REGIONAL

In a significant crackdown on online fraud, Srinagar Police on Saturday arrested two individuals allegedly involved in a fake medical donation scam on Facebook that used a local woman’s photo without consent to solicit money under false pretenses. The police said the racket came to light after Muneer Ahmad Misger, a resident of Nowhatta, filed a formal complaint with Police Station Nowhatta on May 30. Misger alleged that an unknown person posing as a journalist had uploaded a photograph of his sister on Facebook, accompanied by a fabricated story appealing for donations for a surgery that never took place. “This was a malicious act aimed at deceiving the public and emotionally exploiting them for financial gain,” Misger stated in his complaint. Acting on the complaint, police r...

Meer Irfan A violent storm that struck the high-altitude pastures of Rai Nuer in Minimarg, Shopian, during the early hours of Friday has resulted in the death of dozens of sheep, according to local sources. Eyewitnesses told The Kashmiriyat that the storm hit the area around 3 a.m., causing chaos among a herd of approximately 1,500 sheep. The grazing site is located nearly 25 kilometers from Sedow village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. “The storm was very powerful, and panic spread among the sheep,” said Miran, the daughter of Abdul Rashid Chopan, one of the shepherds tending the herd. “My father and uncle, Bashir Ahmad, were inside their tent and couldn’t step out because the wind was too fierce.” As the storm slightly subsided, the two men ventured out to assess the sit...

A senior oncologist has raised serious concerns over Paras Hospital Srinagar’s handling of a fatal surgical mishap and what he describes as a “system error” that wrongly implicated him in the case, intensifying scrutiny on the hospital’s internal protocols and ethical standards. Dr. Shah Naveed, a well-known surgical oncologist now working with Ujala Cygnus Superspeciality Hospital, Srinagar, publicly denounced the hospital for including his name in the operative note related to the death of a young patient, Wasim Ahmad Pathan, who died during surgery on May 23. Dr. Naveed had resigned from Paras Hospital nearly eight months earlier, on October 1, 2024. “I was not present. I was not involved. I had no role whatsoever in that surgery or incident,” Dr. Naveed clarified in a detailed pu...

The early days of May 2025 brought renewed devastation to border villages in Jammu Kashmir as intense cross-border shelling from Pakistani troops struck multiple districts, damaging hundreds of homes and public buildings. Amid the rubble, residents now face what they call a second blow: paltry compensation from the government that barely scratches the surface of their losses. In the border district of Kupwara alone, more than 100 structures were damaged in Baramulla and Kupwara villages. Across all affected areas in Tangdhar, Karnah, Uri, Poonch, and Rajouri, the total number of damaged homes and structures has surpassed 400, according to local assessments. For many, the compensation has come as a shock. “I spent Rs 15,000 just to clear the debris of my destroyed house. The gov...

A police vehicle carrying officials for duty met with an accident near the Twin Bridge area in Uri, north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, on Friday, resulting in injuries to eight policemen. A senior police officer told news agency JKNS that a Gypsy belonging to Police Post Udoosa, Uri, was en route with officials for deployment when it skidded off the road near the Twin Bridge and overturned. Eight policemen on board sustained injuries in the mishap and were immediately shifted to Sub District Hospital (SDH) Uri for treatment, he said. Police have taken cognizance of the incident and further investigation underway. (JKNS)

Jammu Kashmir is set to experience a spell of stormy and unstable weather over the next 72 hours, extending until Saturday. Widespread thundershowers are expected across most parts of the Union Territory, with a more intense weather system likely to move in from Friday night into Saturday. This period may bring bouts of heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and isolated hailstorms, as per Kashmir Weather. The persistent cloud cover associated with the system is expected to keep daytime temperatures below normal for this time of year. Authorities and residents are advised to remain alert as intense showers could trigger landslides and shooting stones, particularly along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The possibility of cloudbursts and cloud-to-ground lightning strikes also exists. Fla...

A hailstorm accompanied by heavy rain caused damage to crops in the upper reaches of the Rafiabad area in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday evening. The weather event caused damage to a range of fruits and vegetables, including apples, cherries, and other seasonal produce. “The hailstorm was intense and lasted several minutes, leaving the orchards battered,” a grower from Rafiabad said. Similar weather conditions were reported in Ladua, Khamoh, Shalkote, Braman, Kutroo Narbal, and other parts of Rafiabad. Farmers in the affected areas have appealed to the authorities for assessment and compensation, citing heavy losses ahead of the harvesting season. (JKNS)

Dr Shabir Hassan, a Kashmiri biotechnologist based in the United Arab Emirates, was recently honoured with the BRICS International Award 2025 in Moscow, recognising his contributions to scientific research and academic collaboration across international borders. The award was presented at a high-profile event at the World Trade Centre, attended by prominent diplomats, academics, and cultural leaders under the umbrella of the BRICS Culture Media Forum. The ceremony, which emphasised the role of cultural projects in uniting BRICS Plus nations, featured dignitaries from Russia, Bahrain, and several other member states. Dr Hassan stood out for his role in using science as a platform for global cooperation, particularly in the field of biotechnology. Currently serving as an Assistant P...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit Jammu Kashmir on May 30, where he will address Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and meet families impacted by Pakistani shelling in Poonch district. During the visit, Shah is expected to distribute appointment letters to the next of kin of those killed in the shelling and visit religious sites damaged in the cross-border firing, as per Daily Excelsior. Shah will arrive in Jammu on the evening of May 29 and will chair a high-level security review meeting. The meeting will be attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, top officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Army, the paramilitary forces, JK Police, the intelligence agencies, and civil administration. Senior officers from the BSF, CRPF, Intelligence Bureau, NIA, and top Army com...

Kashmir currently has two active COVID-19 cases after two students, at Government Dental College (GDC) Srinagar, tested positive before five days. A senior health official told news agency JKNS that both students, originally from Kerala, had recently returned to the college after visiting their home state and began experiencing mild symptoms. “They were sent to GMC Srinagar for testing, where both tested positive for COVID-19,” the official said. He confirmed that both have been isolated inside the hostel, and separate washroom facilities have been arranged as a precautionary measure. “Their condition is stable, and there is no need for concern at this point,” the official added. The official further said the students will undergo retesting after two days as per COVID-19 protocol....