REGIONAL

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, visited Poonch on Saturday to meet families affected by recent cross-border shelling along the Line of Control. Describing the situation as "a very big tragedy," Gandhi expressed solidarity with the victims and assured them that their concerns would be raised at the national level. “I spoke to several people who lost their loved ones and homes. They shared their pain and raised important issues, which I will definitely highlight in Parliament,” Gandhi said while speaking to reporters. Later, in a post on X, he wrote, “Broken houses, scattered belongings, moist eyes, and painful stories of losing loved ones in every corner – these patriotic families bear the biggest burden of war with courage and dignity. Salute to their cou...

Jammu Kashmir Home Department has temporarily suspended mobile data services on 37 telecom towers in the Bhaderwah area of Doda district. The shutdown will remain in effect till May 27, 2025. The order, issued under Government Order No: Home-12(TSTS) of 2025 and signed by Principal Secretary Chandraker Bharti, confirms earlier directions from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone. These directions were issued under the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Service Rules, 2024, which allow the authorized officer to take immediate action in situations deemed sensitive to national security and public peace. According to the Home Department, the temporary telecom shutdown affects all mobile data services including 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and public Wi-Fi facilities. The order ci...

A string of late-night thefts in Srinagar’s upscale localities of Peerbagh and Hyderpora  in Srinagar has left residents reeling, as a group of unidentified criminals continues to make off with expensive electricity service lines right from outside homes. Operating under the cover of darkness, the miscreants have been meticulously cutting and stealing power cables connecting residential homes to main utility poles. Locals describe the thefts as disturbingly precise, suggesting an organized racket rather than opportunistic crime. Unlike the standard aluminium wires distributed by the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), most homes in these affluent areas have opted for premium copper wiring—significantly more valuable and costly to replace. Estimates suggest a singl...

Leader of Opposition in the Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, issued a sharp rebuke to the Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) on Wednesday, condemning the party for omitting any mention of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the role of Indian security forces in their latest set of resolutions. In a video statement, Sharma expressed disbelief over JKNC’s Executive Committee passing seven resolutions without acknowledging the sacrifices of security personnel involved in Operation Sindoor. “Our forces displayed extraordinary bravery, and the world took note. Yet JKNC found no space to mention them,” he said. Sharma criticised the party for failing to condemn Pakistan or address terrorism, despite the loss of 26 innocent lives in the Pahalgam attack. “There’s not a w...

The Cyber Police Station in Srinagar today detained Dr. Abdul Waseem Bari, a terminated professor and resident of Kulgam along with journalist Asifa Bashir of Chattabal, Srinagar, in connection with an ongoing investigation. The two recently uploaded content on social media that targeted a local trust named KYC. Dr. Bari had earlier released a video alleging that the trust was involved in defrauding the public, looting money, and physically abusing individuals housed in its shelter home. An official confirmed to news agency Kashmir Dot Com that the arrests were made in connection with FIR No. 06/2025 under Sections 67 (publishing obscene content online) and 67-A (publishing sexually explicit content online) of the IT Act, and Sections 75(3) (sexual remarks), 79 (misuse of digital pla...

Danishwar Hameed The District Administration Kulgam, on Tuesday,  launched a comprehensive demolition drive targeting illegal constructions in the main town area. Acting on the directives of Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, the operation was executed under the leadership of the Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Kulgam and Tehsildar Kulgam, with active support from Naib Tehsildar, SHO Kulgam, and other enforcement officials. Officials claimed that multiple unauthorized structures erected in violation of building regulations were dismantled during the drive. “Illegal constructions not only flout land use policies but also jeopardize the structural integrity of planned urban areas and compromise public safety,” an official spokesperson stated. “There will be zero toleran...

Shah Basit In a significant decision, National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmad from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency has opted out of the all-party delegation appointed by New Delhi to travel abroad over Operation Sindoor. Sources close to the MP informed The Kashmiriyat that Altaf has chosen to prioritize his religious responsibilities during the annual Urs of Hazrat Mian Nizamuddin Kiyanvi (RA), also known as the Baba Nagri Urs, over the diplomatic mission. The Urs, held every year in the first week of June at Wangath, Kangan, is a major spiritual event that draws tens of thousands of devotees from across Jammu Kashmir. As the Sajada Nasheen of Ziyarat Baba Ji Sahib Larvi Wangath, Altaf plays a central role in overseeing the preparations and rituals, duties that make it impos...

Srinagar recorded a sweltering 34.4°C today, marking the third highest maximum temperature ever recorded in May since weather records began 133 years ago. This extreme heat is 9.0°C above normal for this time of year, as per Kashmir Weather. The previous third-highest mark was 34.3°C, recorded on 28 May 1971. The all-time highest May temperature remains 36.4°C, recorded on 24 May 1968, though it is not very well verified. With today’s temperature, this is the highest recorded in May in nearly six decades. This intense heat sets the tone for the scorching days ahead. The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has issued a heatwave alert for Jammu and Kashmir, warning of a prolonged spell of hot and dry weather from May 22 to May 31. Maximum temperatures are expected to rise further, ...

An Army soldier was killed during an ongoing encounter between security forces and militants in the Singhpora area of Chatroo in Jammu Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Thursday. Official sources said the firefight broke out after a joint team of the Army and police launched a cordon and search operation in the area following intelligence inputs about the presence of militants. As the forces approached a suspected hideout, they came under fire, triggering a fierce exchange. “One soldier sustained injuries and was evacuated to a nearby medical facility where he succumbed to his injuries,” officials said, adding that four militants have been cornered and are believed to be holed up in the area. The operation is underway, with heavy exchange of fire reported from the encounter site. Rei...

Speaker of the Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Raheem Rather, has constituted a House Committee to investigate alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Kashmir. The move follows rising concerns over financial mismanagement and administrative lapses in the rural water supply initiative. The committee, headed by MLA Hasnain Masoodi, held its first meeting today at the Legislative Assembly Complex, Civil Secretariat Srinagar. Masoodi was appointed as the chairman of the committee tasked with leading the inquiry into the execution of JJM projects in the region. The meeting was attended by a cross-party group of MLAs, including Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Ali Mohammad Dar, Altaf Ahmad Wani, Ajaz Ahmad Jan, Rajiv Jasrotia, Rambir Singh Path...