REGIONAL

Bhat Yasir  The Wanigam-Tilgam water supply scheme, which has been a long-standing demand, is set to be completed soon. The scheme, which has been allotted five crore rupees under the UT Capex Budget, was initially launched in 2018 but faced delays due to funding issues. MLA Kreeri - Wagoora constituency, Irfan Hafiz Lone, told The Kashmiriyat that the work on project was started five years ago but due to some issues it couldn’t be completed. “Now after five years, the work on this project has started,” he said, adding, “this isn’t under any scheme now or JJM but the money under Capex Budget has been allotted for this.” The project, which was initially part of the JK IDFC and later included under the languishing projects scheme, could not be completed due to financial constr...

Gujjar and Bakarwal activists have expressed anguish over a report published in the Srinagar-based Daily, claiming that the tribal community had celebrated the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025. The report that appeared on April 4 has been flagged by the Jammu Kashmir Tribal Welfare Forum among other tribal activists. In a tweet by Jammu Kashmir Tribal Welfare Forum, the organisation expressed anger, saying, "We are deeply disappointed by the irresponsible reporting targeting a tribal community. Such biased narratives not only fuel prejudice but also endanger lives. Person in pics is a political leader of a particular party, didn't representing our community at large." Prominent tribal activist Zahid Chaudhary spoke to The Kashmiriyat over the phone and expressed his anguish...

Jammu Kashmir ranks 30th out of 36 states in reported child marriage cases under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, according to data presented in Parliament by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Between 2020 and 2022, only five cases were registered in Jammu Kashmir — one in 2020, two in 2021, and two in 2022. Neighbouring Union Territory Ladakh reported zero cases during the same period. Nationally, a total of 2,837 cases were registered under the Act across all states and Union Territories over the three-year span. The highest number of cases were reported from Karnataka, which registered 648 cases, followed by West Bengal with 501, Assam with 366, Tamil Nadu with 271, and Telangana with 250. These states accounted for a significant share of the to...

A Special Police Officer who was injured on 1st April near Navyug Tunnel succumbed to his injuries here on Saturday. Officials told GNS that on 1st April a fierce accident took place after a MG Hector skidded off the road near Navyug tunnel resulting death to two people and injuries to three persons including a SPO. Today SPO namely Showkat Ahamd after battling for life for 4 days succumbed to his injuries. (GNS)

A political war of words has erupted in Jammu Kashmir over the contentious issue of reservations, with Peoples Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone and Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo exchanging sharp statements in the backdrop of an ongoing legal battle in the High Court. Lone, in a post on social media platform X, slammed the JK Government for seeking an “outright dismissal” of a petition challenging the reservation policy in the case of Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and others vs UT of JK. He termed the government’s affidavit “misleading” and questioned why it made no mention of a cabinet subcommittee constituted to review the reservation policy. “This is a legal mystery. Seems the government is not taking its own committee seriously enough to merit a mention in its legal affidavit,” Lone sai...

Meer Irfan A family in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district is in distress after their only son went missing from their residence in Qaimoh Gratabal. Rakeeb Ahmad Parray, also known as Raja, son of Bashir Ahmad Parray, has been missing for several days. A missing persons report has been filed at the local police station in Qaimoh, but so far, there has been no breakthrough, a family member told The Kashmiriyat. His parents are now appealing to the community for help in locating him. “This is every parent's worst fear. Our only son has disappeared, and we are shattered. Please, if anyone has seen him or knows anything, come forward,” his mother said, her voice trembling with emotion. The family urges anyone with information regarding Rakeeb's whereabouts to contact them at the ...

Authorities have suspended internet connectivity in Bhaderwah town after an objectionable social media triggered protests on Saturday. Reliable sources told news agency Kashmir Bulletin that a strong protest is being lodged by members of Muslim community, after a person posted objectionable content on social media. "The community has been demanding for a strict action against the culprit," sources added. Meanwhile, a police official told Kashmir Bulletin that they have registered a formal case against the accused. "Action as warranted under law shall be taken," the official said, adding, "People are requested to maintain communal harmony and refrain from sharing any content that may be prejudicial to law and order situation." (KB)

Shah Basit On a bright April morning in Srinagar, women across the city boarded government-run buses with something new in their stride: a quiet confidence. For the first time, they didn’t fumble through their bags for change or glance anxiously at the fare board. The fare, this time, was gratitude — directed at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, whose government’s decision to grant free travel to women on public buses officially came into effect on April 1. “I’ve been taking the bus from Shalimar to Lal Chowk every morning for the past three years,” said Zahida, 43, who works at a small bookshop in Srinagar’s bustling city centre. “Some days, I wouldn’t eat breakfast just so I could save enough for both trips. Today, I didn’t have to worry. And that changes everything.” The initiative...

Sheikh Nadeem Unidentified miscreants vandalized a public park in Soyan Sagam area of Kokernag during the night, causing significant damage to the tulip beds at the SKUAST's Centre for Excellence of Tulip Buds, officials said on Thursday. The attack has left locals and horticulture experts dismayed, especially given the park's importance as a developing hub for tulip cultivation and tourism in south Kashmir. “This place was turning into something beautiful for our children and the community. We don’t understand why anyone would want to ruin it,” Bashir Ahmad Dar, a local resident told The Kashmiriyat. The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) had recently developed the tulip centre in an effort to promote research and local floriculture. The...

One person died, and three others sustained injuries in a road accident at Parnewa-Kulbugh general road in Budgam district on Friday. An official told the news agency JKNS that an Alto vehicle collided with a Tavera vehicle. As a result, the Alto driver and three passengers in the Tavera sustained injuries. The injured were shifted to District Hospital Budgam, where doctors declared the Alto driver brought dead. He was identified as Zeeshan Ashraf, son of Mohd Ashraf, a resident of Tokerpora Budgam. He added that cognizance has been taken, and a police team has been deputed to the spot. (JKNS)