REGIONAL

Bhat Yasir The Election Commission of India (ECI), on Friday, announced the polls for Jammu Kashmir's assembly. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the ECI said,"The First phase will be held on 18 september and the elections will be held in three phases." Assembly poll in J&K will be held in three phases, with voting on Sep 18, Sep 25, and Oct 1, Election Commision of India said, adding, "The counting of votes on October 4." The Election Commission of Jammu and Kashmir has announced the schedule for the upcoming elections, which will take place in three distinct phases. The elections are set to be conducted in a phased manner across different regions of the union territory. The first phase of polling is scheduled for September 18th and will cover several key dist...

Ahead of the likely assembly polls in Jammu Kashmir, the administration has announced a significant reshuffling of twenty one (21) senior police officers. As detailed in Government Order No. 361-Home of 2024, dated 15 August 2024, accessed by The Kashmiriyat, this reshuffle, which is effective immediately, involves the transfer and posting of various officers to different key positions across the state. Gurinderpal Singh, an IPS officer from the AGMUT cadre (2013 batch), has been moved from his current role as AIG (P&T) at the Police Headquarters (PHQ) to the position of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Baramulla. Meanwhile, Nagpure Amod Ashok, also from AGMUT 2013, has been transferred from his position as SSP Baramulla to take over as SSP Udhampur. Armitpal Singh,...

The Election Commission of India is set to announce the schedule for the upcoming assembly elections, with a particular focus on Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, and Haryana. These elections are highly anticipated, especially in Jammu Kashmir, where the last assembly elections were held in 2014. In Jammu and Kashmir, the elected government collapsed in June 2018 after the BJP withdrew support from the coalition government led by Mehbooba Mufti of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The assembly was subsequently dissolved in November 2018 by then-Governor Satyapal Malik, citing the impossibility of forming a stable government. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—J&K has been un...

The Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kashmir has proposed an environmental cess on second-hand vehicles over 10 years old. This proposal, submitted to the Transport Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir, aims to allegedly mitigate the "rising environmental and infrastructural issues caused by these older vehicles." The RTO’s letter highlights the significant increase in older, polluting vehicles entering Jammu and Kashmir, particularly affecting traffic and parking in Srinagar and Jammu, where congestion has become critical, as per locals news agency Kashmir News Observer. These vehicles, "often sold at lower prices as they near the end of their operational life, contribute heavily to pollution and strain the region’s infrastructure," RTO said. The current road usage tax of 9% is a...

Heavy rains and strong winds on Thursday disrupted August 15 celebrations in Baramulla, North Kashmir. The severe weather caused significant issues, including the uprooting of event tents and the scattering of chairs. Video footage showed individuals struggling to clear fallen tables, fearing people might be trapped underneath. The storm also led to several trees being uprooted along the Srinagar-Baramulla highway, causing blockages and endangering commuters. In Baramulla town, a vehicle was damaged when a tree fell on its roof, though no injuries were reported. Additionally, the power supply in Baramulla was severely affected, with widespread outages reported across the town due to the adverse weather conditions.

Barely a few days ahead of India’s Independence Day, the nation reflects on its rich tapestry of cultural heritage, with a spotlight on its evolving culinary landscape. The recently released Godrej Food Trends Report 2024 positions Kashmir at the pinnacle of India’s gastronomic map, heralding it as the top domestic culinary destination for the coming year. The year 2024 is set to witness a surge in culinary tourism across the country. With an increasing appetite for authentic and immersive food experiences, travellers are venturing beyond conventional sightseeing to explore the flavours that define India. The Godrej Food Trends Report 2024, curated with insights from over 190 industry luminaries—including celebrity chefs, influential bloggers, and seasoned nutritionists—serves as ...

In a recent administrative shift, Nalin Prabhat, IPS (AP:1992), has been posted as the Special Director General (SDG) of the Jammu Kashmir Police, effective immediately. This move follows his transfer from the Andhra Pradesh Cadre to the AGMUT Cadre. Sh. Prabhat will hold this position until September 30, 2024. Following the retirement of Sh. R.R. Swain, IPS (AGMUT:1991), on September 30, 2024, Sh. Nalin Prabhat will succeed him as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu Kashmir starting October 1, 2024, and will continue in this role until further orders. The decision was approved by the Competent Authority. Sh. R.R. Swain, who assumed office as the 17th DGP of Jammu & Kashmir on October 31, has been serving the state since June 2020 in his role as Special DG CID and...

Danishwar Hameed A devastating cloudburst hit the Damhal Hanjipora region of Kulgam district, south Kashmir, early Thursday morning, resulting in the death of one individual and injuring another, officials reported. The cloudburst struck the Banward area in DH Pora, triggering an immediate rescue operation by local authorities. The deceased has been identified as Mukhtar Ahmad Chouhan of Bangward Bala, while Rafakat Ahmad Chouhan, also from Bangward Bala, sustained injuries. Two cows livestock also died in the incident, locals told The Kashmiriyat. Tehsildar Zahid Ahmad from DH Pora stated that a response team has been sent to the site, and further information will be provided as the situation unfolds.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has quashed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) charge sheets in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam case involving former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and several others. This development marks a significant turn in the long-running case. The JKCA scam, which emerged in 2012, centers around allegations of financial mismanagement and embezzlement of funds meant for cricket development in Jammu and Kashmir. Farooq Abdullah, who was the president of the JKCA at the time, faced accusations of diverting substantial sums for personal use and failing to account for the funds properly. Quashing the charge sheets means that the High Court has invalidated the legal documents that detailed the charges and evidence against the accused, eff...

Suhail Dar Two labourers have died following a sand slide in the Gadhanchipora area of Bijbehera, Anantnag, on Wednesday. The incident occurred during sand extraction when a large sand slide engulfed a group of workers, officials said. Hospital officials identified the deceased as Mushtaq Ahmed Sheikh of Keegam and Mohammed Altaf Khan of Rajouri. Hospital officials confirmed to The Kashmiriyat that both were buried under the sand and brought dead to the hospital. Further details will be provided as they become available.