmed to The Kashmiriyat that Farooq has stepped down due to dissatisfaction with the party's conduct. Addressing speculation on social media that his resignation was linked to being denied a ticket for the upcoming elections, the associate clarified, "The resignation has nothing to do with ticket allocation. The party has not even announced its candidates yet. Claims suggesting his decision was seat-related are entirely baseless and serv...

On Friday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced the attachment of property linked to a Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terror associate in connection with the targeted killing of a Sarpanch in South Kashmir's Shopian district. In a statement, the NIA detailed that it has attached the property of Nasir Rashid Bhat, an overground worker (OGW) for the terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, under section 33 (1) of the UA(P) Act, 1947. The property, a residential house located in Tengpora village, Shopian, was seized on the orders of the NIA Special Judge, Jammu. According to the NIA, Bhat and other HM members were involved in the killing of the Adoora-Kulgam Sarpanch on March 11, 2022. The NIA described the attack as an effort to spread terror among the local population. The agency's...

Shah Basit Heavy rains triggered flash floods in Ganderbal district on Saturday morning. In Ganderbal, the downpour caused significant waterlogging, particularly in the Kangan area, where roads and several localities were inundated. The floodwaters entered the village, affecting several residential houses, but the water level has since begun to recede. The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has warned of more intense showers and heavy rainfall over the next three days, particularly in the Jammu division. These conditions could result in flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones in vulnerable areas of J&K. From August 18th to 20th, a brief spell of rain and thundershowers is expected in some areas during the daytime, with light to moderate rain predicted for...

In a landmark event for District Shopian, journalists have elected their inaugural office bearers through a democratic process, marking a significant milestone for the local media community. The election, conducted under rigorous oversight, was supervised by an esteemed panel including Election Commissioner Malik Irshad, Election Observers Magray Mansoor and Mitha Gattoo from the Shopian Civil Society, RO Shah Irshad of Gulistan, and Sheikh Hilal, who served as the Election Supervisor. Gulzar Habib was elected unopposed as the President of the newly formed body. Ajaz Dar and Shahid Tak were elected as Spokesperson and Treasurer, respectively, each securing 24 votes. The election ceremony was honored by the presence of Mr. Assadullah, Secretary of MC Shopian, who attended as the Ch...