REGIONAL

Approximately 27,000 displaced Kashmiri Pandits are set to cast their votes for the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat, with the polls scheduled for May 25. This seat boasts the highest number of voters among the 18 assembly constituencies in the region, with a total of 1,830,294 eligible voters, comprising 930,379 males, 899,888 females, and 27 third-gender individuals. As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)—preparations are in full swing for the final phase of the elections. To accommodate the significant number of displaced voters, 21 polling stations and eight auxiliary centers will be established in Jammu. These include special provisions for voters residing in locations like Jagti. Previously, three auxiliary polling stations were arranged for the Srinagar and Bara...

The residents of the Kashmir valley are bracing for an intense heatwave this weekend, with temperatures predicted to soar significantly above normal levels. The Meteorological Department has issued a warning for widespread severe heat, urging people to take necessary precautions. Today, 23 May, the weather is expected to be mostly dry across the valley. However, meteorologists have indicated the possibility of isolated thundershowers in a few areas during the late afternoon or evening hours. On 24 May, similar conditions are expected, with a chance of thundershowers in certain regions towards late afternoon or evening. Overall, the weather will remain predominantly dry. From 25 to 28 May, a prolonged dry spell is forecasted, with temperatures anticipated to rise sharply. During...

Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has urged its domestic consumers to come forward and avail the interest waiver offered by the Government under Power Amnesty Scheme, which shall help them to settle their long pending bills. In a statement released today, a KPDCL spokesman said that the Power Amnesty Scheme notified in 2022, has now been extended till March 31, 2025, to facilitate those domestic consumers who have not been able to avail its benefits earlier. Expressing satisfaction on the positive response received to the Amnesty Scheme, the KPDCL spokesman advised the consumers to approach their concerned Electric Subdivision to clear outstanding electricity dues without late payment surcharge as per Scheme. "Consumers can either pay their principal amount du...

Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Tuesday said that  Indian Philosophy must be taught in all universities of Jammu and Kashmir. According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Sinha said this while chairing a meeting of the Higher Education Council at Raj Bhawan. Sinha on the occasion said that in the past two years, the Jammu Kashmir Higher Education Council has taken many important steps for the comprehensive and holistic transformation. “Nowadays, due to the major positive reforms, the higher educational institutions of Jammu and Kashmir are being praised.” “I think many of our Vice Chancellors in Jammu Kashmir and outside have met several times to make the higher education department better and to devise the futuristic roadmap for it,” he said. The LG further said ...

Rayees Shah The Forest Department on Wednesday claimed to have seized a huge quantity of "illegal" Chinar timber in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir. Officials told The Kashmiriyat that on the late night hours of Tuesday evening, a joint operation by the J&K Forest Department and the Forest Protection Force along with Police at Forest check post Sonmarg resulted in the seizure of an LP truck loaded with illegal Chinar timber. The seizure took place at the forest check post in the Sonamarg area of central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.

A tragic incident occurred this morning in the village of Narkara, Budgam, when a geyser explosion at a residence led to one fatality and injuries to two family members. The explosion happened at the home of Manzoor Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Gani Dar. According to officials, the explosion caused significant structural damage, resulting in the collapse of the house. Manzoor Ahmad Dar, who was inside at the time, was buried under the rubble and died instantly. Rescue teams were able to extricate two other family members from the debris. They sustained various injuries and were immediately transported to JVC Hospital in Srinagar for medical treatment.

The Anti-graft body of Jammu & Kashmir Police has booked Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and a serving senior bureaucrat among seven people for allegedly encroaching Custodian land in convenience with revenue officials in summer capital Srinagar, local news agency KDC reported. According to an FIR copy accessed by Srinagar-based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com a preliminary enquiry of Anti-Corruption Bureau (PE No.22/2019) revealed that a lady Dil Rafiqa, was “unlawfully granted evacuee land by the Custodian Department without proper government sanction and an open auction, violating established provisions.” “The enquiry uncovered that land belonging to Sh. Imam-u-Din, located at Saderbal Hazratbal under survey number 640, was allocated to several individuals, including Dil Rafiga, in ...

Ahead of the scheduled Lok Sabha polls for Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, which includes the parts of south Kashmir's Shopian district, the local administration conducted a training for Presiding Officers, Polling Staff in the south Kashmir district. In an official communique issued to The Kashmiriyat, the District Information Officer Shopian said, "In order to carry out election duties efficiently and to enhance the preparedness for upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the District Election Office, Shopian today organised two training sessions for the Presiding Officers and Polling Staff at Government Degree College, Shopian." As per the official handout, the training cum orientation session was held under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner, Shopian, Faz Lul Haseeb, who is also District Elec...

Waheed Ur Rehman Parra, the Youth President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), addressing a public meeting in Bijbehara Anantnag said that Mehbooba Mufti's commitment to achieving a "Jail-Free Kashmir and Case-Free Kashmiri". Joined by Youth General Secretary Najmu Saqib and other party members, Parra conducted door-to-door outreach to communicate Mufti's vision and dedication to justice. He stated, "Mehbooba Mufti's agenda is clear: she aims for a Kashmir where every individual's rights and freedoms are upheld." Parra urged support for Mufti in the upcoming parliamentary elections, highlighting her role as a beacon of hope for marginalized communities. He emphasized Mufti's solidarity with incarcerated youth, promising to amplify their voices on a national stage and advoca...

A commemorative meeting of the People’s Conference (JKPC) was held today, paying tribute to the late Abdul Gani Lone on his 22nd martyrdom anniversary and Mirwaiz Molvi Mohammed Farooq on his 34th martyrdom anniversary. As per a press release of the Jammu Kashmir People's Conference, the meeting, attended by PC leaders, served as a platform to honor the indomitable spirits and contributions of these visionary leaders. During the gathering, the entire leadership of the party, with deep reverence, offered glowing tributes to the late Lone Sahib and Mirwaiz Sahib. They reiterated the enduring legacy left behind by these remarkable individuals and reaffirmed their commitment to carry forward their visions. “Late Abdul Gani Lone Sahib was an embodiment of struggle, sincerity, devotion,...