REGIONAL

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir on Saturday arrested a Patwari who had been absconding for the past three months in connection with a high-profile corruption and fraud case. An official spokesperson said that the accused, identified as Ashiq Ali, son of Ghulam Rasool Khan, a resident of Panner Jagir and presently residing at Hawal Srinagar, was wanted in a case registered under FIR No. 14/2025. The case has been filed under Sections 167, 420, 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The spokesperson said that the case pertains to serious charges of corruption, cheating, manipulation of revenue records, and wrongful insertions and mutations in official land documents. “After a detailed investigation and anal...

Danishwar Hameed Panic gripped Kanelwan village of Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday after the body of a 28-year-old man, identified as a local carpenter who had gone missing from his home, was found under mysterious circumstances in an apple orchard. Police identified the deceased as Adil Ahmed Najar, son of Manzoor Ahmad Najar, a resident of Kanelwan Bijbehara. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that they spotted the body lying in an apple orchard and immediately alerted the police. A team from Bijbehara Police Station reached the spot and took the body into custody. “The body has been shifted to the hospital for medico-legal formalities, including a post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause and time of death,” officials said. Adil had reportedly gone ...

Suhail Dar Police in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district have apprehended two absconders who had been evading arrest for over two decades in separate criminal cases, officials said on Thursday. According to police, one of the accused, Tariq Ahmad Geray alias Margoob Banihali, son of Ghulam Mohammad Geray, a resident of Lal Bazar Srinagar, had been on the run for the past 25 years. “He was wanted in case FIR No. 310/2020 under sections 420, 406, 294 of the RPC registered at Police Station Anantnag,” an official told The Kashmiriyat. A warrant under Section 512 CrPC had been issued against him by the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Anantnag. “The accused was finally apprehended and shall be produced before the Hon’ble Court of law today,” the official added. In a separ...

BJP’s Sat Sharma has claimed the fourth and final Rajya Sabha seat from Jammu Kashmir, while the National Conference (NC) secured the remaining three seats, with Gurwinder Singh Oberoi, also known as Shammi Oberoi, winning the third seat. Earlier victories were registered by NC’s Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Shami Oberoi and Sajad Kichloo. In the final contest, NC fielded its young state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar against Sharma. The party’s sweep of three seats came with active backing from Congress, PDP reinforcing the INDIA alliance’s position in the upper house. Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma of BJP, had expressed confidence that his party would win all four seats, but the final results fell short of this prediction. Congr...

National Conference (NC) leader Gurwinder Singh Oberoi, also known as Shammi Oberoi, has won the third Rajya Sabha seat from Jammu and Kashmir, officials confirmed on Friday. For the contest, NC had fielded Oberoi along with its young state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominated Sat Sharma. Oberoi’s victory follows earlier wins by NC’s Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan and Sajad Kichloo, further consolidating the party’s strong presence in the Assembly. With Oberoi’s win, only one Rajya Sabha seat remains to be decided. Counting for the final seat is ongoing and is expected to go either to the BJP or NC. Speaking on the elections, Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, claimed that BJP is poised to secure...

In a significant stride toward delivering justice in cases of sexual violence, Shopian Police have secured the conviction of two men involved in the sexual assault of a minor girl in the district. The case, registered at Police Station Zainapora under FIR No. 150/2022, pertained to offences punishable under Sections 363 of the IPC and Sections 3/4 and 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Following a comprehensive trial, the Principal Sessions Judge Shopian on Thursday convicted the accused, identified as Yawer Ahmad Sheikh and Mehraj Ahmad Dar — both residents of Khawajapora Chitragam, Shopian. The Court sentenced Yawer Ahmad Sheikh to ten years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 4 of the POCSO Act and five years under Section 363 of the IPC, alon...

Traffic movement came to a halt on the Srinagar–Bandipora highway on Friday morning after locals of Nani Nara Sumbal in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district staged a protest demanding urgent repairs to a damaged footbridge that has remained in poor condition for years. The demonstration, which began early in the morning, caused traffic congestion along the busy Shadipora–Sumbal stretch, already under strain due to ongoing flyover construction. Long queues of vehicles, including passenger buses, private cars, and army convoys, were stranded for hours as protesters blocked the road, calling for government intervention. Commuters, students, government employees, and patients faced severe inconvenience due to the blockade. Locals said the bridge, which connects several nearby village...

Baramulla Police have arrested a man accused of misusing the title of journalist to extort money and intimidate individuals and public officials through social media. The accused, identified as Riyaz Ahmad Mugloo, was allegedly involved in multiple cases of extortion and criminal intimidation. According to police, he threatened to publish defamatory content unless money was paid to him. A complaint lodged by employees of the Municipal Council Baramulla stated that Mugloo had already extorted money from them and was demanding additional payments. Acting on the complaint, police registered an FIR (No. 186/2025) under sections 308(2), 351, and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station Baramulla and launched an investigation. During the probe, investigators seiz...

Danishwar Hameed  Local residents of Kulgam district have expressed their appreciation for the remarkable improvements being carried out under the leadership of the Medical Superintendent at District Hospital Kulgam. People, including patients and their attendants, lauded the initiatives taken by the hospital administration,  such as the establishment of a Helpdesk for patient assistance, improved sitting arrangements, and overall enhancement of hospital infrastructure. They particularly praised the Medical Superintendent for personally visiting every ward of the hospital to ensure that patients receive proper treatment and care. While speaking to The Kashmiriyat, the Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Kulgam Dr Syed Masood said that, following the directions of the Ho...

Suhail Dar Anantnag Police on Thursday booked eight shopkeepers, including butchers and several eatery owners, for selling food items in unhygienic conditions across different areas of the district, including Dialgam, General Bus Stand, Khanabal, Sherbagh, and Janglatmandi. An official told The Kashmiriyat that the action followed inspections during which several food outlets were found violating hygiene and sale norms. “Many shopkeepers were keeping meat and other food items uncovered and exposed to dust and contamination, posing a serious threat to public health,” the official said. Police have registered FIRs numbered 213 to 220 of 2025 under relevant provisions against the violators. The official added that strict enforcement drives will continue to ensure food safety an...