REGIONAL

Police on Thursday said that two hybrid militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were arrested during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) launched at Baskuchan area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district by SOG Shopian in coordination with 44 RR and 178 Bn CRPF following specific input, officials said. They said the area was cordoned off and movement of terrorists was noticed in a nearby orchard. Swift and coordinated action by the joint teams led to the successful surrender and eventually arrest of the two terrorists—identified as Irfan Bashir and Uzair Salam—thereby averting a potential encounter and preventing a possible attack or targeted killing. Officials said arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession which include two AK-56 rifles, four magazines, 102 round...

Shabir Ali In Srinagar’s Dalal Mohalla, sorrow lingers in the narrow lanes as a family mourns the sudden loss of 14-year-old Numan Farooq Sofi — a quiet, artistic boy raised by his hearing-impaired father and elder siblings. His death earlier this week has shaken the neighbourhood and ignited a broader conversation about how schools handle discipline, self-expression, and the emotional well-being of their students. A resident said, “Numan did not commit suicide. He was driven to such an extreme by the school. For months, he was harassed over his tattoos. This was a private school, and many know the very un-Islamic things that happen there. It’s not an Islamic school where students get harassed for tattoos.” According to the family, Numan was initially expelled from school, but aft...

Umar Masoodi, a young lawyer from the Kashmir Valley, has been selected for the global beVisioneers Fellowship, an initiative by Mercedes-Benz that supports youth-led environmental innovation projects worldwide. Masoodi, a recent graduate from the University of Kashmir’s Law Department, currently practices at the Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. As part of the 2025 global cohort, he will receive full funding for travel, accommodation, and international training sessions. The fellowship also offers a €700 infrastructure grant, a monthly €120 stipend, and access to mentorship, leadership development, and a global community of sustainability innovators. The beVisioneers Fellowship focuses on specific environmental zones such as clean water and food waste. Under the programme, Masoodi pl...

In the wake of a patient’s death that has triggered widespread outrage in Srinagar, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Srinagar has ordered the suspension of several doctors and paramedical staff associated with Paras Hospital, terming the action as a measure pending the outcome of an ongoing inquiry. The order comes amid growing public anger and accusations that the hospital is functioning more as a "money minting enterprise" than a patient care facility. The deceased, identified as Waseem Ahmad Pathan, reportedly died under questionable circumstances inside the hospital, prompting his family and scores of local residents to protest outside the hospital premises. The protesters accused Paras Hospital of gross medical negligence and unethical profiteering at the cost of patient lives...

A large-scale civil defence mock drill is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, across four Indian states bordering Pakistan—Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jammu Kashmir. The exercise, aimed at testing emergency preparedness, comes amid heightened security following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists on April 22. The Directorate of Civil Defence has issued directives for the mock drill, which is part of a broader strategy to enhance response capabilities in the event of wartime scenarios or cross-border hostilities. According to a Hindustan Times report, Haryana will also conduct its own extensive state-wide civil defence exercise, titled "Operation Shield", on the same day. This drill will be held across all 22 districts from 5 PM onwards, focusing on improving the state’s ab...

Agriculture in Jammu Kashmir, once the backbone of the region’s economy, now contributes just 20% to its Gross Value Added (GVA), marking a dramatic decline from 28% fifteen years ago. The sharp downturn in the sector has triggered growing concerns about food security, rising inflation, and unchecked land conversion, even as government-backed reports push for diversification to salvage what remains of the agrarian landscape. According to the 2023–24 Economic Survey of J-K, the primary sector—including agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and allied activities—is steadily shrinking due to a combination of extreme weather, poor infrastructure, and rapid repurposing of farmland for industrial and infrastructure projects. The result has been a growing reliance on food imports from outside t...

Police in Rajasthan’s Kota city have registered a case of abetment to suicide after the death of an 18-year-old student from Kashmir, who was preparing for the NEET medical entrance exam. The student, Zeeshan Jahan, was found hanging in her rented accommodation in Mahaveer Nagar on Sunday evening. A resident of Anantnag in south Kashmir, she had returned to Kota last month for self-study and was not enrolled in any coaching institute at the time. Her family, who reached the city on Tuesday, told police that she had been under considerable mental stress and was undergoing treatment for depression. According to investigating officials, Jahan was speaking with her relative Burhan moments before the incident. The relative sensed something was wrong and immediately alerted a stud...

Danishwar Hameed The District Administration Kulgam today initiated a demolition drive at Laroo Crossing to facilitate the widening of National Highway 444 (NH-444). The officials said that the move aims to improve road connectivity and ease traffic congestion along this critical stretch of the highway. According to officials, the affected families were compensated prior to the operation, ensuring a smooth and transparent process. The demolition drive was conducted under the supervision of Naib Tehsildar Kulgam, Nasir Ahmad Mantoo, who oversaw the proceedings to ensure adherence to legal and procedural norms. The district administration reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing developmental projects with fairness and accountability, emphasizing that such initiatives are essenti...

National Conference patron and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has urged tourists from across the country to visit Pahalgam, calling it a peaceful and welcoming destination with unmatched natural beauty and climate. Speaking during his visit to the famous hill station, Farooq Abdullah said, “Pahalgam is a peaceful place. Tourists should not hesitate to visit here. The climate is wonderful, and it is one of the most beautiful places in the world.” He encouraged people not to let fear hold them back. “We should not fear death. It comes when it has to come. That shouldn’t stop us from living life and experiencing the beauty of places like Pahalgam,” he said while talking to reporters. He also reiterated his long-standing position on India-Pakistan relations, saying he is oft...

In a significant move aimed at restoring confidence and boosting tourism, the Jammu Kashmir cabinet, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, convened a meeting in Pahalgam, Anantnag district, on Tuesday afternoon. This is the first time the cabinet has met outside the traditional venues of the Civil Secretariat or the Chief Minister’s residences in Srinagar and Jammu. The meeting comes in the wake of the April 22 attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, including 25 tourists, a tragedy that severely impacted the region’s tourism industry. Holding the meeting in Pahalgam is being seen as both a symbolic and administrative gesture to reinforce stability and encourage the revival of normalcy in the region. Officials said the cabinet focused on strategies to rejuvenate the...