REGIONAL

Bandipora MLA Nizamuddin Bhat on Wednesday alleged humiliation at the office of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner after being made to wait repeatedly without being granted an audience. According to the eyewitness account of senior journalist Sanam Aijaz, the MLA reached the SMC Commissioner’s office around 11:45 AM and inquired from the Personal Secretary (PS) about the Commissioner. The PS informed him that the officer was on his way. By 11:55 AM, when the Commissioner arrived, Nizamuddin asked an orderly to convey his wish to meet. However, the orderly returned stating the Commissioner had asked him to wait. After about 15 minutes, the MLA once again requested the PS to remind the Commissioner. The orderly went inside but returned sharply saying the Commissioner w...

An RTI inquiry has revealed key details regarding the construction of the Nowgam Flyover in Srinagar, highlighting delays in certification and raising questions about accountability. The information was provided by the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Project Division Ist Srinagar in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act, 2005. According to the official reply, the construction contract for the flyover was awarded to M/S Madhucon Pvt Ltd (Mirza Infra Pvt Ltd), while Space Engineers Consortium Pvt Ltd was responsible for design and supervision. The project commenced in August 2022 with a sanctioned cost of Rs 36.90 crore, of which Rs 35.63 crore has already been spent. The flyover, however, has not yet been awarded a formal completion certificate despite bein...

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir today conducted searches at suspected locations in Anantnag and Pulwama in connection with the escape of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Amin Baba to Pakistan in 2005, a case involving former MLA Gul Rafeeqi and others. In a statement issued here to news agency Kashmir News Corner --- KNC reads, In pursuant of its unrelenting efforts, SIA Kashmir conducted raids earlier today at two suspected places at District Anantnag and Pulwama in a case related to escape of HM terrorist Amin Baba to Pakistan in 2005. The escape of Baba, who was Divisional Commander of Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen outfit to Pakistan was orchestrated with the support of former MLA Gul Rafeeqi and others, it reads. The accused persons had managed a fake passport for the terrorist ...

Shamasuddin Malik, the father of detained Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik, on Wednesday said his son had been wrongly implicated under the Public Safety Act (PSA).Kashmir tourism “The court will decide now. There was a fight with DC sahib (Deputy Commissioner of Doda). He has been wrongly charged under PSA,” Shamasuddin said, while expressing faith that justice would ultimately prevail. He added that his son has been fighting for the people of Doda and that certain elements unhappy with his popularity and support base had targeted him. The detention of Mehraj Malik has sparked protests in Doda and drawn criticism from political and civil society groups, with many questioning the grounds of his arrest. Authorities, however, have defended the move, insisting that the preventive deten...

Authorities in Doda district have imposed strict prohibitory measures following the detention of MLA Doda Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act, a move that has triggered massive protest in the district. The administration, apprehending possible protests and public outcry against Malik’s detention, invoked Section 163 BNSS, 2023, banning the assembly of four or more persons across the district until further orders. Officials cited concerns over law and order and the possibility of unlawful gatherings. An order issued by Additional District Magistrate Doda, Anil Kumar Thakur, directs that no individual shall be allowed to deliver provocative speeches, raise slogans, or make gestures deemed capable of disrupting peace and communal harmony. The order also prohibits the carrying of...

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday inspected the restoration work on National Highway-44 at Thard village in Udhampur, where traffic movement has been severely hit by recent floods. During the visit, Sinha was briefed by RS Yadav, Regional Officer of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), about the deployment of manpower and machinery for round-the-clock restoration. Officials said one lane of the highway is expected to open for traffic soon. The Lieutenant Governor also met flood-affected families in the area to enquire about their wellbeing. At the Gujjar Bakerwal Hostel in Jakhani, he visited a health camp set up by the Health Department to provide medical care to displaced residents. He was accompanied by Chenani MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, Udhampur West MLA ...

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday questioned the rationale behind booking Doda MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), saying the move was unjustified and damaging to democratic values. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar said, “Can anyone tell me what exactly his fault is? Did he cause stone pelting? Did he disturb peace and order? The truth is, those who spoiled the atmosphere at Hazratbal and hurt people’s sentiments have not faced action, while an elected MLA is being dragged to police stations and interrogated.” He added, “If there was any shortcoming on his part, it should have been addressed in the Assembly under the Speaker’s authority. But slapping PSA is completely wrong. It erodes the trust people have in democracy.” Slamming administration over repe...

The Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) on Monday launched a scathing attack on the administration over the detention of Doda legislator Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), describing the move as an assault on democracy and a dangerous precedent in the region’s political landscape. Malik, who won the Doda Assembly seat in the recently held polls, was booked under the controversial PSA last week. The law, which allows detention without trial for extended periods, has long faced criticism from rights groups for its sweeping provisions and alleged misuse against political opponents. Party vice president Omar Abdullah took the strongest line, questioning the credibility of governance in the region. “There is no justification for detaining Mehraj Malik under PSA. If an un...

The All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) has appealed to Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene in what they describe as ‘a long-standing issue of neglect’, concerning MBBS interns’ stipends in the region. In a formal memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister, the Association pointed out that MBBS interns in JK currently receive a monthly stipend of only Rs 12,000, an amount they say is grossly insufficient to meet basic living expenses given the rising costs of accommodation, food, and transportation. The students highlighted that despite continuous appeals and assurances made over the past six years, the stipend structure remains unchanged. “This has left young medical graduates disheartened, demoralized and financially burdened at a stage when they are ex...

Political leaders across parties have strongly condemned the detention of Doda MLA Mehraj Din Malik under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), calling the move an unprecedented attack on democratic processes in the Union Territory. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on X, said there is “no justification for detaining Mehraj Malik under PSA.” He described Malik as not being a threat to public safety and said using the discredited law against an elected representative undermines public faith in democracy. Dr Veeri, MLA Bijbehara and JKNC leader, while noting differences with Malik, termed the PSA action “beyond comprehension,” calling the characterization of Malik as a ‘grave threat to peace and order’ baseless and rooted in a “colonial-era mindset.” Leaders from the Aam Aadmi ...