REGIONAL

The Delhi High Court Tuesday listed for hearing on February 14 a plea by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking death penalty for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik in a terror funding case. The court directed that Malik, who had pleaded guilty to the charges, shall join the court proceedings virtually. Noting that none appeared on behalf of Malik, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief currently serving a life term in the case, a bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait andpt Shalinder Kaur adjourned the matter until February 14 next year. On May 29, the high court had issued notice to Malik on NIA's plea seeking death penalty for him in the terror funding case and sought his presence before it on the next date. Subsequently, the jail authorities had filed...

Jammu Kashmir Police on Wednesday said to have attached 14 marla residential land belonging to a militant associate’s family in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. “Bandipora Police has attached 14 Marla of residential land at Ashtengoo Bandipora in case FIR No.43/2022”, a police spokesperson said. “The land had been identified as proceeds of terrorism and was attached under the UAPA.”

On the second day of the Winter Session of Parliament, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2023 for discussion and passage. Participating in the discussion on the bills, Congress MP Manish Tewari asked the Centre why elections were not held in Kashmir. “I humbly want to ask the Home Minister when the J & K assembly election will be held?” Tiwari said. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was moved in the Lower House to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004. The Act provides for reservation in appointment and admission in professional institutions for the members of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and other socially and educa...

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recently released its comprehensive data for 2022, shedding light on the surge in crime against women, children, Schedule Caste and Tribes (SC/ST) as well as cyber crimes across the country. A total of 65,893 cybercrime cases were registered in 2022, marking a substantial 24.4 per cent increase from the previous year’s 52,974 cases. The crime rate in this category rose from 3.9 in 2021 to 4.8 in 2022. Delving deeper into the cybercrime statistics, a staggering 64.8 per cent of the cases were motivated by fraud, accounting for 42,710 instances. Extortion followed at 5.5 per cent (3,648 cases), and sexual exploitation constituted 5.2 per cent (3,434 cases). This alarming increase in cybercrimes highlights the pressing need for enhanced cyb...

The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has approved a 15 percent increase in power tariffs for non-metered consumers in Kashmir, affecting approximately 7 lakh users. This decision follows the nod for a 30 percent tariff hike initially, but with the withdrawal of 15 percent electricity duty, the practical hike is now 15 percent, Srinagar based Greater Kashmir reported. For metered consumers, the JERC initially greenlit a 15 percent tariff increase, which the Power Development Department (PDD) offset by waiving the 15 percent electricity duty, effectively nullifying any practical hike for these users. The JERC explained its decision as a means to bridge the revenue gap, partially through government grants and partially via a reasonable tariff hike, aiming to avoid shock...

Mercury continued to witness downward trend in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday and settled below freezing point in the Valley barring Kokernag. A meteorological temperature department official told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.4°C against 0.7°C on the previous night and it was 0.5°C below normal for this time of the year in Srinagar. Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 1.6°C against minus 0.4°C on the previous night, he said. The minimum temperature was 0.5°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, the official said. Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 4.3°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night and it was 1.0 °C below normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir. Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of 0.2°C against 0.8°C on the previous nig...

The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its verdict in the prolonged case challenging the amendment of Article 370, with a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud conducting extensive hearings over sixteen days. The petitioners contested the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu Kashmir, along with the JK Reorganization Act that divided the region into Union Territories, arguing that these actions are unconstitutional. Justice SK Kaul's retirement on December 25, 2023, and the approaching winter break on December 15, 2023, suggest the judgment may be imminent. The petitioners claimed that the abrogation infringed upon federalism and violated the Constitution, emphasizing that the 2019 Act contradicts Article 3 by granting Parli...

A non-local labourer was found dead at Pampore area in Pulwama district, officials said. The individual, identified as one Faisal son of Sajad Ahmad, a resident of Raipur Road Gaon Kasimpur was found lying unconscious in his bed at Tulbagh Pampore. He according to the officials was taken to a nearby hospital, where the doctors declared him as brought dead on arrival. Official sources told news agency Kashmir Scroll that they have taken cognisance of the incident for necessary follow-up. (KS)

The Hajj Committee of India has announced the start of filing of applications for Hajj pilgrimage from today. The Committee, falling under Ministry of Minority Affairs, has informed that the Hajj-2024 will be organised under Hajj Policy-2023, dated 29.11.2023. “The process of filing of applications for Haj-2024 through Haj Committee of India shall commence online from 04.12.2023 and will close on 20.12.2023”, reads the notification, as per news agency Kashmir Scroll. “The application forms, the notification reads, can be filled and submitted online at website of Haj Committee of India http://hajcommittee.gov.in or through the android mobile App ‘Haj Suvidha’.” “Applicants are advised to read the Guidelines/Undertaking carefully before filling Haj Application Forms. Machine read...